Tropic Marine Bio Active

[saltwater newby]

Hello
I have a 2 year old 75 gallon reefer tank. It is well stocked with fish although 6 of those fish are chromis and 2 of them clown. The rest are 1 starry blenny, 2 cardinals, 1 wrasse, 1 small yellow tang, 1 small copper band and a flame hawk. Tanks doing well but I do have some lingering hair algae on some of The rock and back glass. My corals are not a lot and they’re mainly softies and lps. I’m running out of salt mix and wanted to get a salt that can elevate my tanks bio diversity. I hear that tropic marine bio active is top notch but obviously expensive. I currently use Red Sea blue bucket and before that aqua forest reef salt. Things I’m looking to better are promote coraline algae growth I have very minimum. Improve biodiversity because I started off with dry rock and feel that my tank is lacking is not doing so hot because of lack of bio diversity. I’d like to start keeping sps corals I have gen 4 radions and wanted to get some nicer corals in my system. Is this a salt that can help in those categories? I know there are other aspects that have to be in check for my wishlist to improve as well but figured a good salt mix is also important. No offense to aqua forest nor Red Sea. I’d love to hear from people that are using this salt. Thanks in advance

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While I do not have any reason to think this salt is any better or worse than most other mixes, I would caution that since it contains organic matter, storing this mix before use may alter its properties as bacteria consume the organics in it, and be sure to keep it aerated so it doesn't become anaerobic (most mixes need not be constantly aerated).

 

[saltwater newby]

While I do not have any reason to think this salt is any better or worse than most other mixes, I would caution that since it contains organic matter, storing this mix before use may alter its properties as bacteria consume the organics in it, and be sure to keep it aerated so it doesn't become anaerobic (most mixes need not be constantly aerated).

Hello there....thanks for responding. I did read some reports of people dealing with cyano blooms afterwards and I had Recently just beat cyano about 2 months ago. Now I’m worried... any recommendations for coraline and bio diversity increase??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello there....thanks for responding. I did read some reports of people dealing with cyano blooms afterwards and I had Recently just beat cyano about 2 months ago. Now I’m worried... any recommendations for coraline and bio diversity increase??

I really don't think the salt mix is going to greatly impact the growth of coralline (assuming you otherwise control alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate ) or other biodiversity (which really depends on what organisms you add, not the ions in the water.

 

[Lou Ekus]

@saltwater newby : If you would like to discuss the use of Tropic Marin Bio Activ System salt and how it might help your situation, I'd be glad to discuss it with you. Please feel free to call me in our office at 413-367-0101 at you convenience.

As for @Randy Holmes-Farley comment in relation to the organic compounds in the Bio Activ salt mix, the issue with holding the salt solution after it is mixed is more in relation to the bio polymers forming bonds and long "chains" that manifest as slimy blobs floating around in the water, rather than the bacterial consumption of those compounds. This tends to happen if the solution is held more than 36 hours or so. Both our Classic salt mix and out Pro Reef salt mix can be held indefinitely, once mixed, as long as they are well shielded from light and well circulated during holding. In my experience, if you aerate too much during a ling holding period, you will cause a calcium carbonate precipitate to form... We can talk more about that when you call, if you are interested in holding your mixed salt solution for many days before use.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@saltwater newby : In my experience, if you aerate too much during a ling holding period, you will cause a calcium carbonate precipitate to form... We can talk more about that when you call, if you are interested in holding your mixed salt solution for many days before use.

Assuming the aeration is not also heating the water, how do you think aeration leads to calcium carbonate precipitation?

In your specific case, bacteria munching on your organics may drive down pH by producing CO2, and aeration drives that off, returning pH to normal for your alk and air, encouraging precipitation again.

An alternative explanation that could apply to all mixes, is if some precipitation happens, that lowers alk and pH. Aeration could bring the pH back to normal to allow some more precipitation.

Normally, I prefer to not aerate salt mixes without organics for this and a variety of other reasons.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

My anecdotal observation with this salt: I had a reefing buddy who also worked in aquarium servicing with me who used this salt exclusively on his reef tank. We both noticed enhanced water clarity without the use of carbon and significant polyp extension in all LPS and SPS corals. In short, the tank looked amazing in comparison to other tanks we were maintaining at the time that were using different water. If I could afford to use this salt, it would be my number one choice.