How much salt do you guys go through?

[willthethrill]

So I used to have a 55g, and I wasn't very strict with my water changes. Sometimes monthly, other times I'd skip a month. It definitely showed, algae and nitrate issues.

Since then I've upgraded and this time around with my 120g (setup for 6 months) I'm being a better aquarist. I do 20% bi-weekly water changes on 160g total volume. Thankfully tank is doing very well, few pieces of lps and sps to start. They're happy and so are the fish. What I'm realizing though is making 20% of 160g to 1.025-1.026, I'm going through a lot of salt! And reef salt ain't cheap!

What do guys with 300g plus tanks do?? Have a separate job just for buying salt lol. Or do they have alternate methods of nitrate removal and just dose to replenish water. Maybe a water change once a month for trace elements?

 

[Sabellafella]

So I used to have a 55g, and I wasn't very strict with my water changes. Sometimes monthly, other times I'd skip a month. It definitely showed, algae and nitrate issues.

Since then I've upgraded and this time around with my 120g (setup for 6 months) I'm being a better aquarist. I do 20% bi-weekly water changes on 160g total volume. Thankfully tank is doing very well, few pieces of lps and sps to start. They're happy and so are the fish. What I'm realizing though is making 20% of 160g to 1.025-1.026, I'm going through a lot of salt! And reef salt ain't cheap!

What do guys with 300g plus tanks do?? Have a separate job just for buying salt lol. Or do they have alternate methods of nitrate removal and just dose to replenish water. Maybe a water change once a month for trace elements?

Haha im in the same boat as you. 20% on a 120 and 20% on a 30 gallon once a week.(and some extra buckets on hand) Cost me 3 boxes every 4 months. Theres deals you can find for 20-30 dollar boxes of reef Instant ocean. So usually when i see that ill buy around 10

 

[Sabellafella]

What i like about water changes, is yea, it gives or takes a little bit of trace elements. Maybe you overdosed something, maybe you underdosed. Toxins, Dilutes nutrients, but most of all, if you get into a good rhythm with doing water changes, it can restore ionic balance. Wether its chloride, sulfate, mag ect.. Ill forever do water changes, i just cant see myself not doing them. So i made it as easy as possible, because once a week could be a pain hauling stuff.

 

[hawkinsrgk]

I have around 360-380 gallons of water and do a 40 gallon water change every week. What I do is buy 6 boxes of salt at a time so I don't have to think about how much it costs too often

 

[rayn]

Buckets are your friends! When I had all my separate systems running I could go through a bucket in about a weeks time. I started buying boxes once I had enough buckets for my needs.

Without starting a "my salt is better then your salt" war, you don't need really expensive salt. Save money where you can depending on your particular tank/s.

 

[Bdog4u2]

I use about 80-100lbs of salt a year for my every 6 month water change. My total water volume is around 200 gallons. My nitrates stay under 5 since I have a huge ball of cheato. I don't have any major algae problems in dt.
I think wc are overrated in a mature system as long as you dose what it needs

 

[willthethrill]

I use about 80-100lbs of salt a year for my every 6 month water change. My total water volume is around 200 gallons. My nitrates stay under 5 since I have a huge ball of cheato. I don't have any major algae problems in dt.
I think wc are overrated in a mature system as long as you dose what it needs

Well I have a dedicated 40g refugium plumbed into my 55g sump. Ton of chaeto and mangroves growing fast. My nitrates read 0 every time. No algae issues in DT either. So I'd say bi-weekly water changes aren't super necessary for me. Or maybe 10% bi-weekly instead of 20%. BUT, I'm having success right now so i don't want to change up my routine too much.

 

[Bdog4u2]

Well I have a dedicated 40g refugium plumbed into my 55g sump. Ton of chaeto and mangroves growing fast. My nitrates read 0 every time. No algae issues in DT either. So I'd say bi-weekly water changes aren't super necessary for me. Or maybe 10% bi-weekly instead of 20%. BUT, I'm having success right now so i don't want to change up my routine too much.

I work 70-80 hrs a week so if I mess with the tank on my day off the wifey let's me know about it. So my lack of maintenance is by default