switching salt brands need help with the parameters

[kewadiak]

OK guys i need some help this is where i struggle in this hobby the chemistry aspect. I have decided to switch salt brands from tropic marin pro to instant ocean. Reason to switch from tropic marine pro is its expensive and i was slacking on my water changes. My new plan is to change out 50 gallons a week using instant ocean salt. what's the best way to make the switch changing parameters. My Total water volume is 380 Gallons

Current tank parameters Tropic marin pro

DKH 8.2
MG 1340
Cal 440

New salt just mixed 24 Hrs Instant ocean not Reef crystals

DKH 10.2
MG 1200
Cal 400

I do not dose my tank at all currently because i barley have any corals or coralline algae.

Do i dose the new saltwater in the mixing station
to match my current parameters?

[kewadiak]

these are the products I have to raise the parameters

http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y403/kewadiak/doesing_zps104c4781.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/kewadiak/media/doesing_zps104c4781.jpg.html)

[swk]

I add CA and MAG to my water change water, and drop the alk with muratic acid. IO is excellent salt and made my tank blossom whereas a "premium" salt was causing more problems than it helped

[kewadiak]

I add CA and MAG to my water change water, and drop the alk with muratic acid. IO is excellent salt and made my tank blossom whereas a "premium" salt was causing more problems than it helped

okay so all I have to do is raise my mag with the esv bionic mag? and then how exactly do I raise cal with the two part just use the cal part?

[swk]

okay so all I have to do is raise my mag with the esv bionic mag? and then how exactly do I raise cal with the two part just use the cal part?


I use 2 part and mag from brs, and yes, you just raise them using stock mag and calcium parts.

In your case, yea, just use the calcium part, otherwise you will raise the Alk higher as well.

[jay13]

Time for a reef calculator.
paste in your data and supplements you use and it will get you close.


http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chemcalc.html

[kewadiak]

I use 2 part and mag from brs, and yes, you just raise them using stock mag and calcium parts.

In your case, yea, just use the calcium part, otherwise you will raise the Alk higher as well.

Thank you, yes i am going to have to find a cheaper way to bring up levels mag supplements are not cheap. I'm almost asking myself if i should just buy a more expensive salt mix then to buffer the levels every time. My first batch ever using instant ocean i mixed up a 50 gallon bag i was shocked of how much crap was in with the salt like pieces of wood black specs almost like brown dirt have you seen this in IO?

[kewadiak]

this is a pic of mixing IO
http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y403/kewadiak/iosalt_zps538d807a.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/kewadiak/media/iosalt_zps538d807a.jpg.html)


This is a pic of my mixing container after using Tropic marin pro for a year very clean
http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y403/kewadiak/tmpmix_zps2dac9fef.jpg (http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/kewadiak/media/tmpmix_zps2dac9fef.jpg.html)

[swk]

never seen wood or anything like that. Very clean mixing IME. As clean as ESV or other premiums? No, but the results speak for themselves IME.

[kewadiak]

never seen wood or anything like that. Very clean mixing IME. As clean as ESV or other premiums? No, but the results speak for themselves IME.

thanks for your help i am going to give it a shot.

[bertoni]

I'd probably supplement the new salt to 1275 ppm magnesium, and call it good enough. :)

[tzylak]

Looking at the picture something seems really wrong. I never seen the water so murky. -Dirty bucket? Bad batch of salt (Warrants to contact the manufacturer with a complaint??)? Did this happen on once or on the entire batch of salt?
I always use Instant Reef salt and it looks like the second picture within several minutes.