Can I mix salts

[DesertFishkeeper]

I have tried a couple different salts recently. I’ve been using tropic Marin pro reef for a couple years but when I couldn’t get it a reasonable price I started using Red Sea blue bucket. No issues there. I’m going to try Fritz rpm because I can get it at wholesale cost and it’s a good salt with parameters not far from what I keep my tank at. Problem is I got about enough salt to make roughly 20 gallons of both Red Sea and Tropic Marin each. I usually make about 40gal at a time, let it mix up and use the whole batch for my water changes. Can I mix any of these salts in a batch? I’m not worried about the parameters or the actual salt my concern is things like different anti caking agents.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

If you can (since you are not worried about parameters) is to mix everything up separately and combine the water. Once the salt is mixed it should be ok.

 

[rtparty]

Yes you can mix them

 

[DesertFishkeeper]

If you can (since you are not worried about parameters) is to mix everything up separately and combine the water. Once the salt is mixed it should be ok.

On the parameters the Red Sea blue and the rpm are close and I can dose a bit in the bin if I need to in order to make it match about where my tank is at. I knew I could mix them after the fact. I was wondering if I could just dump in both to my brute can safely. Worst case I could do it as an experiment and then test all parameters not just salinity if for no other reason than to post the results.

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

On the parameters the Red Sea blue and the rpm are close and I can dose a bit in the bin if I need to in order to make it match about where my tank is at. I knew I could mix them after the fact. I was wondering if I could just dump in both to my brute can safely. Worst case I could do it as an experiment and then test all parameters not just salinity if for no other reason than to post the results.

My only concern was different salts have different mixing times and use times. I use TM bio-actiff I have to use it in 24 hrs. I thought the Red Sea, or at least one of them, you also have to use in 24hrs or the alk starts dropping. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[JumboShrimp]

When I see questions like this, I appreciate all-over-again why I love FOWLRs, where 'salt is salt is salt.'

 

[DesertFishkeeper]

When I see questions like this, I appreciate all-over-again why I love FOWLRs, where 'salt is salt is salt.'

I had no worries about switching up for my tank. It was throwing them in the same mixing container and getting some chemical reaction from their different anti caking agents

 

[Uncle99]

Sure, but I only mixed a bit at a time of the stuff I’m no longer using so parameters for the most part are unaffected.

I’ve used Fritz blue and had no issues other than a good price at almost half TPM.

When Tropic Marin exceeded $180 dollars a bucket here in Canada, it was time to send them packing. The LFS delisted the product with virtually no turns.

I must have used every salt over the years. I can’t say one was better than another, just different mixes.

 

[DesertFishkeeper]

On the parameters the Red Sea blue and the rpm are close and I can dose a bit in the bin if I need to in order to make it match about where my tank is at. I knew I could mix them after the fact. I was wondering if I could just dump in both to my brute can safely. Worst case I could do it as an experiment and then test all parameters not just salinity if for no other reason than to post the results.

My only concern was different salts have different mixing times and use times. I use TM bio-actiff I have to use it in 24 hrs. I thought the Red Sea, or at least one of them, you also have to use in 24hrs or the alk starts dropping. Don't quote me on that though.

Blue bucket doesn’t say anything about how soon to use it but it says don’t mix more than 4 hours, but I do because I didn’t read that until just now. That doesn’t make any sense though because in your tank it’s always circulating. I know the black bucket you have to use within a few hours because the levels are really elevated and will precipitate out. I used TM pro reef forever but with my friend switching wholesalers Im switching to Fritz because I get it for cheeeap.

 

[DesertFishkeeper]

Sure, but I only mixed a bit at a time of the stuff I’m no longer using so parameters for the most part are unaffected.

I’ve used Fritz blue and had no issues other than a good price.

I’m really close friends with a lfs owner who does fresh and salt and for years I’ve brought in plants for him, which is how we became friends in the first place. He orders me saltwater stuff at wholesale so I can’t complain about the price.

