Shallow Planet
Active Member
Narrowed down to these 2 salts.
Which one
- Thread starter Shallow Planet
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reacclimating 2 the hobby
patience is... oh look an acro pack fs!
Why have you narrowed it down to these two out of curiosity?
Shallow Planet
Active Member
Based on local supply and parameters each has. Open to opinions tho
It won't matter unless one has organic carbon in it. Just choose based on price.
Once you are in this long enough, you will learn how to make the salt mix your own after you mix it. No salt mix will have parameters exactly what you like. I use IO because it is cheap and consistent, but I do lower the alk and raise the calcium each time - I would have to do this with any salt, so why pay more?
Consistency is the most important thing... after that, just choose on price.
Once you are in this long enough, you will learn how to make the salt mix your own after you mix it. No salt mix will have parameters exactly what you like. I use IO because it is cheap and consistent, but I do lower the alk and raise the calcium each time - I would have to do this with any salt, so why pay more?
Consistency is the most important thing... after that, just choose on price.
BestMomEver
2500 Club Member
I had the same issue with availability. My LFSs only carry IO, which doesn’t have the parameters I want. Then, I found out that BRS has free shipping on orders over $30. That being the case, it’s the same as if I bought it locally.... tax but no shipping. Since I’ve been ordering Red Sea salt. I like it way better than IO.
reacclimating 2 the hobby
patience is... oh look an acro pack fs!
Seems like a good enough answer. Can't blame you there. Salt is expensive enough, I did not want to purchase salt and then have to alter it, but I may end up doing so as well. I'm currently running Red Sea Coral Pro (alk 11-12), but looking to switch because of precip in my AWC station. I'm looking at Tropic Marine(alk 7) and Aqua Forest Probiotic (alk 7.2-8).
You will need to get over this, but it sounds like you are already going down this road. It is easy and what a lot of the best hobbyists do. After all, people get custom sumps, tanks, lights, etc... which not make your salt custom? What could be more important?
Adding calcium and mag is easy - calculators everywhere for mag and calcium chloride. Raising alk is easy - calculators for this too with carbonate and bicarbonate both. Lowering alk is easy, but no calculators that I have ever seen... it is gallons * desired dKh drop * .123 is the number of mls of muratic acid to use - you have to let this mix for a day or two to drive off the excess co2 and raise the pH again. Once you get your "recipe" figured out, then it is easy.
reacclimating 2 the hobby
patience is... oh look an acro pack fs!
Yes I am headed down this road, unfortunately. I'm not sure it's a "Need" to get over though? I'm aware that several hobbyists do alter their salt, but I'm also under the belief that the larger population does not. I'm only doing so because i'm having great results with my levels, but need to make the change for equipment sake.
Very interested in hearing your thoughts though.
ScottR
Surfing....
I’ve been there. Switch slowly as to not shock your system with the alk swings. You’d be surprised how much a 10-20% WC can alter your alk.
reacclimating 2 the hobby
patience is... oh look an acro pack fs!
Yes I'm well aware and taking it very slow. I have AWC of about 2.5% per day in my aquarium. So I believe I will be alright to not change anything other then mixing new salt and buffering. I don't plan to lower my alk very much.
