Changing salt? and RODI question

[SeeCrabRun]

I currently use instant ocean as that is the only thing any store nearby carried when I started. It seems to have been working fine so far, but I'm wondering if it is really a good salt or if I should change?

Currently I only run a FOWLR but want to add some ricordea and mushrooms eventually. I might one day add some zoas, but they weird me out being toxic, so that is a distant thought. I'm still not ready for the ricordea anyway.

So what are the opinions? I currently use RO water but will be switching to RO/DI once my unit arrives, so I know the water now has more ions(good and bad) in it now and will have less which might need to be made up for with the salt mix(good).


And while I have your attention. Would this be a good unit for a 29g tank? http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticLi...RORDFS-vi.html

[ChimolaFish]

Instant ocean is a great salt, but some people have their own preferences. To each their own, but I wouldn't worry if you've been doing well with that brand. Ricordea and mushrooms are easy to care for, as well as zoas. They make a reef version, I would switch to that if you haven't already.

[SeeCrabRun]

I was going to switch the next time I purchased salt, then wondered if I should try another brand.

I've also updated the original post with a question about the RODI I was looking at.

[billdogg]

I have used pretty much every salt on the market over the last 25+ years. My go-to is IO. It is very consistent, and one of the best priced on the market. Foster & Smith will bring a 200g box to your door for $44.99. Get 2 and free shipping as well. I will still buy others if they are on sale at a good price just because, well, it's a good price.

As for the ro/di - I think you can get a much better unit from www.buckeyehydro.com or spectrapure or bulk reef supply. The one you are looking at looks to me like it will require proprietary filter cartridges, Any of the others will use the industry standard sizes and that will make replacing them much cheaper and easier.

I got mine from buckeyehydro and could not be happier. They will gladly custom build one to fit your needs if an off the shelf model won't work.

[E46Twist]

IO is a good mix, they are all fine. The difference is there element content. IO has very little of the elements LPS and SPS like to soak up. My LPS did not grow very well using IO. I though about dosing but then decided to switch to reef crystals and have had nothing but good results. Other mixes contain even more, or different levels of these elements. IMO if they have reef crystals that should work just fine.

[SeeCrabRun]

Originally Posted by billdogg

I got mine from buckeyehydro and could not be happier. They will gladly custom build one to fit your needs if an off the shelf model won't work.

Thanks, I have been looking really hard into units and trying to decide what will be most efficient and also economical for me. Since I only use 7 gallons a week between water changes and top offs and rinsing things, I don't see the value of spending hundreds on a unit I won't make much use of.

I had originally planned to use the RO portion for drinking water, but in my research have decided to go a different route for my drinking water and use the unit only for the tank.

The $100 price tag is pretty temping if it would be good enough for tank water.

I also don't want to install it anywhere, but take it out as needed. I have a 7 gallon storage tank I've been lugging to the store every week and it is just getting tiresome doing so, plus that water is RO only.

[shesacharmer]

I like IO Reef Crystals a lot. It mixes well and is economical. The only thing I dose (manually) is mag and that's because I have alot of corals. I may have to dose more things when they grow out but it's pretty manageable for now.

[SeeCrabRun]

Thanks for all the input. I'll stick with what I use currently and after my RODI arrives I'll switch to the reef version.

I'm emailing with buckeye and hope we can work something out.