What's the best salt out there?

[~SIRENA~]

I have been using IO and am about to run out. It's been ok, but I run low on alk. Are there any other brands that are high quality that I could try?
Thanks!

[DrBDC]

Typically alk is around 11 on IO and the calcium is low. Are you adding any ca and alk supplements?

If it's your tank that is running low on alk, it's most likely a consumption issue that's not being supplemented. My tank will use almost 3 dKh in one day if I don't supplement.

[mg426]

I have always used IO and found it to be very reliable.

[~SIRENA~]

I use Kent ph buffer and it helps with the alk. I have 2 percs, ten turbo snails, 9 nassaurius(?),3 red legged crabs and a bit of anthelia on my tonga branch. thats it
Would that consume a lot of alk?

[DrBDC]

No, it shouldn't. Is this tank a newer tank w/corarline algae taking off in growth at a fast pace?

What is your new salt mixing at?

[~SIRENA~]

new salt is at 2.5 alk
and yes, it is a new tank - 2 months- the coraline algae is starting to come back on the LR

[DrBDC]

That alk doesn't seem right at all. What salinity are you mixing to and how do you test it as well as the test kit brand/type?

[Achapman]

Live on the edge and experiment. See what does best in your tank. I've tried IO and reef crystals. Now I am trying Tropic marine.

[~SIRENA~]

the alk is 2.5 mEq/L not dkh
is that still way off? I raise it to 3 after the buffer...

[~SIRENA~]

correction: it's Oceanic not IO sorry

[DrBDC]

Ahhh, ok. Yes, Oceanic is that low on alk. I usually aim for about 3.5. Many do keep it as low as 2.5. Personally I use Reefcrystals. If you order it from drsfostersmith it will be dropped at your door for about 35 bucks a bucket. I usually order 3 @~32 and the shipping is about 10-12 bucks. They calculate shipping by price and not weight. The IO and Reefcrystals usually run about 11 dKh out of the bucket. The IO is lower on the mag and calcium than the reefcrystals.

[~SIRENA~]

Thank you so much for the info. It really helps. I'll look it up

[acrodave]

i like tropic marin pro reef I do weekly water changes and mine stays at like 8-10 alk and ca is 400-420 and i supplement nutting

[DrBDC]

It just depends on how many calcifying organisms are in the tank. As an example, if a tank uses 2.8dKh it will use about 20ppm of ca. That number will slowly lower with only water changes as the supplement. Softy tanks can stay in pretty good numbers depending on the salt brand used because they don't use much. My tank uses about 3 dKh per day (and I'm no where near packed with stonies as some tanks are), so if I use a salt mix with 11dKh, I can be down under NSW(7) in 2 days. Now that never happens as it gets below 7, calcification will slow and consumption/growth will almost or completely come to a stop if the numbers drop low enough. 100% water changes would be the only way to maintain levels. And in my case that would be every day or every other day.

[Abso]

Any comment for Sera Salt?

[Seldric]

I just started using Seachem reef salt

[old salty]

The best salt out there is always the one you are thinking about switching to; or was that best protein skimmer....

[J-Burns]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-0...ture/index.htm Try this site.

[jjmcat]

I like bio-sea myself.Been the easiest salt for me so far and I don't have to supplement as much as I did before.Its all on what you want to use and can afford.You can add to almost all salts to get the params you desire.

[loves saltwater]

I have had great results with Reef Crystal

[spamreefnew]

salt sux,,,it seems that the lfs will only push what they sell,,,i have had the best luck with red sea and seachem,,,my lfs uses crystalsea and io