Bulk salt prices

[goblin072]

I paying about 300-400 per month to my LFS for my 330 gal tank maintance.

I am thinking about doing it myself and maybe using them once a month to clean the filters. (Nu-Clears)

I need help choosing a RO unit.

My plan is to.

1. Keep a 44 gallon Brute non toxic trash can with a mag 7 pump into.
2. Do 20-30 gallon per week changes
3. No Buckets. I have a floor drain under the tank and pump the water from the Brute44 into tank. I might need a mag 9.5 as the tank is over 6 feet tall.

I probably can get it all for around 400.00 plus salt. I will store the trash can in a closet. It has a dolly kit so I can wheel it over to the tank and just pull the vinyl hose out of it for filling.

Which type of salt is best? We use Tropic Marine now.

And which can I get in bulk? I would buy 1 year supply if the saving were there.

I figure a 100 gallon per day RO unit should do.

Do I need to keep the pump running 24/7 in the mixing bucket? I do that at my home but not sure if I realy need to.

[leebca]

There is a very wide range of salts out there. Everyone seems to have their favorite. The quality of the salt has to do with what kind of system and marine life you have. In my opinion, almost any mainstream salt will do. I use Tropic Marin because of its well rounded micro nutrient content. It is more expensive than most, mostly because it uses a higher grade of chemicals and it is manufactured overseas and shipped in to the USA.

For bulk quantities, you'll have to shop around. Most 'bulk' packaging is in the 5 gallon bucket which usually makes up 200 to 250 gallons of salt water. Just be sure you compare apples with apples. You want to know the amount of salt water it makes up at a known specific gravity. If you keep invertebrates, corals, etc., you'll want a salt that provides maybe an excess of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.

Salt mixing recommendations are given here: How to Make a Successful Water Change

Do I need to keep the pump running 24/7 in the mixing bucket?

With regards to this question, I'm a bit unsure of the question. The water needs to mix until the salts in the artificial preparation have dissolved and interacted. If you check out the above link, the length of time for mixing is given. If you will be doing weekly water changes, then mixing the salt for a week is a good idea so in that case the water will be mixing 24/7.

[goblin072]

Leebca thanks for the link and information!

I have to say I enjoy this site and you information. I have been to some other marine forums and have found this site to be the best.

There is a fellow I spoke with on the phone that I think you would find interesting. Or I would be interested on what you think about his ideas on marine fish.

I sells a salt that he claims is void of additives. He claims that big manufacturers like Instant Ocean have to put additives to keep the salt dry and stable in the warehouse. Those additives (I can't remember what they are called) are not good for the fish although they don't kill them.

His trick is to separate the salt from (Calcium? but I can't be sure if thats what he said) When you mix his salt you have to add the ingredient he left out separately. By doing that he does not have to add the additives.

I have 5 years experience with 5 Mbuna tanks but I am new to Marine. Have you heard of salt like that?

Check out his site and give him a call. He will talk your ear off, he is really nice and likes to talk about the trade.

Has anyone here ordered from this person?

He has this on his site. http://www.gettankedaquariums.com/in..._Main_Page.htm


The secret of maintaining a well balanced saltwater aquarium water chemistry.

We ask that you do not think of your saltwater aquarium as a fish only saltwater tank, reef only saltwater tank or as a saltwater reef tank with fish. Think of your aquarium as a saltwater aquarium, period. In nature the marine animals all come from a well balanced system. This is how we maintain our saltwater aquarium water chemistry values with great success. Magnesium Values: 1250 - 1350 mg/L, Calcium Values: 380 - 420 ppm, Alkalinity Values: 3 - 5 meg/L or 8 - 11 dKH, pH Values: 8.1 - 8.4, Borate Values: 1.0 – 2.0 meg/L, Salinity Values: 1.026 SG or 35 PPT, Iodide Values: 0.03 – 0.06 ppm, Strontium Values: 10 and 15 mg/L. By keeping the above values stable and constant, using R/O DI filtered water, along with proper water changes, using a good protein skimmer, using carbon in a reactor, using 25 micron filtering bags and proper lighting for your corals. You will have a well balanced saltwater tank and you'll be able to grow and maintain good coralline growth and house any animal from the world’s reef systems and have them flourish. Try this method for 2 months and you will see a difference! Pass It On!

[leebca]

You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoy Reefland. There is a wealth of information and experience here.

I have never heard of that salt. But there are two considerations that I can think of:

1. Instant Ocean, for example, is used to breed marine fish in. It has been used for that successfully for decades, and it has 'improved' over the years. What more can we expect from a salt except that it is good enough to breed and raise marine fish?

2. Anyone can say anything they want. You know me. I want proof. Show me a comparison of that salt vs. other salts, and the effects on marine life. There are way too many talkers/salesmen in the hobby vs. proof and data.

I think it boils down to 'not interested' since we have salts that are living up to and some beyond our expectations. If a new product comes along, it has to show me -- data not theory -- that it is an improvement. My oldest fish is 18 years old, kept in a few different kinds of salts over the years. I'd be hard pressed to say that, when the fish dies, it could have been the salt mix.

[CubsFan]

What type of fish is your 18 year old?

[leebca]

It is what is commonly referred to as a Tomato Clown.

[goblin072]

I used instant ocean at home and it seems to be good. Although I do see undesolved solids in the bottom of my 44 gallon mixing tank. Its not much, maybe that whay he is talking about.

[leebca]

I would be concerned about that. I would write to IO and ask them why this would or could be. When you write, you may wish to include the batch or lot number of the IO you saw this in, along with details of the source water you are using to mix the salt into.

[goblin072]

I'm not too worried about IO. Even if it does have some extras added for storage purposes it does not seem to be hurting anything. I think fish are dying from poor water and parasites before they are from additives.

Are all RO/DI units created equal? There are many to choose from anyone have suggestions for a decent unit that does about 100 gallon per day?

Thanks!

[Buckeye Field Supply]

With that size of tank I'd encourage you to think about a 150 gpd unit. Our 150 gpd membranes have a rejection rate similar to a Filmtec 75 gpd membrane.

Russ

[goblin072]

What do you mean by "Rejection rate"?
And what is a filmtec membrane?

I don't own a RO unit so I am not familiar with the jargon yet.

Thanks

[Buckeye Field Supply]

The rejection rate is a measure of the percent of dissolved solids that a RO membrane does not allow to pass. The higher the rejection rate the better.

The most popular/best selling membranes are produced by a company called Filmtec, which is owned by DOW.

Russ