Why is the alkalinity lower in some salt mixes

[hllb]

I'm deciding if I want to switch salts or not. I'm currently using Red Sea Coral Pro, which I like, but I don't need the high alkalinity and Mg that it has. In considering switching to other brands, many of them have a lower alk than seems best too. Why would a salt have an alkalinity target of 7 to 8? Ideally, I'd like mine to be 8.5 to 9, but it seems most salt I need to pick between 7-8 or 11+. The alkalinity will help keep the ph stable, and since corals consume it, I can see the alk target being higher for reef tanks, especially SPS. But it just seems like a big spread. I keep looking at the Tropic Marin Pro-Reef salt, but that alk looks to be 7-8 (according to them) when mixed. The Tropic Marin Classic has the alk and mg targets I like, but the Ca looks low, and it didn't test well by BRS for consistency in a bucket (and that matters to me). My LFS recommended Red Sea blue bucket, but the alk is 7.5 to 8.5 there and the calcium is borderline low.

I'm sure there's a reason some of these are running lower alk. Is it because they expect reefers to be dosing? That seems an odd assumption. Am I just overthinking this? LOL....probably.

Do I just go with Tropic Marin Pro and dose the alk up a little when mixing? Seems relatively easy, but dang, I feel like I shouldn't have to.

 

[Potatohead]

Typically, acropora tanks seem to do better in the 7's somewhere, and people with those tanks and being successful are dosing, so that's where those NSW parameter salts are common. The higher alk salts are typically for people that are keeping less demanding corals and can usually maintain parameters with water changes.

A few salts in the 9-10 range I can think of off the top of my head:

D&D H2Ocean
Tropic Marin Classic
Instant Ocean
Fritz RPM (I can't remember which box color is which though)

 

[Saltyreef]

If you have a moderately sized tank, the coral pro isnt a bad choice. The high alk will raise the tanks alk a little bit if doing small water changes which is what a lot of people are after. Agreed this doesnt sound good if large water changes are needed.
Blue bucket is formulated to simulate NSW. Most of the time after reefers deplete the water change method for keeping macros elevated and have to rely on dosing, a consistant NSW baseline becomes more desireable.

 

[hllb]

My tank is 32g. I haven’t had issues w the Red Sea so maybe I’ll stick with it. Is there any way to artificially drop my mg? I had a bad batch of reef crystals that drive it way up. The levels of mg in the Red Sea salt are high enough that it’s not bringing it down very quickly (I’ve used maybe 35 gallons of water with the Red Sea, changing about 4 gallons at a time). I’m concerned because of a large number of snail deaths.

 

[Potatohead]

Not any real shortcuts to lowering magnesium without doing water changes with lower mag salt mix. How high is it? Typically up to about 1600 is no big deal.

 

[hllb]

Not any real shortcuts to lowering magnesium without doing water changes with lower mag salt mix. How high is it? Typically up to about 1600 is no big deal.

It’s down to 1480-1500 now but was around 1750. It’s the only thing I can think of that might affect my snails. It’s been holding around 1500 over the last few wc’s.

 

[Saltyreef]

Its better at 1500 vs 1000. I was using RSCP for years before getting a refracto and running it at 1.031 without any real problems. Mag was always at 1600.

 

[bar|none]

If you really want to customize, the ESV salt is separate components of salt, magnesium, liquid macro and trace elements. Mix it the way you want. Its pharm grade salt like tropic marin.

 

[hllb]

If you really want to customize, the ESV salt is separate components of salt, magnesium, liquid macro and trace elements. Mix it the way you want. Its pharm grade salt like tropic marin.

Yeah that looks like way too much work. But thanks!

 

[hllb]

Its better at 1500 vs 1000. I was using RSCP for years before getting a refracto and running it at 1.031 without any real problems. Mag was always at 1600.

No one can figure out my snail issue. My LFS is confused too. I have a hair algae problem but everything else is good.

Crabs and turbo snails having issues

Not sure what’s going on. On the same day, I lost my emerald crab and my pitho crab (sally light foot is fine). I also recently added Mexican turbo snails (maybe 2 weeks ago) and 2 have died while the others don’t do much. They stick to the glass despite a bunch of hair algae on the rocks, and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Saltyreef]

Any potential copper contamination or using RODI thats not at 0ppm?

 

[hllb]

Any potential copper contamination or using RODI thats not at 0ppm?

RODI is at 0. I don’t have a copper test but also don’t have any copper treatment so I don’t think that’s it. Wouldn’t that bother corals too? My corals look great.

 

[Saltyreef]

Is there plenty of algae for the snails? I had a bunch of CUC die from no food for them when my tank was super clean. The only CUC i have are a few big trochus and 4 giant mexican turbos that keep most unwanted algae from overgrowing.

Could be totally unrelated to chemistry, you may have a murderer on your hands. Not the first ive seen.

 

[Eclyps19]

I use HW Marinemix Reefer, which keeps my alk at 9.

 

[hllb]

Is there plenty of algae for the snails? I had a bunch of CUC die from no food for them when my tank was super clean. The only CUC i have are a few big trochus and 4 giant mexican turbos that keep most unwanted algae from overgrowing.

Could be totally unrelated to chemistry, you may have a murderer on your hands. Not the first ive seen.

originally I thought the hermits killed some for their shells so I bought them bigger shells. ButI think they were just scavenging. There is a ton of hair algae and a red macro in the tank but not a ton on the glass. starvation is a possibility - the smaller snails that travel my rock are ok but the bigger ones tend to stay on the glass which is pretty clean. I bought some algae wafers so I’ll try that.

 

[hllb]

I use HW Marinemix Reefer, which keeps my alk at 9.

What’s the storage like in a box? Any issue?

 

[hllb]

I use HW Marinemix Reefer, which keeps my alk at 9.

This does really look interesting, thanks. Parms are what I want and my tank is small so the cost isn’t an issue. Hmmm....

 

[Eclyps19]

What’s the storage like in a box? Any issue?

comes in a cardboard box, inside is a very thick bag with the salt. I typically just cut open the corner and use what I need, then curl it back up. Stores very well without clumping. I’ve had it sit around for 3-4 months between restocking.

only thing that I’m not a big fan of is the lack of availability. Can’t find anyone that has it local, so I usually. It a couple boxes at a time from BRS.

 

[hllb]

comes in a cardboard box, inside is a very thick bag with the salt. I typically just cut open the corner and use what I need, then curl it back up. Stores very well without clumping. I’ve had it sit around for 3-4 months between restocking.

only thing that I’m not a big fan of is the lack of availability. Can’t find anyone that has it local, so I usually. It a couple boxes at a time from BRS.

I ordered a box. With only mixing 4 gallons a week, mail order is fine for me. The box will last a long time so hopefully I like it! All the reviews and info I found was glowing.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

No one can figure out my snail issue. My LFS is confused too. I have a hair algae problem but everything else is good.

Crabs and turbo snails having issues

Not sure what’s going on. On the same day, I lost my emerald crab and my pitho crab (sally light foot is fine). I also recently added Mexican turbo snails (maybe 2 weeks ago) and 2 have died while the others don’t do much. They stick to the glass despite a bunch of hair algae on the rocks, and...

www.reef2reef.com

High magnesium is reported to cause snail issues.