AF Reef Salt & Red Slime

[Steven Garland]

So,I recently got a box of Reef Salt and did a 1g water change in my 8g.. 2 days later red slime everywhere. Took over a week and 2x 1g water changes,and dropped the percentage of my light down to 18w to get it go away.

Has anyone had issues with this ? Maybe its the added amino's or something.

I need to do some cleaning in my 15g,and dreading having the same issue

 

[Fish Fan]

I have been using AF Reef Saltmix recently, and my tank was running very high nitrates, and through the help of R2R it was determined that the amino acids in the salt mix were causing ammonia to rise, which was leading to my nitrates. I’m going to stop using this salt I think.

I hope that helps, I can provide a link to my problem if you’d like to read about it.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If this AF reef salt has added amino acids, those can promote bacteria, including Cyanobacteria.

 

[Steven Garland]

If this AF reef salt has added amino acids, those can promote bacteria, including Cyanobacteria.

It does. I am wondering if its a first initial use and the tank balances everything out.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It does. I am wondering if its a first initial use and the tank balances everything out.

Whether it is or not, I cannot see a reason to put amino acids in a salt mix. If you want to dose them, dose them, but to tie them to a water change schedule doesn’t make sense to me. :)

 

[Steven Garland]

I just add amino's 1-2 times randomly thru the week. But using this salt,I will hold off and see how things go. I am hoping after my first wc with the salt and the cyano comes and goes they won't keep coming back every time I do a wc.

As for the cyano,I had no algae whatsoever before using the salt then a few days later BOOM it popped up then went away.

 

[Steven Garland]

So on the 15g today,I mixed up 2g of fresh salt yesterday. I did a .5g w/c just to see if maybe I introduce small amount of whatever bacteria is in the new salt slowly,I can miss the red slime popping up.

Idk if it'll work,but we shall see.

 

[Fish Fan]

So on the 15g today,I mixed up 2g of fresh salt yesterday. I did a .5g w/c just to see if maybe I introduce small amount of whatever bacteria is in the new salt slowly,I can miss the red slime popping up.

Idk if it'll work,but we shall see.

Are you still using the Aquaforrest Reef Salt?

There really shouldn't be any bacteria in your freshly made saltwater, but things in your salt mix may be "feeding" microorganisms already in your tank.

 

[Patx]

Huh ?
Aquaforest reef salt contain amino acide ?
Is that's new ?
https://aquaforest.eu/en/products/seawater/marine-salts/reef-salt/

 

[Steven Garland]

Are you still using the Aquaforrest Reef Salt?

There really shouldn't be any bacteria in your freshly made saltwater, but things in your salt mix may be "feeding" microorganisms already in your tank.

So far I've only used 1.5g gallons of it. 1g on my 8g,and today a 1/2 gallon on my 15g to see how it does.

Huh ?
Aquaforest reef salt contain amino acide ?
Is that's new ?
https://aquaforest.eu/en/products/seawater/marine-salts/reef-salt/

Yes,and vitamin c.

 

[Patx]

I've been using it for over a year and I don't remember seeing the amino acid and C part.
Anyway, no cyano...

 

[Fish Fan]

I've been using it for over a year and I don't remember seeing the amino acid and C part.
Anyway, no cyano...

Yes, the AquaForrest Reef Salt mix specifically contains additional amino acids and vitamin C:
https://aquaforest.eu/en/products/seawater/marine-salts/reef-salt/
From their description:
"It has been enriched with unique ingredients that promote coral health and growth. It contains amino acids that play a significant role in coral growth and polyps. The addition of vitamin C, on the other hand, positively influences the immunity and overall condition of all aquarium inhabitants."

In my case, it was determined by some very experienced R2R members that the amino acids in the mix were causing elevated ammonia, which was leading to very high nitrate.

If this salt is working for you, that's great, but I am going to discontinue using this salt. I would prefer to add aminos and other elements as needed, rather than blindly via water changes.

I hope this helps and good luck!

 

[Pod_01]

The addition of vitamin C, on the other hand, positively influences the immunity and overall condition of all aquarium inhabitants."

That is interesting claim, I didn’t know vitamin C would do anything for aquarium inhabitants ie: corals….

I recall reading that people used to dose it…

Hopefully AF has some studies listed that support this claim.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That is interesting claim, I didn’t know vitamin C would do anything for aquarium inhabitants ie: corals….

I recall reading that people used to dose it…

Hopefully AF has some studies listed that support this claim.

I’ve never seen a clear indication of benefit, but it was trendy for a while. It drops ORP through the floor and likely changes the form of some redox active trace elements. It also will give a small organic carbon dosing effect.,.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I've gone through half a pail of the AF reef salt and did notice a small amount of red slime, or dusting on 3 of the rocks, but I just left it alone after a number of blasting it with the turkey baster. It just went away and never came back. I dunno but I'm having good luck with this salt after not being able to use TM pro reef anymore.

 

[Steven Garland]

I've gone through half a pail of the AF reef salt and did notice a small amount of red slime, or dusting on 3 of the rocks, but I just left it alone after a number of blasting it with the turkey baster. It just went away and never came back. I dunno but I'm having good luck with this salt after not being able to use TM pro reef anymore.

I feel a little better hearing that.

I tried some of the AF salt on my 15g and nothing happened. So the 8g must have not been reading for whatever amino's they had or the tank isn't mature enough to handle it.