Mixing different salts

[MikeyZo]

I have a question. I’m curious if anybody’s done this, I have been using Aqua Forest hybrid pro salt mix. I really like it, I think it mixes very well, and everything in my tank always seem to do a little bit better after a water change. And it has their proprietary probiotic additive in it. I know there’s debate on that, but table it for a moment. The only thing I don’t like about it is that the alkalinity mixes at 8.0 dKH (which I feel is a little too low for my tank) and calcium of 431 mg/l. Aqua Forest does make another blend called Reef Salt+ which mixes at and alkalinity of 11.8 dKH and calcium of 459 mg/l.

Has anyone ever mixed salt blends when making their tank water? Is there any pros or cons to doing so?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

#reefsquad

 

[JumboShrimp]

I know you are asking about a reef tank. I just had to chuckle, because I couldn't possibly think one of my FOWLR tanks would care a flying-fish! Lol!

 

[exnisstech]

I used to mix IO and Reef crystals 50 50 and nothing seemed to mind. I didn't do it for any reason other than I found them both on sale cheap at separate times so I stocked up. This was a few years ago when IO was still cheap.

 

[X-37B]

Better to pick a salt thats close to your parameters than mixing, but it cant hurt.
Nothing wrong with 8dkh.
I run 7-7.5 on all my systems. Salt is 8.5. There is no real need to run higher dkh as it will just use more chemistry.
Average ocean alk is 6.5.
I do only 5% a month WC.

 

[tbrown]

I usually use Reef Crystals but have been throwing in some Red Sea Coral Pro and also have a box of Nyos Pure on standby. I've used several different brands throughout the years, sometime even mixing the last of one bucket into the next bucket I open.

I think the biggest consideration is making sure that both salts are good quality salt blends and premix the two buckets to ensure even distribution.

Mixing two different brands/blends will just dilute the final mix. Using the second to "enhance" the first isn't a bad thing.

 

[Fish Styx]

I've done it often. If I don't have enough RSCP to mix a full tank, I'll pick up some RC in a pinch to complete the batch.

 

[Tahoe61]

Right now I have AF, I/O, Reef Crystals and TM. I mix salts if I am running low on one type and need a stray cup to make a batch of SW.

 

[Rocks reef]

Agree with above information. No worries about mixing salts to meet your needs

 

[Rocks reef]

Better to pick a salt thats close to your parameters than mixing, but it cant hurt.
Nothing wrong with 8dkh.
I run 7-7.5 on all my systems. Salt is 8.5. There is no real need to run higher dkh as it will just use more chemistry.
Average ocean alk is 6.5.
I do only 5% a month WC.

I do the same, I keep my system around 7-7.5. I often find myself wondering why people run their dkh higher. All I can think of is the "recommended" range for a reef tank is 8-12. However, these numbers were "figured" out in the late 80s, early 90s when there wasn't all this high tech gear. Personally, I think keeping a reef tank near a more normal range is better overall. After all as Sven mentioned, the average dkh of the ocean is 6.5-7.0.

 

[X-37B]

I do the same, I keep my system around 7-7.5. I often find myself wondering why people run their dkh higher. All I can think of is the "recommended" range for a reef tank is 8-12. However, these numbers were "figured" out in the late 80s, early 90s when there wasn't all this high tech gear. Personally, I think keeping a reef tank near a more normal range is better overall. After all as Sven mentioned, the average dkh of the ocean is 6.5-7.0.

In the late 80's early 90's we ran alk even higher because successful reefers were doing it.