PDA

View Full Version : Mixing more than one salt


Malenurse
08/17/2007, 01:32 AM
Is it a bad idea to use more than one salt brand - e.g. do water changes with a brand other than the one you had been using?
Someone mentioned to me recently that doing so could "throw the ionic balance off."

Billybeau1
08/17/2007, 01:36 AM
No problems usually.

If you tell me what your switching from, to, I can be more specific. :)

patej
08/17/2007, 09:10 AM
i've done it once or twice in the past, when i ran out of a specific brand of salt, didnt seem to cause any problems

bertoni
08/17/2007, 03:40 PM
Sometimes, people do report problems. The most common issue is switching between IO and Crystal Seas. Most other combinations seem okay. I'd go slowly, in any case.

MCsaxmaster
08/17/2007, 04:40 PM
Agreed, occasionally but rarely people have issues. What brands are you switching between?

Malenurse
08/21/2007, 01:59 AM
I was thinking of changing from Coralife salt to either Red Sea Reef Pro or Tropic Marin (not sure - either the regular or reef version). The Coralife salt's main problem is that the calcium is too high. I do weekly water changes and my Calcium stays at 500 and goes up to 520 if I drip a little bit of Kalk. I had the same problem with Oceanic.

bertoni
08/21/2007, 11:32 AM
I don't think you'll have a problem.

Nanz
08/21/2007, 11:40 AM
How about Seachem Reef Salt to Instant Ocean Reef Crystals?

bertoni
08/21/2007, 03:14 PM
Should be okay, I think.

Nanz
08/22/2007, 06:27 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10603714#post10603714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
Should be okay, I think.

The reason I ask is because Seachem uses more Boron to elevate the alkalinity.

I am happy with Seachem salt but I aquired the Reef Crystals by mistake from an order online and they just told me to keep it. So I thought when the Seachem salt ran out I would use the Reef Crystals.

bertoni
08/22/2007, 12:42 PM
I agree about the borate. They have a new reef salt that should be better. The pH might require some work with the Reef Crystals, that's all.

nick540
08/22/2007, 07:10 PM
How about instant ocean to reef crystals?

acdraindrps
08/22/2007, 09:07 PM
I have heard of people having problems with their systems when changing salt brands. This usually happens when a successful system has been running for a long period of time on one type of salt, and then changes to a different brand. Not saying its bad, but just something to think about.

Different brands of salt have different levels of trace elements. This could also be something to take into consideration.

bertoni
08/23/2007, 01:10 AM
IO to Reef Crystals should be okay as well.