Switching Salts

[azfishgal]

If a person (me) wants to try a different salt, can I just start using it with my water changes and everything will be ok, or do you think corals and fish will be effected by the change? Should I mix the two salts first and then increase the new salt slowly? I have a 125 gallon tank and my water changes are 12 gallons.

 

[tx reef]

You can do a water change with the new salt without any worries.
Just make sure that calcium, alk., pH, etc... are all where you want them to be.

 

[azfishgal]

Right now I'm using Tropic Marine, but that puts my calcium at 350 and my alk and ph are on the low side. I was thinking of going with Seachem Reef Salt, as someone told me the levels were just about perfect for a reef tank. And from what I understand the Tropic Marine Reef puts the calcium to high. Right now I have to add calcium and a buffer before adding the water to my tank.

 

[azaintcold]

What are you using to add calcium?

 

[azfishgal]

I was using Kent Marine Liquid Calcium, but now that I just ran out I'm switching to Kent Marine Turbo-Calcium (dry). According to the directions it's pretty strong though, so I'll caution on the side of small doses until I get used to it.

 

[reefreak29]

have u tried tropic marine pro, the alk,calc is higher, and is for reef tanks

 

[azfishgal]

Originally Posted by reefreak29
have u tried tropic marine pro, the alk,calc is higher, and is for reef tanks
No, but a few that have used it says the calcium is high, like 550. It would be nice if we could buy samples of different salts and then test them ourselves without having to buy a big box.

 

[tx reef]

You want the calcium and alk to be higher that what you keep you tank at when you mix your water. This way it will bring your levels closer to being correct in the tank....

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by azfishgal
No, but a few that have used it says the calcium is high, like 550. It would be nice if we could buy samples of different salts and then test them ourselves without having to buy a big box.
In a perfect world. Or how about if all salt mixes were always perfect and they list their levels with say one cup of salt in one gallon of water. I tried to get a thread going where everyone lists their salt mix parameters but not enough participation and every batch of salt is different I guess.

 

[azfishgal]

Originally Posted by earlybird
In a perfect world. Or how about if all salt mixes were always perfect and they list their levels with say one cup of salt in one gallon of water. I tried to get a thread going where everyone lists their salt mix parameters but not enough participation and every batch of salt is different I guess.
I guess it would also depend on the water you use as well. But that was a great idea. The Tropic Marin is 1/2 cup per 1 gallon of water to get the sg to 1.025.

 

[azfishgal]

Originally Posted by TX Reef
You want the calcium and alk to be higher that what you keep you tank at when you mix your water. This way it will bring your levels closer to being correct in the tank....
Good point, I'll keep that in mind. I have 5 gallons of new saltwater mixed up from last night, so I'll test it again and see what I come up with, just to be sure. If it's not what I want, I might try the Tropic Marine Reef before I try the Seachem. I think my lfs has the small boxes of that stuff, so I can try it without buying the large buckets that I normally get.

 

[dolaj]

I used the seachem and it dumped my alk very badly. almost lost the tank. I wouldn't use that salt again if it was free.

 

[tx reef]

Originally Posted by Dolaj
I used the seachem and it dumped my alk very badly. almost lost the tank. I wouldn't use that salt again if it was free.

That is why you test your mixed water before you add it to your tank...

 

[azfishgal]

:notsure: Well, now my Tropic Marin salt is testing with Calcium at 400, alk around 2.6 and pH at 8.1 (after mixing for 24 hours). So all I did was add a little buffer and waited a few more hours then added to my tank. I'm thinking no salt is going to be perfect, so since the Tropic Marin is working so far with just having to add a little buffer I should probably leave well enough alone. I'll keep testing my calcium though to see how often I need to add between water changes, as I know that will get used up before my next water change. I still might buy a box of Tropic Marine Reef Pro and see what that does (testing before I put in my tank that is

). :thinking:

 

[tx reef]

Originally Posted by azfishgal
:notsure: Well, now my Tropic Marin salt is testing with Calcium at 400, alk around 2.6 and pH at 8.1 (after mixing for 24 hours). So all I did was add a little buffer and waited a few more hours then added to my tank. I'm thinking no salt is going to be perfect, so since the Tropic Marin is working so far with just having to add a little buffer I should probably leave well enough alone. I'll keep testing my calcium though to see how often I need to add between water changes, as I know that will get used up before my next water change. I still might buy a box of Tropic Marine Reef Pro and see what that does (testing before I put in my tank that is

). :thinking:

I have yet to find a salt that is perfect. I have tried 5 different brands of salt and have always had to add something to bring up some level.
I go with Reef Crystals now. I have to bump up the calcium and alk a little (just like every other salt), but the price of the salt is what makes it so attractive.
The only salt I didn't have to adjust calcium in was Oceanic....the batch I got read 700+ !!!!

 

[azfishgal]

Originally Posted by TX Reef
I have yet to find a salt that is perfect. I have tried 5 different brands of salt and have always had to add something to bring up some level.
I go with Reef Crystals now. I have to bump up the calcium and alk a little (just like every other salt), but the price of the salt is what makes it so attractive.
The only salt I didn't have to adjust calcium in was Oceanic....the batch I got read 700+ !!!!
Wow, 700! That's pretty high, but if you are adding 12 gallons to a 125 gallon tank probably wouldn't hurt it any. And I should start looking at price too, since I have such a large tank and go through the salt rather quickly. I'll take a look at Reef Crystals too. Thanks!

 

[tx reef]

Originally Posted by azfishgal
Wow, 700! That's pretty high, but if you are adding 12 gallons to a 125 gallon tank probably wouldn't hurt it any.
Except that it was impossible to get the alk. up in the new water I mixed because the high calcium kept driving it down.....