What saltwater mix?

stephen666 said:
i agree ....use reef crystals there the best ive ever used
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LOL, obviously someone who hasn't used many brands of salts.. or at least not tested frequently, because if you have, you would notice that things like CA and Mg levels are all over the place in RC salt. Talking CA from 320-440, and Mg from 1000-1300. To me, that is just to much fluctuation for salt right out of the bag. Even if you get 2 bags at the same time, I have found levels between bags can differ greatly. Say you buy 2 bags.. only test the first one, CA is at 420.. so you think your good and don't test CA daily.. next bag has a CA level of only 320, but you assume since you bought both bags at the same time, the levels are the same.. now what happens to your tank? Bad things..

I still test every bucket of salt I use, I never assume anything, and that lesson I learned the hard way from using RC salt. Since switching to other brands, I have never experienced fluctuations like I did with RC, but that doesn't mean I still don't test every batch before I use it for multiple variables like Alk, CA, Mg, Phos, Silicates, etc.
 
Another sort-of-related question: If I buy premixed saltwater from my LFS, will it go bad if I don't use it right away? If I keep it in a jug until the day I use it, then put it in a bucket, aerate it and bring it up to temperature before putting it into my tank, will it be okay? I'm thinking it'll be nice to keep like a 5 gallon jug around for emergencies if it doesn't go bad. I can't really imagine why it would but I just thought I'd check with you folks and see what you think. Thanks!
 
Yes, you can keep saltwater stored. I like to fill the container to the very top so there is no air left in it, then seal it.

Just an FYI, aerating saltwater is near impossible in a small container. I always have a 32G trashcan full of RO/DI water and have an air pump and powerhead at the surface running 24/7 in that container, and then when I need saltwater, I use that aerated RO/DI water to mix the salt with. That way the water is aerated.

Just how efficient are those little bubbles that come out of air stones, or diffusers? Many aquarists believe they play an important role in an aquarium when it comes to oxygenation and aeration of the water, and that this air source is adequate. Not so! When it comes to the increase of DO (dissolved oxygen) in an aquarium, the water surface is one of THE main places where this exchange takes place. Oxygen is dissolved down into the water, carbon dioxide is released out into the air, not to mention that other gases readily pass through the permeable surface of water as well. This is the principle that our bodies work on when we breathe; good air in... bad air out. It's the same way with your tank.
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So is it useless to stick an air stone in my 5 gallon container with mixed saltwater? I mix up a batch and let it sit for a couple of days before I use it - is that good, bad or indifferent?
 
Well, it definately won't hurt anything, but probably will not help anything either, unless you stick a small powerhead at the surface of the water, put the airstone under the powerhead so the powerhead sucks in air. This will make tiny bubbles at the surface of the water. This is about the only way I know of that may even help, but again, probably will not help all that much. Putting a fan blowing over the top of the container would probably do 100x more good than an airstone.
 
I use Oceanic, myself, but would like to look into that OceanPure Pro salt that Ace had mentioned.
 
I've been very happy with OceanPure Pro. It's cheap salt and I would worry about using it in a tank without a good number of water changes. It's what I use at the store because I go through such a huge quantity. I use Kent at home for my two reef tanks, but only because I had a friend that swore by it so I agreed to try it. I really can't see much of a difference, to be honest. Things are still healthy and thriving and test within normal ranges if I don't get too busy and let water changes go an extra week or two ;).

Barbie
 
I know this is about 2 weeks dead now, but I thought I'd throw in something as well...

I have been using Seachem Reef Salt since I started my tank and I love it. Very stable readings so far for Calcium and pH.
I bought a supplement pack thinking my coralline wasn't growing much because readings were down. I was adding it as directed on the bottle until I went and bought a test kit for Ca. (I know, I should have done this FIRST)
After testing now for 3 weeks it has not dropped and all I'm doing now is water changes.
I like the trace elements it has and overall how easy it is to just mix up one thing and change out the water.

Seachem Reef Salt gets my vote so far....
 
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