Ugh. Frustrated with NSW. Looking for salt suggestions!

[Salty.Reefer]

Hey everyone,

My intention with using natural sea water was to have less of an impact on California's current drought conditions, but sadly it just seems to not be working out. I have been struggling with the chemistry in my tank because the NSW in the area has a DKH of about 5.4 and calcium between 400-420. While the calcium is right where I want it, adding alk and its effects on calcium has become a huge use of my free time. Also, I have recently discovered there is about 2ppm of nitrates in my brute trashcan I use to hold the NSW and when I do a water change my skimmer goes crazy, showing me there are dissolved organics in the there. I have also been struggling with explanations for some coral loss. Just looks like a bacterial infection that isn't effected by iodine of fw dips. It is for certain it is coming from the nsw but I would like to eliminate that as a possibility.
SO
Do you have any recommendation for salts?
I keep a mixed reef of approximately 60 gallons. (50 display and 14 sump) -4 for rock displacement
I would like to do weekly water changes of about 7 gallons.
With dosing my tanks parameters are at 9 dkh and 380 calcium. I don't know mag sorry.
I would like to stay around these levels I think. Maybe a slightly higher calcium.

Also would anyone recommend a treatment like chemiclean to possibly remove harmful bacteria and have a fresher start when I start using a new salt?

What is the process like for switching over form NSW to Salt?

Have you heard of any salt company that has sustainable practices or gives back to natural environments?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Instant ocean.
I'm on NSW. I add it right in. Just start a regular WC cycle.

And there's few bad bacterias IMO in NSW
You can however use UV like many NSW retailers do.

 

[Salty.Reefer]

Instant ocean.
I'm on NSW. I add it right in. Just start a regular WC cycle.

And there's few bad bacterias IMO in NSW
You can however use UV like many NSW retailers do.

What do you mean you add it? Like you put rodi in scripps water than add salt? I am using scripps water on your recommendation!

 

[Salty.Reefer]

Also these rains aren't helping me feel any better haha I saw some really nasty stuff in the water today

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What do you mean you add it? Like you put rodi in scripps water than add salt? I am using scripps water on your recommendation!

Hahaha. No sorry.
Next water change just use IO.
Never had a prob with it. Coral pro gave me all swings

I'm not sure your probs are water realaterd we did have some brown funk this year though because of the warm water.

Mine went away a couple weeks after macna.

You can pm me too I'll give you my number you can look at my tank. I'm by sdsu.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yea IO.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Can I ask what corals you lost?

 

[Salty.Reefer]

I lost a large green brain and now currently loosing a long tentacle plate and possible some can frags to brown jelly. Also My torch lost some heads a while ago and the single remaining head seems healthy but not like your standard torch. Tencitles never get as extended as I see other healthy torches.

 

[kazikage42]

Been happy using Red Sea Salt ( Blue Bucket)