 

[Uncle99]

I’m really close friends with a lfs owner who does fresh and salt and for years I’ve brought in plants for him, which is how we became friends in the first place. He orders me saltwater stuff at wholesale so I can’t complain about the price.

That’s a big bonus.

 

[DesertFishkeeper]

I’m really close friends with a lfs owner who does fresh and salt and for years I’ve brought in plants for him, which is how we became friends in the first place. He orders me saltwater stuff at wholesale so I can’t complain about the price.

That’s a big bonus.

It’s great because it’s not tic for tac. I do fresh and salt. And if I breed or grow something in abundance for my system I just give it to him. And he gives me access to wholesale costs and sometimes he’ll give me plants or corals just to see if I can make him more.

 

[Uncle99]

It’s great because it’s not tic for tac. I do fresh and salt. And if I breed or grow something in abundance for my system I just give it to him. And he gives me access to wholesale costs and sometimes he’ll give me plants or corals just to see if I can make him more.

That a great share IMM.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

On the parameters the Red Sea blue and the rpm are close and I can dose a bit in the bin if I need to in order to make it match about where my tank is at. I knew I could mix them after the fact. I was wondering if I could just dump in both to my brute can safely. Worst case I could do it as an experiment and then test all parameters not just salinity if for no other reason than to post the results.

Yes, thats fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Blue bucket doesn’t say anything about how soon to use it but it says don’t mix more than 4 hours, but I do because I didn’t read that until just now. That doesn’t make any sense though because in your tank it’s always circulating. I know the black bucket you have to use within a few hours because the levels are really elevated and will precipitate out. I used TM pro reef forever but with my friend switching wholesalers Im switching to Fritz because I get it for cheeeap.

Such rules do make sense for technical chemistry reasons (calcium carbonate is far more prone to precipitate in a mixing barrel than in a reef tank at exactly the same alk and pH), but mixing salts is fine, regardless of the rules.

 

[DesertFishkeeper]

Blue bucket doesn’t say anything about how soon to use it but it says don’t mix more than 4 hours, but I do because I didn’t read that until just now. That doesn’t make any sense though because in your tank it’s always circulating. I know the black bucket you have to use within a few hours because the levels are really elevated and will precipitate out. I used TM pro reef forever but with my friend switching wholesalers Im switching to Fritz because I get it for cheeeap.

Such rules do make sense for technical chemistry reasons (calcium carbonate is far more prone to precipitate in a mixing barrel than in a reef tank at exactly the same alk and pH), but mixing salts is fine, regardless of the rules.

Thank you. That’s why I question a lot of the “you don’t do that”. I’ve been in freshwater for 30 years but only a few years in reefing so I’m still trying to figure out what’s just been repeated for years and what’s proven based on experience.

 

[BeanAnimal]

My only concern was different salts have different mixing times and use times. I use TM bio-actiff I have to use it in 24 hrs. I thought the Red Sea, or at least one of them, you also have to use in 24hrs or the alk starts dropping. Don't quote me on that though.

And once you pour it in the tank, something magical happens different than what was going to happen in the bucket after 24 hours?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

And once you pour it in the tank, something magical happens different than what was going to happen in the bucket after 24 hours?

Actually, yes, to some extent. Phosphate and organics serve to help prevent calcium carbonate precipitation from running amok by binding to bare surfaces, preventing further precipitation.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Sorry… was trying to edit my post, but on a very slow connection and having trouble editing or posting. There was more to my question.

Assuming that Alk and Mag are that high in a freshly mixed batch that they will precipitate after some time — what is the 24 hour trigger? CO2 equilibrium? Wouldn’t that then be room dependent — or even tank dependent based on pH?

I get the phosphate buffering to an extent, but am unclear on the bucket and 24 hours.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Oh, there’s no special time, if that’s the question. The longer raw salt water goes at high alk and/or pH, the more likelihood of precipitation or the more precipitates. :)