****Salt mix info I found****

[mgatdog]

like I said thought it was interesting at the least. So I would like to gather more info on all test and the salts we use. I have used Red Sea from day one is the the best I don't know. Do I want to provided the best for my tank yes I do, can I afford to HELL NO just as tank poor as the rest of you addicts

but I will and want to.[/QU
Think we can talk the spouse's into a second job for are hobby

 

[scopus tang]

Ok, read this several times ~ here's my thoughts/questions. Is a score that shows a salt mix as the closest to natural sea water a good or bad thing? Reef aquariums are maintained most successfully at chemical levels that are significantly higher than those found in natural sea water. The ocean has the ability to constantly replace water as chemicals get depleted, which we do not. It seems to me (and I could be all wrong here, so feel free to correct me), that what we want is a salt mix which has the closest chemical levels to those recommended for successful aquariums rather than natural sea water. Could that be the source of discrepency (sp) between the two threads/test results? Only commenting/asking because I'm having issues with my salts as well - curious about the idea of mixing salts for better levels.

 

[bonita69]

I just signed up to let them test my tank water per month. I would like to see the results and how it stacks up to the Clams on my bucket, and my tank water and how it stacks up to my home test kits. I should have results in a week and I will post the results on the new salt mix & my tank water test kits and brand vs the lab test results. Should be interesting!

 

[fishy7]

This is good reading. Just to give you an idea. I have been using Marine Environments for 2 years and here is what I have noticied.
Every time I mix a 50 gal bag and the parameters are on the money. I mean every time.
I like my water at 1.026 so I mix 47.5 gallans and bingo 1.026
ph and alk are on the money every time. Alk is a little low for me so i add 1 table spoon of baking soda.
My tank is very healthy and I grow xenia/ric and clams like crazy.
It is funny the xenia and mush all open up when I do a water change.
I have never had a bad batch!
Granted it is a little expensive but you get what you pay for. I belive the top 4 are made by the company as well. If in doubt, give them a shot and see for yourself

Ohh and I just started adding CA since I have sooo much requiring it.

 

[ameno]

Originally Posted by bonita69
http:///forum/post/2494911
I just signed up to let them test my tank water per month. I would like to see the results and how it stacks up to the Clams on my bucket, and my tank water and how it stacks up to my home test kits. I should have results in a week and I will post the results on the new salt mix & my tank water test kits and brand vs the lab test results. Should be interesting!
I have not let them test my water yet, just starting looking into this, this week when my reef crystals tested at 320 on cal. it will be interesting to see what you come back with.
I know they tried to duplicate what we do with are mixing, such as using di water and mixing the salt by hand before adding it to the water and using a mix from different parts of the country in order to not get a batch from the same mixing facility.doing two test per mix. and bought the mixes from a store, so none was purchased dirrectly from the salt company. the companies were not made aware of the testing.
Scopus Tang you could be right about the differences but as I said before how can marine envirionment be closest to sea water if the cal. test at 566 and alk is 1.71, just doesn't make sense to me

 

[scopus tang]

[Scopus Tang you could be right about the differences but as I said before how can marine envirionment be closest to sea water if the cal. test at 566 and alk is 1.71, just doesn't make sense to me

Would guess that they ran a whole battery of tests on different chemicals, and despite the obvious differences between these two chemicals which are extremely important and which we actually test for, these salts were closer on other chemicals which we don't test for. There are 12 major and minor ions dissolved in sea water as well as numerous trace elements, and as Bonita said, most are never tested for by hobby aquariumists. Really isn't enough info here to say for sure, not even sure what the test results actually show, since its obvious that a score of 100 can't mean that is 100% identical to sea water.

