Switching salt mixes?

[reeferfoxx]

I've only been in the hobby for three years , used a few different salts, Red Sea, hw reefers, EVS, brightwells, water in container, pump , heater , then salt, don't know how i could have done it wrong, I think I can blame the batch of salt!!

Some salts like IO say to add salt before raising temperature. Not to argue your method of mixing. But some mix differently.

 

[BigJohnny]

I've only been in the hobby for three years , used a few different salts, Red Sea, hw reefers, EVS, brightwells, water in container, pump , heater , then salt, don't know how i could have done it wrong, I think I can blame the batch of salt!!

Due to your experience, blaming the salt makes sense, but its not fair, especially because hw marinemix is one of if not the purest salt mixes available: synthetic salt with zero impurities or anti caking agents unlike most salts. If you had issues, you have to question the mixing method as well.

Different salts need to be mixed differently. I can tell you right now one mistake you made was using a heater. I recommended mixing at room temp then adding a heater and bringing up to temperature if necessary. Having said that, I do 15% water changes and never have to heat my fresh sw because it doesn't effect my tank temp more than .5 degrees max. Also too strong of a powerhead can cause precipitation or mixing too long can cause precipitation.

Just because mixing one way works for one salt, doesn't mean it will work for another. Hwmarinemix is a synthetic salt produced in a lab and is by far the most consistent salt I have ever used from batch to batch. I never have issues and it's because I mix it gently without heating for a short time. Imo it was not the batch of salt for those reasons.

Another example, I used to use red sea blue bucket. If I heated while/before mixing I would get brown crud on the sides of the brute. This is anticaking agents and other impurities in the salt mix (hw marinemix does not use/need anticaking agents but may still precipitate calcium carbonate if heated during mixing or if mixed for too long). If I mixed my red sea blue bucket the exact same way without heating, no brown crud.

Coral pro salt precipitates like crazy if you mix it too long due to high alk/calc/mag, they are all different!

Use whatever works for you though! Plenty of TOTM use plain old IO.

Hwmarinemix reefer is the best salt for me due to its lack of impurities and anticaking agents, outstanding track record in public aquariums and aquaculture facilities, and the fact that the levels are very close to what I keep my tank at anyway.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Plenty of TOTM use plain old IO.

I hate it when people say this. IO and RC has nothing to do with aquascaping your tank. Just say the salt works.

If i switched to IO, its not gonna get me TOTM. If i spent money on my tank and nit picked the aquascape + a little elbo grease, that will get me TOTM.

And i agree with everything else you said.

 

[BigJohnny]

I hate it when people say this. IO and RC has nothing to do with aquascaping your tank. Just say the salt works.

If i switched to IO, its not gonna get me TOTM. If i spent money on my tank and nit picked the aquascape + a little elbo grease, that will get me TOTM.

And i agree with everything else you said.

First of all, totm isn't an aquascaping award. Never said anything about aquascaping. Every single totm is very successful and healthy however, and if some happen to use IO, then clearly a wonderful healthy beautiful tank can use IO, which is the cheapest salt.

Of course aquascaping, livestock, lighting, equipment, maintenance, testing etc is all part of it, but I never said IO gets you tank of the month. I said plenty TOTM use IO which means it's obviously not something that will make or break your tank. I thought my intentions were pretty clear when I said "use whatever works" and "plenty of totm use plain old IO" as in its not a big deal. Especially since we were discussing hwmarinemix reefer, one of the most expensive salts.

I think every single TOTM winner and any realistic reefer would disagree that "if i spent money on my tank and nit picked the aquascape + a little elbo grease, that will get me TOTM"

Money + nit picked aquascape + a little bit of elbow grease? Are you kidding lol?
If only it were that simple.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Of course aquascaping, livestock, lighting, equipment, maintenance, testing etc is all part of it, but I never said IO gets you tank of the month.

All this requires money. Maintenance practice could be a form of nit picking. Same with aquascaping.

Money + nit picked aquascape + a little bit of elbow grease? Are you kidding lol?
If only it were that simple.

Same concept, you just word it differently. No need to get bent out of shape over it.

First of all, totm isn't an aquascaping award.

It kind of is.

 

[BigJohnny]

You've proven to me in your original comment and response that your not worth talking to.

 

[reeferfoxx]

You've proven to me in your original comment and response that your not worth talking to.

Uh huh...sure thing lol

 

[BigJohnny]

Uh huh...sure thing lol

100% sure

 

[Davy Jones]

Agree to disagree fellas, i dont want to cause anyone to fight :) its just a simple question and matter of opinion, i just wanted to hear other experiences than my own

 

[BigJohnny]

Agree to disagree fellas, i dont want to cause anyone to fight :) its just a simple question and matter of opinion, i just wanted to hear other experiences than my own

Already there brotha, already there. I contributed actual information related to the topic so I hope that helped. Good luck!

 

[BigJohnny]

Agree to disagree fellas, i dont want to cause anyone to fight :) its just a simple question and matter of opinion, i just wanted to hear other experiences than my own

BTW it was hilarious to me that you played peacekeeper with the universal "troll" face as your profile pic lol.

 

[reeferfoxx]

:rolleyes:

 

[Davy Jones]

Ironic isnt it?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Ironic isnt it?

Since we aren't letting it go, what is ironic is I never disagreed with him. What is hilarious is even though he disagreed with me, he reiterated what I said in different terms but thinking it was different. That, is what is hilarious. What i said about IO and TOMT is perspectives. I understand it has to do with making the point that the salt works. But it's also like saying a certain car wax will win a car show. That is just my opinion and shouldn't warrant a heated debate. Just take it with stride.

 

[ksc]

"But it's also like saying a certain car wax will win a car show"

I think it is more like saying a certain fuel wins the majority of the races and just so happens to be the most economical choice. Why spend more to achieve the same thing?

 

[reeferfoxx]

"But it's also like saying a certain car wax will win a car show"

I think it is more like saying a certain fuel wins the majority of the races and just so happens to be the most economical choice. Why spend more to achieve the same thing?

Different salts have different parameters. Same as fuel. Some fuels have higher octane. So what do you mean?

 

[BigJohnny]

Since we aren't letting it go, what is ironic is I never disagreed with him. What is hilarious is even though he disagreed with me, he reiterated what I said in different terms but thinking it was different. That, is what is hilarious. What i said about IO and TOMT is perspectives. I understand it has to do with making the point that the salt works. But it's also like saying a certain car wax will win a car show. That is just my opinion and shouldn't warrant a heated debate. Just take it with stride.

We let it go. He meant ironic that his emblem is a troll and he was peacekeeping.

 

[Opus]

Is that the pro reef or regular salt?

They have a good sale right now at DFS with the 20% coupon.

Tropic Marin reg - $59.99 Pro - $71.99 and Bio-Actif - $79.99.

 

[reeferfoxx]

They have a good sale right now at DFS with the 20% coupon.

Tropic Marin reg - $59.99 Pro - $71.99 and Bio-Actif - $79.99.

Thats awesome! I will look into it. I will say, i bought tmpr on sale the last time, and my magnesium as all out of wack. Not sure if I will purchase from last seller.

 

[FisheRare]

I used that before nice levels but always left my water cloudy, I use brightwells neo marine, cheaper, makes more for the money and always mixes clear, I do mix for a few hours, not sure if necessary but no problems! Pretty constant levels of alk and cal!

I use HW now and I’m switching to Red Sea but i never had a issue with HW mixing or making my water cloudy,one thing i like about HW i can mix it and do my water change in 45 minutes .it mixes very quick