Coralife Scientific Grade Salt Mix

syilk1 · 02/03/2008, 10:40 AM

Is this stuff any good. I had only choice of IO or this which states has better levels of Mag. Got 10 gallon bucket for 50 at petsmart
Hope this is an ok Salt
Any comments, complaints

Percula9 · 02/04/2008, 12:27 AM

I have used this salt with no problems. It dissolves pretty fast and pH should come up fast. Some people don't like it because it has a higher boron concentration than some other salts. I don't think it's a problem.

bertoni · 02/04/2008, 01:47 AM

I'd stick with IO. CoraLife has better magnesium, but seems to have too much calcium. I'd rather dose up IO. The extra borate can be a problem in some cases, too.

SteveNMegz · 02/04/2008, 11:42 AM

we use it, the calcium is crazy over 550ppm at times, Ph also took about 2 month to actually climb up to 8.3, i don't know why but.... our corals and fish are doing well so it must be ok

Beanfish · 02/04/2008, 12:30 PM

I switched to Coralife From IO and I prefer the Coralife. Seems like my Corals are taking off since the change.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 02/04/2008, 01:13 PM

Seems like my Corals are taking off since the change

Were you otherwise supplementing calcium and magnesium? If not, that might be the reason.

mixed_reefer · 02/04/2008, 02:11 PM

I know randy does not care for this brand but i must be honest, it works very well. I believe the borate issue was dealt with and the calcium is a welcome addition in my mainly stony tank. Its cheap, dissolves FAST and has the chemicals we all worry about in great numbers. I would rather add a little baking soda to my salt mix than have to buffer up with expensive and hard to get calcium and magnesium.

ksouers · 02/04/2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mixed_reefer
I know randy does not care for this brand but i must be honest, it works very well. I believe the borate issue was dealt with and the calcium is a welcome addition in my mainly stony tank. Its cheap, dissolves FAST and has the chemicals we all worry about in great numbers. I would rather add a little baking soda to my salt mix than have to buffer up with expensive and hard to get calcium and magnesium.

Magnesium is cheap. I just use Epsom Salt from Walgreen's. I haven't been able to find a suitable calcium source around here, so I just get Seachem Reef Complete from the LFS, about $13 for half a liter.

I've used both Coralife and IO. I like both, each has their own advantage and disadvantage. I seem to get more precipitation from Coralife, but I have to dose more with IO. My current bucket of Coralife has Ca at 450, right where I like it for change water, mag is about 1380. The last IO I had Ca was at 380 and mag was 1200. To bring 10 gallons of IO up took 3 caps of Reef Complete and 4 tablespoons of Epsom Salt. Either way, not bad. When mixing Coralife I usually throw in a tablespoon of Epsom Salt before adding the salt just to keep the precipitation down.

syilk1 · 02/05/2008, 12:07 AM

Thanks Guys
I bought the big bucket so will give it a shot. I am not the best at water changes either so the extra calcium and Mag may help
Yilk

02/03/2008, 10:40 AM	#1
syilk1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 391	Coralife Scientific Grade Salt Mix Is this stuff any good. I had only choice of IO or this which states has better levels of Mag. Got 10 gallon bucket for 50 at petsmart Hope this is an ok Salt Any comments, complaints

02/04/2008, 01:47 AM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd stick with IO. CoraLife has better magnesium, but seems to have too much calcium. I'd rather dose up IO. The extra borate can be a problem in some cases, too. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/04/2008, 11:42 AM	#4
SteveNMegz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Port Colborne Posts: 1,140	we use it, the calcium is crazy over 550ppm at times, Ph also took about 2 month to actually climb up to 8.3, i don't know why but.... our corals and fish are doing well so it must be ok __________________ Steve and Megz Current Tank Info: 55G Shallow Reef (30x30x14) - Equip: Ecotech Radion XR30 G3 Pro, 2 Tunze 6055, Vertex Omega 130 Skimmer, Ecotech Vectra M1 return, Vertex Rx1.5 Zeovit Reactor

02/04/2008, 01:13 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Seems like my Corals are taking off since the change Were you otherwise supplementing calcium and magnesium? If not, that might be the reason. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

02/04/2008, 12:27 AM	#2
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	I have used this salt with no problems. It dissolves pretty fast and pH should come up fast. Some people don't like it because it has a higher boron concentration than some other salts. I don't think it's a problem.

02/04/2008, 12:30 PM	#5
Beanfish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 121	I switched to Coralife From IO and I prefer the Coralife. Seems like my Corals are taking off since the change.

02/04/2008, 02:11 PM	#7
mixed_reefer Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 516	I know randy does not care for this brand but i must be honest, it works very well. I believe the borate issue was dealt with and the calcium is a welcome addition in my mainly stony tank. Its cheap, dissolves FAST and has the chemicals we all worry about in great numbers. I would rather add a little baking soda to my salt mix than have to buffer up with expensive and hard to get calcium and magnesium.

02/05/2008, 12:07 AM	#9
syilk1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 391	Thanks Guys I bought the big bucket so will give it a shot. I am not the best at water changes either so the extra calcium and Mag may help Yilk