ATTN: OCEANIC salt users

yellowtail

yellowtail

Active Member
ATTN: OCEANIC salt users
what are you personal views of oceanic salt?also, is there any harm in switching from one salt to another that will go into the same tank?
 
badkharma

badkharma

Member
I love Oceanic. Used to use Instant Ocean. Had no problems using the two different types - just started doing water changes using Oceanic instead with the tank water still Instant Ocean. It's all Oceanic by now. Like I said, I like it a lot more.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
I haven't used the Oceanic Salt yet but plan to purchase a bucket of it as soon as my Instant Ocean runs out. Basically all the salt mixs are about the same...slight differences in trace elements and such...so I'd think a gradual change over shouldn't cause any problems. I plan to continue small percentage monthly water changes with the new salt and don't anticipate any problems.
 
footbag

footbag

Active Member
Thats what I did.
My only problem with oceanic is that it has some issues with some cal test kits. Hagen is one. It usually gives very high Ca readings. Habib, the salifert guy, suggested that this was my problem, and it turned out to be so. I also noticed that the alk is a little bit lower then I would prefer, but buffering is easy.
 
msd2

msd2

Active Member

Originally posted by RobChuck
I love it. Good Ca and Alk levels and it dissolves very quick.
I second that.
 
bot587

bot587

Member
I use tropic marine and i used to use instant ocean, i think they are both great mixes... haven't used oceanic yet =/.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Thumbs up for Oceanic, no more dosing calcium. Mix slowly though to optimize the mix process and to lessen any calcification on the bottom of your mixing container.
 
happyreef

happyreef

Member
badkharma - I do not mean to detract from the thread, but I have always wondered about Oceanic. You mentioned letting your RO water/ salt mix/ just sit for a week or so, with circulation?
Did you just have a lid loosely over it to prevent evaporation, and a powerhead Below the surface with no air bubbles going into the mix? Is this the best way? Thanks for your time, this is a great post, I think when I start out, I will use it.
 
T

thomas712

Guest

Originally posted by Beth
Thumbs up for Oceanic, no more dosing calcium. Mix slowly though to optimize the mix process and to lessen any calcification on the bottom of your mixing container.

Originally posted by Badkharma
Agreed. I let mine usually sit for a week with some circulation before it gets used for a water change.
I don't think Beth meant to mix it for days, but rather to mix it slowly, as in to add the salt slowly not all at once to prevent calcification.
Beth, clairification please :D
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
Whatever salt you are using, it should be thoroghly mixed using a PH for at least 48 hrs, and yes a week is even better. You can use a tall aquarium like mine where the footprint is 1' sq 15gal, or you can even just use a plastic garbage can [deadicated]. Yes, it needs to have a lid on it to keep out airborne contaminates and to prevent heavy evaporation.
Using raw salt water that has not been mixed thoroghly is very unhealthy for marine organisms often times accounting for "mysterious" decline of fish or corals as the raw salt and other additives in packaged salts, not mixed appropriately, will damage delicate membrane/tissues of the animals.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
As for adding the Oceanic, or even a product like Reef Crystals, that has a lot of added reef goodies like calcium, if you dump a lot of salt in all at once, it will harden on the bottom of your container [calcify]. Thus add a bit, let it get mixed into the water, add more, etc. I actually do take about 2 days to mix the water up, but that certainly isn't necessary to take that long to add salt. However, you do need to let the salt water "age", as I detailed in the previous post.
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Oh sure definatly mix for days, but I figured that you were also saying not to just dump the salt in all at one time.
You know I've seen calcification before
 
T

thomas712

Guest
within seconds of each other, thanks for the clearification Beth.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
I was saying what you were thinking. Don't just dump it in or you will get a hard, very difficult to remove, deposit on the bottom of the container. Myself, I do the mix up kinda slowly just because I think it mixes better if done slowly. That is not necessary, though. That's just my habbit. You see, I get to use my refactometer more that way, taking a reading in between each cupful of salt. And, everyone knows that refracts are my favorite instrument. :D
 
rwhite

rwhite

Member
No problems here. Switched from Reef Crystals to Oceanic with no ill effects to fish or coral. Definitely dissolves quickly, I add to water, stir it up, and turn on the power head to keep it moving. First couple times I let it sit with only the PH to stir and ended up with some calcification. Sometimes just shake in a cup at a time where the PH is blowing to get it moving also. Just need to check it after a bit to make sure theres none sitting in a corner. I believe that getting the temp at around 80 aids in dissolving, but I dont have any hard evidence. I usually let our cauldron brew for a week, sometimes a little less.
 
rwhite

rwhite

Member
Oh yeah, the cauldron is covered. My "lab" is basically in our storage area in the basement with the W/D and dust and God knows what else, so I definitely keep it covered.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top