runzwithscissors
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2012
- Messages
- 208
- Reaction score
- 231
I am no means a newcomer to saltwater. Growing up in Florida, and my first tank was a 20 gal my Mom picked up at a garage sale, and me filling that tank with what I found while snorkeling, well...a lot has changed. I am stuck up north for work, so using the Gulf of Mexico salt water is out of the question.
My newest and certainly not the last concern is the salt we purchase for our tanks. I have tried several brands and found that IO Reef Crystals just seem to work for my tanks.
To preface my post..I do test water parameters every Sunday night. Hardly miss this goal. I absolutely hate adding chemicals to my tanks when I can remedy the situation by changing maintenance on my tanks. I do not ever judge anyone for using chemicals, and in case of really out of control numbers, I certainly would recommend it in lieu of losing our charges; our fish.
Recently, I noticed a dramatic drop in my alkalinity. Mind you, I have found out over the years that stability is the most singular best thing a person can do for their tanks.
I racked my brains, was everything working properly? The FOWLR was fine. The fish seemed okay.
Problem was the other 2 tanks with SPS and LPS just didn't look very well.
I noticed that my alkalinity kept plummeting to 5-6. My testing, other than the alk was great. No changes in normal routine, same water changes. I made the necessary adjustments on dosing but I wondered "why am I having to make these changes now". Keep in mind that my tanks haven't changed more than .5 of anything I test for.
I saw a post here on R2R that someone was testing their salt prior to adding to their tank. Just for grins and giggles, I decided to test my IO RC. Never tested it before as it was great for my tanks.
What I found was shall we say, confounding.
All of the parameters that are advertised by RC were spot on with the exception of CA. It was 650- 700 depending on the test kit that I used. Ugh. Keep in mind that I purchase it in the box, and I "box" the four bags into a larger container in case there has been some settling.
Push come to shove, it was just a bad box of salt.
I sent the manufacturers an email, not for a replacement but to let them know that there were problems with the box I received. Ignoring my statement that a replacement wasn't necessary as I was a loyal customer, they still sent me a replacement box.
The crazy point I am trying to make is that before we blame our tanks/bad luck/in-laws, sometimes we forget to check the simplest things that can affect our tanks.
Two kudo's that should be mentioned....first to R2R. I would have never thought to test the salt PRIOR to adding to my tank. That point being brought up here in some thread..
Secondly, to the folks who own Instant Ocean who came across with a replacement that I never requested.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend that all of us rule out the simpler things first.....salt, water, temp, electric issues etc....
We have been blessed with opportunity to enjoy the depths of the oceans in our own living spaces....
My newest and certainly not the last concern is the salt we purchase for our tanks. I have tried several brands and found that IO Reef Crystals just seem to work for my tanks.
To preface my post..I do test water parameters every Sunday night. Hardly miss this goal. I absolutely hate adding chemicals to my tanks when I can remedy the situation by changing maintenance on my tanks. I do not ever judge anyone for using chemicals, and in case of really out of control numbers, I certainly would recommend it in lieu of losing our charges; our fish.
Recently, I noticed a dramatic drop in my alkalinity. Mind you, I have found out over the years that stability is the most singular best thing a person can do for their tanks.
I racked my brains, was everything working properly? The FOWLR was fine. The fish seemed okay.
Problem was the other 2 tanks with SPS and LPS just didn't look very well.
I noticed that my alkalinity kept plummeting to 5-6. My testing, other than the alk was great. No changes in normal routine, same water changes. I made the necessary adjustments on dosing but I wondered "why am I having to make these changes now". Keep in mind that my tanks haven't changed more than .5 of anything I test for.
I saw a post here on R2R that someone was testing their salt prior to adding to their tank. Just for grins and giggles, I decided to test my IO RC. Never tested it before as it was great for my tanks.
What I found was shall we say, confounding.
All of the parameters that are advertised by RC were spot on with the exception of CA. It was 650- 700 depending on the test kit that I used. Ugh. Keep in mind that I purchase it in the box, and I "box" the four bags into a larger container in case there has been some settling.
Push come to shove, it was just a bad box of salt.
I sent the manufacturers an email, not for a replacement but to let them know that there were problems with the box I received. Ignoring my statement that a replacement wasn't necessary as I was a loyal customer, they still sent me a replacement box.
The crazy point I am trying to make is that before we blame our tanks/bad luck/in-laws, sometimes we forget to check the simplest things that can affect our tanks.
Two kudo's that should be mentioned....first to R2R. I would have never thought to test the salt PRIOR to adding to my tank. That point being brought up here in some thread..
Secondly, to the folks who own Instant Ocean who came across with a replacement that I never requested.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend that all of us rule out the simpler things first.....salt, water, temp, electric issues etc....
We have been blessed with opportunity to enjoy the depths of the oceans in our own living spaces....
