What salt is everyone using?

[gabesreef]

Correct.

Mix until it's done and then stop. This can take as little as five minutes, usually no more than 15 minutes.

If the water gets too cold to use in your garage, just make sure you are heating it minimally. I used to store my water in the basement on the floor so it would always trend toward earth temperatures… 65 to 70°. I never had a problem with it at that temperature. Just for example.

Depending on your situation, I would even try heating it right before you use it versus heating the vat and keeping it warm all the time.

I’m in Florida so the issue is actually heat in the garage :/ but okay I’ve been keeping the water moving I won’t be doing that anymore. The only issue I had with the brown stuff is actually having to clean the vat so often

 

[Jasonak]

I believe it’s the calcium level. IO mixed to around 360-380 ppm and red sea blue bucket mixes up to 420-440

Lights aren’t on yet so they’re not fully extended but here are my duncans this morning in ambient light

The front one’s heads in particular fluff out even larger during the middle of the day

Edit: dKH is higher too. IO was around 7-7.5 iirc but red sea blue bucket mixes up to 8.5

Ive been bouncing around on salt myself, trying diffrent brands. Ive been using the red sea pro it does mix very clean.

 

[mcarroll]

Well, given what it is, you don't really have to worry about cleaning the vet at all. ...or if you do, it's just for aesthetics. (ie not something to worry about)

 

[exnisstech]

I like my levels like this:

9 DKH
450 calcium
1350-1400 magnesium

I target alk 8-9 dkH and calcium I don't actually target but mine always runs 425 - 450. I have no idea about mag because I've never tested it. I've run IO for 10 years and have never supplemented with anything but AFR, 2 part or kalk over the years. I store my mixed saltwater for a week at a time sometimes longer.

IO and kalk

IO and ESV 2 part

IO and AFR

I O does leave a brown residue that builds up over time but I mix in a brute in my basement so the residue doesn't bother me. I put the lid on the brute and walk up stairs and look at the tanks and those are what I use to make my decision not a dirty brute container. The fact it's affordable and readily available anywhere without having to order is a plus. I often leave a powerhead running non stop in the brute and have not had any issues.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The brown stuff if trace elements? I don’t have much control over the heat since it’s in my garage but I didn’t know over mixing was an issue I usually just keep it circulating. Should I not be doing that?

This is a very interesting thread and a good supplement to this discussion.

"Do not overmix salt" - Why?

Basically the title - why does some salt indicate to not "overmix" Isn't it functionally being perpetually "mixed" once it enters the tank following a water change? What would be the adverse side effect to leaving a pump mixing salt perpetually in a container, is this not fundamentally the...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[get-salty]

I've been using the RS blue 200gal bucket - 4+ yrs
Extremely consistent mixes.
I normally mix it for 1:45 min the night before and do the WC the very next morning.

Here's my 2cts...
Before someone here jumping the gun on switching salt, my advise is DONT.
Pick the salt with the levels you want to keep at and stick with it.

Randomly switching salt can turn south very quickly - dont ask how i know ; p

 

[ReefED!]

There is a learning curve for sure but I’ve yet to find a cleaner and more consistent salt in all my testing. I also really like the NYOS salt but their prices are too high now. Their bucket only makes around 135g for $90+. Grab ESV on sale and you can make 200g for that same $90

Yep

I’m still using Nyos but it’s pricey.

 

[rtparty]

The brown crud is NOT trace elements. It likely contains some trace elements since they will be incorporated into the precipitation but it is either calcium carbonate, clay and other anti-caking agents, and/or iron/managnese precipitation although this is usually dark green to black looking. To assume the crud is trace elements would indicate any salt that doesn't leave the crud has less or zero trace elements compared to those leaving the nasty crud behind. The crud is almost exclusive to cheap/low quality salts BTW.

BRS has fantastic videos on the time needed to actually mix different salts. Anyone that has used and mixed a lot of these salts knows some mix in 15 minutes and others take overnight to fully dissolve. NYOS is the quickest mixing of the powder salts. ESV is also super fast even when you include the multi part.

 

[dvgyfresh]

IO has never disappointed me

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Been using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals, it mixes up with calcium at 500 and dKH at 10.5

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Ive seen this posted a few times about NOT mixing your saltwater on a continuous basis. I'm curious where this comes from and the thoughts behind it. What would be the difference between being mixed and heated in my tank vs being mixed and heated in my brute ? Obviously your saving on your electric bill of course.
I try not to heat my water the whole time but sometimes it will sit there a week maybe even 2 before I get a chance to do a water change being heated and havening a pump running in it.

The rationale from Red Sea is that the mixing heats the water, promoting precipitation of calcium carboabnte in high alk mixes like Coral pro.

I never heat mine (normal IO) and only stir during initial dissolution.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

The rationale from Red Sea is that the mixing heats the water, promoting precipitation of calcium carboabnte in high alk mixes like Coral pro.

I never heat mine (normal IO) and only stir during initial dissolution.

I mix mine at room temp overnight, but will heat right before the water change

 

[Jasonak]

I mix mine at room temp overnight, but will heat right before the water change

I try not to heat mine the whole time but with my schedule I really never know when ill get a chance to do the change ,,, I know poor excuse lol

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

BRS has 2 videos you need to watch about salt storage

 

[Jasonak]

BRS has 2 videos you need to watch about salt storage

Well I guess I'm good then Ill keep heating and mixing.

 

[IceNein]

Instant Ocean, you can buy it at PetSmart, and thousands of reefers have been using it for decades.

 

[ScottJazz]

I switched to ESV from AquaForest Reef Salt. Wanted the cleaner, better storage salt. Mixing the components isn't bad. I have a package scale that I use. I find it easier than all the guesswork of the scoops.

 

[Skippy The Meh]

I can’t recommend Nyos enough. Ive used red sea and reef crystals and it blows both of those out of the water (pun intended) in every way. Better cleaner faster mix. And each batch is ATI tested and posted on the lid. I run number close to yours.

 

[exnisstech]

And each batch is ATI tested and posted on the lid.

Well that isn't confidence inspiring These are two ATI ICP result from RODI pulled from the same container at the same time but sent in separately with two display water samples.

 

[Largeangels]

Only ever used Instant Ocean/Reef Crystals.