What salt mix are you using

bob on this

bob on this

Member
I know I have see a thread on this, but can't find it.
I have been using IO salt mix, and have been fighting hair alge for the past couple months.
I dont have a test kit for Phosphates, so i'm thinking I need to change my mix.
I do use RO / DI water.
 
saltn00b

saltn00b

Active Member
lol @ your user name.
salt will not be the underlying issue of hair algae. unless for some reason it was one of those bad batches. get yourself a phosphate test kit, especially if you plan on keeping corals.
most likely due to PO4, over feeding, over lighting. similar conditions to cyano, but not as common.
for the record i use red sea coral pro mostly.
 
bob on this

bob on this

Member
( Name on my boat, gets everyone).

Thanks for your responce.
I just ordered a Phos. test kit, will check the tank and the pre-water change mix I have mixing now.
 
calaxa

calaxa

Member
Food
Additives
Filter Media (ie carbon)
I'm gonna bet that you got zero phosphate though. The algae is probably using it all up. What's your clean up crew like? Get some hermits (red dwarves are the best for this). Cerith snails can help but they spend a lot of time on glass. Are you running a fuge? Grow some macro. They'll compete against the nuisance algae for the phosphates.
How old is your tank? It can be part of the normal cycle. Once you have good equilibirum, it'll pass.
Maybe get yourself some algae eating fish. Then again, I got 4 of them and none of them will touch the hair algae that still remains. I manually remove but it's really tough getting all of it off the rocks.
 
bob on this

bob on this

Member
The tank is maybe 4 months old (Had to buy a new one) all LR and such is 7 months old. 75 Gal.
I have a sump with a good size chunk of Cheato. Just removed some to allow for more grouth.
I have a fairly large clean up crew, just added some more snails and crabs.
I have a yellow tang, and see picks at the rocks, but she is not all that hungry. (I do have a soft spot for these guys when they all come to the end of the tank begging for food), but I'm getting better about over feeding.
I also have two clowns, two blue chromis (I have one new one in the QT now, as four of the five I ordered from SW.com, were DOA.)

One coral banded shrimp, four crabs, and a couple nice corals.
I really want to add an BTA, but know I can't till I get my water right.
 
bob on this

bob on this

Member
My salt is not at all clumpy, I buy it in five gallon tubs and keep the lid on tight.
It's also very dry air (what little we have) here in Colorado (34% right now).
Can the phos. get through a RO filter?
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by Bob On This
http:///forum/post/2817906
My salt is not at all clumpy, I buy it in five gallon tubs and keep the lid on tight.
It's also very dry air (what little we have) here in Colorado (34% right now).
Can the phos. get through a RO filter?
If the filters are bad, sure...I would test it just to eliminate it from your possible causes. The more variables you can isolate and eliminate the better your chances are of finding the issue. IMO
 
bob on this

bob on this

Member
I'm still thinking some brands of salt mix are better than others for a reef tank.
Do some have better Calcum, or trace elements not found in others?
I have about two dozen zoo polps, and we just added a small cluster of clover.
I would like to start getting into some more corals.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Some have more trace elements than others some have higher trace elements than others (not always a good thing) Different brands work for some people and not for others. IMO If you find one that works for you keep using it.
 
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