water softener salt for Reef tank

Reefugee · 04/01/2007, 11:37 AM

My wife told me that I need to keep the cost of this hobby under control. I have been trying to find cheaper alternatives to some of the "reef product" - such as using DowFlake instead of commercial bought calcium additives and MagFlake instead of ESV Ionic Magnesium additive.

Today I am going to do a 20% water change. But instead of using Reef Crystal, I decided to try using salts from my water softener. At $4.00 for a 40lb bag, it a lot cheaper than Reef Crystal. I have mixed a batch of water to 1.026, added DowFlake until my calcium was at 400, and MagFlake until my Mg is at 1300. The water has been mixing for about 2 days now.

Morton Salt Pellets are supposed to be 99.5% pure salt. From some of the koi forum I have read, people have used these salt in their koi pond. http://www.epinions.com/content_140694097540

My question: Does it matter what brand of water softerner salt I use? I don't think it really matters.

Thanks
Minh

Avalanche Wolf · 04/01/2007, 11:58 AM

Dont reef cyrstals also add Trace minerals including Calcium also that wouldnt be added in a softener mix ?

Reefugee · 04/01/2007, 12:04 PM

That's why I am adding DowFlake and MagFlake to the mix.

funman1 · 04/01/2007, 12:16 PM

Don't forget your Iodine, Strontium,
that would be really bad for inverts

hahahaha

I'm going to try this right now!!!
I have all the additives I need

Reefugee · 04/01/2007, 12:25 PM

Maybe I should just use tap water (treated for chlorine). THat should contain some trace element of iodine, stronium and others. But it's too late now, I have already mixed a batch and have started the water change.

funman1 · 04/01/2007, 12:27 PM

Be sure to post pics too, of before and after tank shots

MrMikeB · 04/01/2007, 12:37 PM

Minh,

Interesting idea... I would be very curious as to your long term effects.

Elite · 04/01/2007, 04:06 PM

Why don't you set up a small tank and put some damsel in there to test it out? Isn't that kinda risky to test it on your display tank??

Bdimas · 04/01/2007, 04:15 PM

I hope this a April Fools Joke.

rafael13 · 04/01/2007, 04:24 PM

MrMikeB · 04/01/2007, 04:41 PM

I have heard about folks in Germany doing something like this to have more granular control over the salt makeup. For specific settings you can really fine tune your parameters and save a ton of money in the process. If you really think about what is in the salt mix it should become apparent the endless possibilities if you have the right ingredients.

Pave some trails Minh!

Pico1 · 04/01/2007, 04:55 PM

Wouldn't it be easier/safer to switch to instant ocean with added CA and MG?

Pico1 · 04/01/2007, 04:55 PM

Wouldn't it be easier/safer to switch to instant ocean with added CA and MG?

Reefugee · 04/01/2007, 11:54 PM

It is... April Fools...

Quote:

Originally posted by Bdimas
I hope this a April Fools Joke.

sumyungviet · 04/01/2007, 11:56 PM

hahaha you silly guy

MrMikeB · 04/02/2007, 12:26 AM

hehehe

Bdimas · 04/02/2007, 09:02 AM

LMAO! Good one.

MrMikeB · 04/02/2007, 02:34 PM

But you gave it up too soon Bdimas! Probably a good thing though, would hate to have seen some folks go out there and start doing water changes with water softener salt.

Bdimas · 04/02/2007, 02:44 PM

I know i thought of that after i hit enter. I think some people were taking minh serious though. There was some good ones in the forsale forum too. I almost bit on those.

MandM · 04/03/2007, 10:14 PM

You had me going Minh! That was almost as good as Steve drinking the electrified water.

04/01/2007, 11:37 AM	#1
Reefugee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 6,105	water softener salt for Reef tank My wife told me that I need to keep the cost of this hobby under control. I have been trying to find cheaper alternatives to some of the "reef product" - such as using DowFlake instead of commercial bought calcium additives and MagFlake instead of ESV Ionic Magnesium additive. Today I am going to do a 20% water change. But instead of using Reef Crystal, I decided to try using salts from my water softener. At $4.00 for a 40lb bag, it a lot cheaper than Reef Crystal. I have mixed a batch of water to 1.026, added DowFlake until my calcium was at 400, and MagFlake until my Mg is at 1300. The water has been mixing for about 2 days now. Morton Salt Pellets are supposed to be 99.5% pure salt. From some of the koi forum I have read, people have used these salt in their koi pond. http://www.epinions.com/content_140694097540 My question: Does it matter what brand of water softerner salt I use? I don't think it really matters. Thanks Minh

