[TimH07]

while i was doing my water change, i tested the water with the IO mix in it at a SG of 32ppt (1.0245) i tested ca NO3 and KH

i mainly wanted to do the ca so i could see if a weekly/bi weekly change in a 26 gallon could be enough ca additive with IO. the ca was 400ppm on the money. (with only perhaps 1 or 2 SPS)

i did the kh and the no3 test cause it was tap mixed with only IO and the nitrate was 20ppm (what my tank has been reading since day 1) huzzah the source. and the KH was 14dKH (odd cause my tank tested at 12dKH)

you dont have to tell me, i know tap is crap. im getting a ro/di unit perhaps this week, my lfs doesnt sell the water and im not driving to philly to buy ro/di water heh.

but mainly i was curious about io's ca level and i was suprised it was that good.

has anyone tested IO with 0 TDS water?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by TimH07

but mainly i was curious about io's ca level and i was suprised it was that good.

That could be because you're not mixing it up to normal natural seawater salinity, which is on average 35 ppt, not 32 ppt.

I suggest you mix it up to 35 ppt and retest the calcium. Instant Ocean usually tests at ~350 ppm Ca @ 35 ppt salinity. If you prefer to go by specific gravity, then go with 1.026 SG.



P.S. -- The reason I never post specific gravity is because it's temperature dependent and people maintain their tanks at different temperatures. It's a lot clearer to simply report the salinity in PSU (practical salinity units, which is the same as ppt).

P.P.S. -- There have been reports on another board by some people whose Instant Ocean salt tested below 300 ppm Ca. At least one of those people, who reported testing Ca at only 260 ppm, sent a sample of his salt to the manufacturer and they tested it and agreed that it was low, so they sent him a free replacement bucket.

In this thread on another board, the topic starter talks about low Ca in Reef Crystals and how the manufacturer, Aquarium Systems, sent him a free replacement bucket. There are other threads on that board about low Ca in Instant Ocean. For example, in this thread, the topic starter reports that his Instant Ocean is testing at only 260 ppm Ca.

You can read a discussion of various salt mix brands in this thread on another board.

[Ninong]

Suggested reading:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

What is seawater
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-11/rhf/index.php

[TimH07]

thanks ninong

[TimH07]

im starting to look like a reefer now! lol :slap:

i got a decent DI unit today, aquarium pharm's tap water filter DI for 40 bux
and switched to reef crystals instead of IO

its a step in the right direction. my bank is limited, ro unit or skimmer is my next priority, but i figure let me get my source water cleaned up first then i'll worry about skimming it lol