[Gizmo232]

What is the best way to change brands of salt mix. I am using oceanic now and need to change to a more stable salt, I am finding out that my current salt is low in magn. and cal. I also have been dripping kalkwasser now for about a week and still have not seen any change in cal levels yet. also what is the best way to add trace elements back in the water while using kalk. I am using kent kalk and I was using kent trace element before I started dripping kalk

[orion25]

If you want to change brands of salt do it sloooooooowly..... By this I mean use the Oceanic that you currently use and substitute 5 callons or so of another salt at first. Then increase the other salt to 10 gallons, etc. But you should go slowly (see a theme here) because you could shock your corals and fish...............

On a side note, I love Instant Ocean salt...................

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Gizmo232

What is the best way to change brands of salt mix. I am using oceanic now and need to change to a more stable salt, I am finding out that my current salt is low in magn. and cal.

This is the first time I have heard someone complain that Oceanic is low in calcium. Most people report that it is VERY high in calcium. What are you getting for calcium readings?

also what is the best way to add trace elements back in the water while using kalk. I am using kent kalk and I was using kent trace element before I started dripping kalk

Exactly which trace elements do you think are low in your tank? Virtually all commercial salt mixes contain higher concentrations of all of the trace elements than are found in natural seawater.

[middlemark]

Originally Posted by Ninong

This is the first time I have heard someone complain that Oceanic is low in calcium.

Agreed, I switched from it because of low Alk + very very high Calcium - what levels are you getting?

I'd do it slowly, as water changes nice and progressively. [Maybe 5% to start?].

Personally, I don't add any trace elements beyond what my water changes give. I add Ca/Alk in various forms - but nothing beyond that.

[charlie]

These guys pretty much got the changing of the salt covered!! Kalk only maintains Ca levels. You need to use something like turbo Calcium to get the levels to where you want, then the kalk will help maintain that level. You will probably need to supplement with the turbo every so often depending on what your level is and what is in your tank.

[Gizmo232]

Originally Posted by Ninong

This is the first time I have heard someone complain that Oceanic is low in calcium. Most people report that it is VERY high in calcium. What are you getting for calcium readings?



Exactly which trace elements do you think are low in your tank? Virtually all commercial salt mixes contain higher concentrations of all of the trace elements than are found in natural seawater.

I been getting 180 on the cal

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Gizmo232

I been getting 180 on the cal

If your testing is accurate, then that's a VERY low calcium reading. Are you also testing your alkalinity?

Have you ever tried testing the saltwater before you add it to your tank? If your freshly made up saltwater is only 180 ppm calcium, then it's defective. Maybe it's a bad batch or something. You should request a refund or replacement. If necessary, direct your complaint to the manufacturer.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by Gizmo232

I been getting 180 on the cal

What test kits are you using? Every batch of Oceanic I mix up goes at least 450. I agree with Ninong, if you are only getting 180, take that back to where ever you got it and request a change or your money back! That's just not right for Oceanic.

[Gizmo232]

Originally Posted by charlie

What test kits are you using? Every batch of Oceanic I mix up goes at least 450. I agree with Ninong, if you are only getting 180, take that back to where ever you got it and request a change or your money back! That's just not right for Oceanic.

Well I am now on my second bucket of salt from 2 different places at about 6 months apart.... so whats the chances of that happening? Also keep in mind I am using RO water if that makes a difference???

[charlie]

I think that your test kits may be hosed up, Have you tried testing the same water with 2 different test kits?

[Gizmo232]

Originally Posted by charlie

I think that your test kits may be hosed up, Have you tried testing the same water with 2 different test kits?

Well I just used a new test kit and Im at 450 on the nose

[middlemark]

Originally Posted by Gizmo232

Well I just used a new test kit and Im at 450 on the nose

That's more what I got testing - I normally got more around 500.

I'd keep an eye on the Alk, I had a lot of problems when using Oceanic trying to keep that at proper levels. Then again, others did not have the problems I did with Oceanic - so much is tank-dependent IMO.

[Shells]

Originally Posted by Gizmo232

What is the best way to change brands of salt mix. I am using oceanic now and need to change to a more stable salt, I am finding out that my current salt is low in magn. and cal. I also have been dripping kalkwasser now for about a week and still have not seen any change in cal levels yet. also what is the best way to add trace elements back in the water while using kalk. I am using kent kalk and I was using kent trace element before I started dripping kalk

Hi everyone!

Gizmo232,
I am getting ready to switch brands of salt mix. I've been using Instant Ocean. The salt mix i will be switcing to is by Aqua Craft, called Bio-Sea.
They also make a salt called Marine Envirnement, which is basically the
same as Bio-Sea, but with comes with a bottle of 'supplements'.
These salts are supposed to be the closest to natural seawater.
You should not need to add supplements using aquacraft salt mixes
with regular water changes. except calcium,,and a buffer if needed.

As far as the switching process, i'm just doing a regular water change,
25 gal, using the new mix. I do not however have corals or fish yet.
just live rock, crabs and snails.
Here is a link to their website. They should test results with the major
brands of saltmix. These results show how the mixes compare to
natural seawater. I hope I have helped.

www.aquacraft.net

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Shells

Here is a link to their website. They should test results with the major
brands of saltmix. These results show how the mixes compare to
natural seawater. I hope I have helped.

www.aquacraft.net

That website has been the topic of discussion on this and all of the other reefkeeping bulletin boards for as long as there have been bulletin boards: Do you trust your salt?

The "testing" was done more than 12 years ago. The "rating system" was designed by the manufacturer of the three top-rated salts.

This is one "report" that needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

[dougc]

I ditched Oceanic in favor of Instant Ocean a couple of months ago because of problems with brown slime. In spite of running a calcium reactor and nielson reactor, I have trouble maintaining calcium levels. It did get rid of the slime, but it was a short-lived victory. Since treating for red bugs, I have had a bit of an algae problem, all green stuff, no brown. This is a common side effect of the treatment, probably because it kill some things that then pollute the tank.

BTW, I think the second treatment finally silenced my mantis. I haven't heard it all week. I think it had developed a taste for peppermint shrimp. I only trapped one peppermint for removal before the red bug treatment. There were three in there a few weeks earlier.

[Shells]

Originally Posted by Ninong

That website has been the topic of discussion on this and all of the other reefkeeping bulletin boards for as long as there have been bulletin boards: Do you trust your salt?

The "testing" was done more than 12 years ago. The "rating system" was designed by the manufacturer of the three top-rated salts.

This is one "report" that needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Thanks for your imput.
I have used Instant Ocean on all my tanks and frankly, i'm not that happy
with it.
I glanced through the link...

The marketing tactics of AquaCraft are not a factor with me for
deciding to use or not to use their products.
I want to conduct my own 'test' and see for myself.