04/01/2007, 11:58 AM	#2
Avalanche Wolf Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Spring Hill , Middle Tn Posts: 688	Dont reef cyrstals also add Trace minerals including Calcium also that wouldnt be added in a softener mix ? __________________ I need to start moding my truck again. It was so much cheaper than this hobby ! Current Tank Info: 100g Reef 35g sump * 15g Tall Frag Tank with overflow and 10g sump

04/01/2007, 12:16 PM	#4
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	Don't forget your Iodine, Strontium, that would be really bad for inverts hahahaha I'm going to try this right now!!! I have all the additives I need __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO Last edited by funman1; 04/01/2007 at 12:25 PM.

04/01/2007, 12:27 PM	#6
funman1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 4,898	Be sure to post pics too, of before and after tank shots __________________ Professional Pyro: NO REALLY; I get PAID to blow stuff up!! ~Steve~ Current Tank Info: 12G NANO

04/01/2007, 12:37 PM	#7
MrMikeB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fair Oaks, CA. Posts: 1,793	Minh, Interesting idea... I would be very curious as to your long term effects. __________________ - Viva el Swap! Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef; 80g Ricordia/zoa tank; 115g SPS; soon - 2,000g megaplex!

04/01/2007, 12:04 PM	#3
Reefugee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 6,105	That's why I am adding DowFlake and MagFlake to the mix.

04/01/2007, 12:25 PM	#5
Reefugee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 6,105	Maybe I should just use tap water (treated for chlorine). THat should contain some trace element of iodine, stronium and others. But it's too late now, I have already mixed a batch and have started the water change.

04/01/2007, 04:06 PM	#8
Elite Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SJ Posts: 5,979	Why don't you set up a small tank and put some damsel in there to test it out? Isn't that kinda risky to test it on your display tank??

04/01/2007, 04:15 PM	#9
Bdimas No on 15 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 2,518	I hope this a April Fools Joke. __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 90gallon mixed reef.

04/01/2007, 04:24 PM	#10
rafael13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: sacramento Posts: 1,104

04/01/2007, 04:41 PM	#11
MrMikeB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fair Oaks, CA. Posts: 1,793	I have heard about folks in Germany doing something like this to have more granular control over the salt makeup. For specific settings you can really fine tune your parameters and save a ton of money in the process. If you really think about what is in the salt mix it should become apparent the endless possibilities if you have the right ingredients. Pave some trails Minh! __________________ - Viva el Swap! Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef; 80g Ricordia/zoa tank; 115g SPS; soon - 2,000g megaplex! Last edited by MrMikeB; 04/01/2007 at 04:47 PM.

04/01/2007, 04:55 PM	#12
Pico1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 1,627	Wouldn't it be easier/safer to switch to instant ocean with added CA and MG? __________________ Jordan Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 170

04/01/2007, 11:56 PM	#15
sumyungviet Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 510	hahaha you silly guy __________________ -Larry

04/02/2007, 12:26 AM	#16
MrMikeB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fair Oaks, CA. Posts: 1,793	hehehe __________________ - Viva el Swap! Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef; 80g Ricordia/zoa tank; 115g SPS; soon - 2,000g megaplex!

04/02/2007, 09:02 AM	#17
Bdimas No on 15 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 2,518	LMAO! Good one. __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 90gallon mixed reef.

04/02/2007, 02:34 PM	#18
MrMikeB Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fair Oaks, CA. Posts: 1,793	But you gave it up too soon Bdimas! Probably a good thing though, would hate to have seen some folks go out there and start doing water changes with water softener salt. __________________ - Viva el Swap! Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef; 80g Ricordia/zoa tank; 115g SPS; soon - 2,000g megaplex!

04/02/2007, 02:44 PM	#19
Bdimas No on 15 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 2,518	I know i thought of that after i hit enter. I think some people were taking minh serious though. There was some good ones in the forsale forum too. I almost bit on those. __________________ Bryan Current Tank Info: 90gallon mixed reef.

04/03/2007, 10:14 PM	#20
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	You had me going Minh! That was almost as good as Steve drinking the electrified water. __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g