ok i think this is why i have a calc issue

[nobody]

the side of the red sea pro salt bucket says that a level of 450ppm of calc will be at 1.022 and the higher the SG the higher the calc level goes. I kept my SG at 1.024 so i have a calc level of 520ppm. This was checked with a api kit and verified with sailfert so i know its right. And it is the same reading with freshly made water before added to the tank. So question one is....will my calc being 520ppm hurt anything? Should i lower my SG to 1.022 to lower calc? Should I just switch salts? I have a half bag of IO left although i think its crap. Everything is doing fine from what i know.

[crvz]

why don't you like IO? I'd bet half the folks on the board use it with success (I lean towards the IO reef crystals stuff, but it's the same manufacturer).

calcium is only part of the story. if the red sea salt has a calc that high, I imagine it's alkalinity is deficient. It's the opposite with instant ocean; IO has a high alk level and a lower calcium level (11-12dkh and ~330-350ppm calcium). Mixing the two would probably make a good salt.

[DarthOcellaris]

did you also do a CA test with the salt mix @ 1.022? Does it read 450ppm?

a LFS says RC is designed for the reef tank but if that's the case, then why isn't it designed to have those CA levels @ 1.026 which is what NSW salinity is?

I use IO and simply bump up the CA with Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium fwiw

[nobody]

yes 1.022 reads 450ppm as advestised on the bucket. ok i will try to do a 50/50 mix of IO(although i hate it) and red sea pro and see what i get. I have used io twice in my life and both times the freshly made water had a nitrate level of 10-20. if i get a nitrate reading of even .01 im not using that crap

[ckusnierek]

Keep in mind.... since your wanting a clam. They like a lil nitrate.

[nobody]

im not wanting a clam i have had a clam for a few weeks now and it(he)(she) is doing great. my nitrates now are between 25-50 according to sailfert. but with the three water changes in a week(one to take water out to give someone my soft corals and one was my normal change on sunday and today i am going to take two gallons out and replace with 50/50 red sea pro/IO to see what happens) my nitrates should end up being much lower...............plus that skimmer i got started producing yesterday and i already have about 1/2" of skimmate

[Wiskey]

I am also willing to bet that the Alk in that salt is very low,.. same deal with Coralife salt, and Oceaniac salt, very high CA and Low Alk. When you do pick up that alk test kit (and I highly encourage you to do it sonner than later) you might want to pick up some baking soda too.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Oh BTW,.. I use Instant ocean myself and couldn't be happier with it,.. well,.. I would like it to have higher Mag, but other than that I couldn't be happier.

Whiskey

[DarthOcellaris]

why arent the salts balanced in their alk/ca/mag? Seems to me that would be to a manufacturer's advantage cause it would surely attract ME who buys 5 buckets at a time.

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

I am also willing to bet that the Alk in that salt is very low,.. same deal with Coralife salt, and Oceaniac salt, very high CA and Low Alk. When you do pick up that alk test kit (and I highly encourage you to do it sonner than later) you might want to pick up some baking soda too.

Whiskey

yeah, I agree about getting an alk test kit...that's one parameter that can drop quicker than you realize. Baking soda is good but I prefer Reef Builder to bump up my alk.

[nobody]

So based off of what i am hearing a 50/50 mix of red sea pro and IO would be an ideal salt

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by ionracing

So based off of what i am hearing a 50/50 mix of red sea pro and IO would be an ideal salt

I did IO and Oceaniac 50/50 and it was perfect,.. I don't know about Red Sea.

Whiskey

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

yeah, I agree about getting an alk test kit...that's one parameter that can drop quicker than you realize. Baking soda is good but I prefer Reef Builder to bump up my alk.

That's good stuff too But I'm cheap

Whiskey

[nobody]

red sea pro is the same content as tropic marine pro. it is very reef oriented salt. the only draw back i see is the calc is too high at higher salinity levels.

[crvz]

I've found reefcrystals to be pretty well balanced... better than most of the salts in that price range (particularly IO). Calcium around 400-420 and alkalinity around 9-10. At least that's what I got on the last few buckets. I can get it for like $32 a bucket from the drs.