 

[ameno]

yea it looks like there saying which ones are closest to sea water. the test that aquariumwatertesting did was with all the elements such as copper, iodine and so forth, You make a good point as far as what we really should be shooting for in a home aquarium verses sea water. would like to know the answer to that one. I encorage anyone to check out these results from aquariumwatertesting and see what they think, maybe we can all come up with a good answer to which saltmix is best. But with so many varibales I don't think that is going to be easy

here is the link http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages....lysis_0208.pdf

 

[mgatdog]

Originally Posted by Scopus Tang
http:///forum/post/2495010
[Scopus Tang you could be right about the differences but as I said before how can marine envirionment be closest to sea water if the cal. test at 566 and alk is 1.71, just doesn't make sense to me

Would guess that they ran a whole battery of tests on different chemicals, and despite the obvious differences between these two chemicals which are extremely important and which we actually test for, these salts were closer on other chemicals which we don't test for. There are 12 major and minor ions dissolved in sea water as well as numerous trace elements, and as Bonita said, most are never tested for by hobby aquariumists. Really isn't enough info here to say for sure, not even sure what the test results actually show, since its obvious that a score of 100 can't mean that is 100% identical to sea water.

I agree

 

[bonita69]

Originally Posted by ameno
http:///forum/post/2495035
yea it looks like there saying which ones are closest to sea water. the test that aquariumwatertesting did was with all the elements such as copper, iodine and so forth, You make a good point as far as what we really should be shooting for in a home aquarium verses sea water. would like to know the answer to that one. I encorage anyone to check out these results from aquariumwatertesting and see what they think, maybe we can all come up with a good answer to which saltmix is best. But with so many varibales I don't think that is going to be easy

I'm going to have them test the water right out of my RO/DI unit will list my filter age too. right now they are 2 weeks old.
So my results will be
new mixed salt using RO/DI water
RO/DI water
Tank water, I will test my sample with my test kits before sending it in.
This should be interesting.

 

[ameno]

looking forward to see this

 

[ifirefight]

I'll stick to using NSW. Nice informative topic/thread though.

 

[bennyhill]

I was going to use Sea Chem Reef Salt where does this salt range ????

 

[shark bait]

Good read, I am going to stick to my "if it an't broke don't fix it." rule on this one. nothing is percect and well with good water changes drips and mixing practice i am going to keep my current salt. Thanks

 

[slabchet]

I don't see Oceanic on that list of comparisons, just wondering where they come out on the list?

 

[bonita69]

Originally Posted by shark bait
http:///forum/post/2495633
Good read, I am going to stick to my "if it an't broke don't fix it." rule on this one. nothing is percect and well with good water changes drips and mixing practice i am going to keep my current salt. Thanks
I am most will do the same on current tank but I think it will be good useful information. For new salt users or new tank set for me. To compare any notes between the two tanks I will own. I will be setting up a 45 very soon.

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by bonita69
http:///forum/post/2495796
I am most will do the same on current tank but I think it will be good useful information. For new salt users or new tank set for me. To compare any notes between the two tanks I will own. I will be setting up a 45 very soon.
Oooh yes, she definitely has the addiction! Saltwater poor and already looking forward to her next set-up. Onward to bigger and better.

Isn't this hobby great!

 

[bonita69]

oh yes I do!! I want a 210 or bigger but I just don't have a spot for it

My house is large but open floor plan so no real "Walls" to put a large tank on.
The 45 was my son's FW tank and it has not been in use for a while now. It is a nice tank and stand. So to feed my crave I will set that tank up. Till I can get a super size tank. When I move that is. So I would like to test a new salt on that tank.
Want to hear somthing funny....
When my 2 kids leave in 3 yrs for college me and the hubby are going to down size in our house and I'm going to upsize my Reef tank!!

 

[scopus tang]

Originally Posted by bonita69
http:///forum/post/2495880
oh yes I do!! I want a 210 or bigger but I just don't have a spot for it

My house is large but open floor plan so no real "Walls" to put a large tank on.
The 45 was my son's FW tank and it has not been in use for a while now. It is a nice tank and stand. So to feed my crave I will set that tank up. Till I can get a super size tank. When I move that is. So I would like to test a new salt on that tank.
Want to hear somthing funny....
When my 2 kids leave in 3 yrs for collage me and the hubby are going to down size in our house and I'm going to upsize my Reef tank!!

I hear you. I've had a drilled 120 sitting on my basement floor now for 5 years! Hoping here in the next five years when all the kids get off to college to have enough time and money to get it set-up and running.