Aquaforest salt mix

[Gambit_Aces]

Hey there! Been out of the game for about 10 years but I’m back! Feels good to be excited about a tank again.

So been doing a ton of research while cycling my water. I really like the Aquaforest salt quality and the added aminos sound great. Having said that I have also heard they are basically just feeding bad bacteria which can cause a crash. What’s everyone’s thoughts on this? Is my interpretation incorrect with the added aminos of the reef salt version.

 

[Baldyreef]

Hey there! Been out of the game for about 10 years but I’m back! Feels good to be excited about a tank again.

So been doing a ton of research while cycling my water. I really like the Aquaforest salt quality and the added aminos sound great. Having said that I have also heard they are basically just feeding bad bacteria which can cause a crash. What’s everyone’s thoughts on this? Is my interpretation incorrect with the added aminos of the reef salt version.

welcome back to the hobby and to reef2reef!
as for the salt mix yes it can feed bad bacteria like cyano, it can also raise ammonia leading to high nitrates to fuel a bloom, personally I would stay away from the added aminos

 

[reefmaster70]

I've used Aquaforest salt now for a couple years (20g, 75g and 180g) and it's a good salt, mixes well, and I've never had any issue with it causing any blooms of anything.

 

[Baldyreef]

@Randy Holmes-Farley can help

 

[Baldyreef]

I've used Aquaforest salt now for a couple years (20g, 75g and 180g) and it's a good salt, mixes well, and I've never had any issue with it causing any blooms of anything.

it may depend on coral consumption? what kind of reefs do you use it with? I used to use it but it causes several outbreaks for me then I switched and they went away I kept a lps dominated at the time

 

[reefmaster70]

All mixed reef. Softies, LPS, Sps, etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I cannot see a reason to put amino acids in a salt. I think it misguided and would not use it for a variety of reasons.

It’s akin to putting fish food in it to avoid the time needed to feed them.

If you think dosing amino acids is useful (most likely when other N sources are very low, but even then it is not a slam dunk), then you will want them more often than once a week or month.

Amino acids in the salt mean you should not store the water because bacteria will grow in it and consume trace
Elements from it. That also means it’s not suitable
for an AWC where dosing is spread out.

 

[Gambit_Aces]

I cannot see a reason to put amino acids in a salt. I think it misguided and would not use it for a variety of reasons.

It’s akin to putting fish food in it to avoid the time needed to feed them.

If you think dosing amino acids is useful (most likely when other N sources are very low, but even then it is not a slam dunk), then you will want them more often than once a week or month.

Amino acids in the salt mean you should not store the water because bacteria will grow in it and consume trace
Elements from it. That also means it’s not suitable
for an AWC where dosing is spread out.

This makes a ton of sense. Appreciate the explanation. Is there a salt that you would better recommend for a SPS dominated tank with a few LPs like chalice and maybe a torch but 85-90% SPS.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Almost any salt is a fine way to go. There’s little correlation between tank quality and salt brand used, IMO.

You’ll find lots of salt mix preference threads, with loads of different preferences, including “pick whichever big brand is least expensive for you”.

I use normal IO, but that’s because it is less expensive.

 

[reefmaster70]

Almost any salt is a fine way to go. There’s little correlation between tank quality and salt brand used, IMO.

You’ll find lots of salt mix preference threads, with loads of different preferences, including “pick whichever big brand is least expensive for you”.

I use normal IO, but that’s because it is less expensive.

I have to agree. Any current salt on the market will support reef keeping of any kind. Pick one you can get easily, won't break the bank and matches closely to what parameters you wish to keep your tank at.

 

[reely989]

I cannot see a reason to put amino acids in a salt. I think it misguided and would not use it for a variety of reasons.

It’s akin to putting fish food in it to avoid the time needed to feed them.

If you think dosing amino acids is useful (most likely when other N sources are very low, but even then it is not a slam dunk), then you will want them more often than once a week or month.

Amino acids in the salt mean you should not store the water because bacteria will grow in it and consume trace
Elements from it. That also means it’s not suitable
for an AWC where dosing is spread out.

That's interesting. I've been storing it for AWC for over a year without any issues. At least none that I can tell anyway. Not sure, but I'd probably lean towards that meaning whatever amino acids they are putting in it or how they are putting them in it probably don't do much of anything ha

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Not sure, but I'd probably lean towards that meaning whatever amino acids they are putting in it or how they are putting them in it probably don't do much of anything ha

I think that is correct.

 

[reely989]

But back to the topic at hand--- I am a pretty big believer that salt doesn't matter very much. You're going to end up dosing to get to where you want it anyway. I just want something that mixes pretty quick and clean and doesn't cost a fortune. I was using tropic marin and it mixed quick and clean but wasn't cheap. I swapped to Aquaforest and it mixes pretty quick and clean and it's a lot cheaper. See my post above-- I doubt the amino acids do much of anything but I don't think that matters anyway.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I doubt the amino acids do much of anything but I don't think that matters anyway.

The concern is not just that they do nothing useful, but that bacterial growth in stored water consumes trace elements and may go anaerobic if it is not stirred.