Salt and Alk

[Brew12]

I have decided I would like to keep my alk between 8 and 9. Why is it that I can't seem to find any salts under 11? Why do salt mixes hit such a high alk number if maintaining constant alk is so important?

 

[tcarter1936]

Aqua forest standard reef salt is about 7.6 dkh I do 18 gallon wc and have to add about 25 ml of all to each batch to hit 8.9 dkh

 

[Brew12]

Aqua forest standard reef salt is about 7.6 dkh I do 18 gallon wc and have to add about 25 ml of all to each batch to hit 8.9 dkh

Thanks, that is good to know. I would rather be on the low side than the high side.

 

[tcarter1936]

I have decided I would like to keep my alk between 8 and 9. Why is it that I can't seem to find any salts under 11? Why do salt mixes hit such a high alk number if maintaining constant alk is so important?

I asked myself the same thing and this is why I'm considering daily small auto water changes then I need not worry any how

 

[jsker]

Aquaforest reef salt. I switched to the AF salt mainly for the reason of high alk from other salts. I run 8.5 dkh and dose alk

 

[tcarter1936]

Thanks, that is good to know. I would rather be on the low side than the high side.

I used to use instant ocean and was stressing my corals with each wc not even realizing it. I tested and was shocked

 

[Brew12]

I used to use instant ocean and was stressing my corals with each wc not even realizing it. I tested and was shocked

I started out using Reef Crystals because I didn't know better. I am using regular IO now but would like a salt with an alk much closer to my target. It looks like the Aquaforest is exactly what I need. Really appreciate you guys pointing that out. Seems crazy that so many salts target 11dkh or higher.

 

[jsker]

It will take about there weeks but you will see the difference. Aquaforest is like any other program, you can run all there products or keep it simple I run the reef salt and components 1+2+3+.

 

[Brew12]

It will take about there weeks but you will see the difference. Aquaforest is like any other program, you can run all there products or keep it simple I run the reef salt and components 1+2+3+.

For now I think I will try their salt and continuing to use Kalk in my ATO. Eventually I may try more of their program as my coral grow.

 

[jsker]

For now I think I will try their salt and continuing to use Kalk in my ATO. Eventually I may try more of their program as my coral grow.

Reach out if you have questions. PM me with your email and I will send over a spreadsheet the breaks down the mixing amounts per gallon.

 

[Robthorn]

There are a ton of salts lower then 11. Most actually. Red Sea, Reefgrow, Aquacraft, Tropic Marin and the list goes a lot further.

 

[madweazl]

How large of a water change are you doing that you're seeing a significant alkalinity swing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I have decided I would like to keep my alk between 8 and 9. Why is it that I can't seem to find any salts under 11? Why do salt mixes hit such a high alk number if maintaining constant alk is so important?

Depending on how you use it, high (or low) alk in water change water above the tank does not change tanks parameters noticeably (slow steady water changes, for example).

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I started out using Reef Crystals because I didn't know better. I am using regular IO now but would like a salt with an alk much closer to my target. It looks like the Aquaforest is exactly what I need. Really appreciate you guys pointing that out. Seems crazy that so many salts target 11dkh or higher.

Agreed. I think that part of the issue is that many aquarists don't want to dose or test their tanks. If a manufacturer makes a salt mix with carbonate alkalinity close to 11 dKh, then regular water changes will likely be enough to maintain a tank's alkalinity level. Obviously, high demand SPS-dominated tanks will need more carbonate and calcium, but at that level of reefing most reef keepers will be testing and adjusting chemistry as necessary. But, for a vast majority of reefers, it's entirely possible that higher carbonate alkalinity in the salt mix will lead to more success, and the reefer will keep using the salt that produces favorable results.

Aquaforest is one of the salts that has carbonate alkalinity closer to that of natural seawater. Red Sea blue bucket has lower levels as well. At 35ppt, I've tested between 7.8 and 8.0 dKh. Tropic Marin Pro Reef was also close to the values of natural seawater. Carbonate alkalinity averaged out to be around 7.7 dKh for every new batch that I tested.

 

[Brew12]

How large of a water change are you doing that you're seeing a significant alkalinity swing?

It isn't a problem for me yet since my Alk is around 10.5dkh. I'm more worried about it as I let me Alk drift lower. I do a 20% water change every 3 weeks.

 

[madweazl]

It isn't a problem for me yet since my Alk is around 10.5dkh. I'm more worried about it as I let me Alk drift lower. I do a 20% water change every 3 weeks.

I maintain dKH around 8.0 and the difference isn't noticeable at 10-20% using Reef Crystals.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Running my alk now @ 8.5. Using IO and balling salts.

Was running higher alk (10) several months ago with ESV two part and IO.

I let the alk drif down while I changed dosing compounds and dialed in the new dose. maintained my normal WC schedule.
No issues.

 

[chefjpaul]

I found AF to be best with lower ALK, as I run mine @7.6 ish.
Red sea blue was great as well.

My new tank is running 100% AF and liking it so far. I will know for sure in about 9mo. If its worth it though.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I have Red Sea black bucket, and while its a great salt... The alk is just too high. Bought it on a noob mistake. "Coral Pro" must be better for corals, right? I'm switching to blue bucket now that I know more.

 

[chefjpaul]

I have Red Sea black bucket, and while its a great salt... The alk is just too high. Bought it on a noob mistake. "Coral Pro" must be better for corals, right? I'm switching to blue bucket now that I know more.

Yeah, that pro salt is similar to AF pro biotic, needed for uln systems.