what is the best salt - Page 3

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/30/2011, 11:20 AM

Am I complicating this too much?

Maybe.

I mix mine to 35 ppt after the additives are in, but whether it is a bit above or a bit below in not a big deal, IMO. Calcium and alkalinity additions to new salt water won't noticeably impact salinity. A big magnesium boost would, but not enough to agonize over.

I discuss a lot more on dosing and such here:

An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-0...ndex.php<br />

from it:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#15

Dosing Instructions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dosing instructions are basically the same for each recipe, although any given aquarium will end up using about twice as much of recipe #2 as recipe #1 to add the same amount of calcium and alkalinity.

To initiate dosing, first adjust calcium and alkalinity to roughly their correct ranges. This may require a substantial dose of just the calcium part if calcium is low (e.g., below 380 ppm). I would suggest targeting calcium between 380 and 450 ppm, and alkalinity between 2.5 and 4 meq/L (7-11 dKH; 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents).

This calculator shows how much of what parts to add in order to boost one or both of the parameters by a certain amount:
Reef chemicals calculator
http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html

Then, once things seem roughly correct, select a starting daily dose for routine dosing. Here are some suggested starting doses, but the exact values do not matter much. The suggested doses apply to both recipes.

After a few days of dosing, note whether alkalinity is low, high or on target. Only bother to test alkalinity, not calcium, during this period, because it is much more sensitive than calcium to over- or underdosing. Adjust the dose up or down as necessary to increase or decrease the alkalinity.

Once you have determined the proper dose, continue it until there is a substantial reason to adjust it (such as falling alkalinity as the corals increase in size). When adjusting the dose, raise or lower both of the recipe's parts together.

Resist the temptation to keep jiggering calcium and alkalinity independently. They will need occasional corrections, but that should not be the normal course of dosing unless there are substantial outside influences, such as water changes with a salt mix that does not match the tank's parameters or an error in making the mixes.

Check alkalinity fairly frequently to make sure the dosing continues at a suitable rate. Check it maybe once a week to once a month (or less as you get more experienced with the system and the tank). Check calcium once a month to once every few months to make sure it continues on track.

Remember to add an appropriate amount of Part 3 each time you finish adding a gallon of Parts 1 and 2.

Ralph ATL · 03/30/2011, 10:52 PM

WOW, thanks so much in your thoroughness in answering! It is well appreciated!

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/31/2011, 05:08 AM

Good luck.

Ralph ATL · 03/31/2011, 07:40 PM

I am switching to IO today. I mixed up 40 gallons of at 35, and I tested using Elos kits.

I got 410 calcium, 1250 mag, 9.5 alk
I added 6 oz of BRS Calcium & 11 Oz of mag. done.

Thanks again. very simple.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/01/2011, 10:41 AM

Happy Reefing.

elijaher · 04/01/2011, 12:28 PM

Randy pretty much sum it up on salt mix. Maybe be better saying which salt mixed most reefer is comfortable using? I like Reef Crystals and
Seachem Reef

allsps40 · 04/01/2011, 08:09 PM

I have to change my 2 cents. I am on the fence on this one. I am using H2Ocean now and found the mag was at 1000ppm. Not so good. I have had issues with IO and RC. HW Marine Mix and Reefer and TMPR have been great, no issues. Thinking about trying out Coral Pro but i may go back to HW Reefer.

phillyfishguy · 04/02/2011, 04:47 AM

Do you guys get it shipped in or pick it up local?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/02/2011, 06:33 AM

I buy IO online.

allsps40 · 04/02/2011, 08:35 AM

I get mine local, quicker and easier. Prices are pretty good locally to. You can get a bucket of IO for $50 and RC for $55-$60 but I had issues with 3 buckets in a row.

doakota1 · 04/02/2011, 08:40 AM

Randy.
this is my water top off and continuous water change system

and these are the supply tanks used they are 20 gal ea

My question is do I have to get more dosing pumps or is there away I can dose with what I have ? new to dosing so any help would be appreciated

thanks
Gary

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/02/2011, 09:30 AM

What are you wanting to dose?

skidrow52 · 04/21/2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanojg

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1714505

Depends, what are you looking for in a salt?

This page needs to be updated btw ...

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/22/2011, 07:13 AM

It was updated only a few months ago. Is there a particular new salt you want info on?

solitude127 · 04/22/2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidrow52

This page needs to be updated btw ...

If you look at the bottom of the page, it shows when it was last edited.

03/30/2011, 11:20 AM	#51
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Am I complicating this too much? Maybe. I mix mine to 35 ppt after the additives are in, but whether it is a bit above or a bit below in not a big deal, IMO. Calcium and alkalinity additions to new salt water won't noticeably impact salinity. A big magnesium boost would, but not enough to agonize over. I discuss a lot more on dosing and such here: An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-0...ndex.php<br /> from it: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/index.php#15 Dosing Instructions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dosing instructions are basically the same for each recipe, although any given aquarium will end up using about twice as much of recipe #2 as recipe #1 to add the same amount of calcium and alkalinity. To initiate dosing, first adjust calcium and alkalinity to roughly their correct ranges. This may require a substantial dose of just the calcium part if calcium is low (e.g., below 380 ppm). I would suggest targeting calcium between 380 and 450 ppm, and alkalinity between 2.5 and 4 meq/L (7-11 dKH; 125-200 ppm calcium carbonate equivalents). This calculator shows how much of what parts to add in order to boost one or both of the parameters by a certain amount: Reef chemicals calculator http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html Then, once things seem roughly correct, select a starting daily dose for routine dosing. Here are some suggested starting doses, but the exact values do not matter much. The suggested doses apply to both recipes. After a few days of dosing, note whether alkalinity is low, high or on target. Only bother to test alkalinity, not calcium, during this period, because it is much more sensitive than calcium to over- or underdosing. Adjust the dose up or down as necessary to increase or decrease the alkalinity. Once you have determined the proper dose, continue it until there is a substantial reason to adjust it (such as falling alkalinity as the corals increase in size). When adjusting the dose, raise or lower both of the recipe's parts together. Resist the temptation to keep jiggering calcium and alkalinity independently. They will need occasional corrections, but that should not be the normal course of dosing unless there are substantial outside influences, such as water changes with a salt mix that does not match the tank's parameters or an error in making the mixes. Check alkalinity fairly frequently to make sure the dosing continues at a suitable rate. Check it maybe once a week to once a month (or less as you get more experienced with the system and the tank). Check calcium once a month to once every few months to make sure it continues on track. Remember to add an appropriate amount of Part 3 each time you finish adding a gallon of Parts 1 and 2. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/30/2011, 10:52 PM	#52
Ralph ATL Formerly mysterybox Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,842	WOW, thanks so much in your thoroughness in answering! It is well appreciated! __________________ Ralph Scheriff

03/31/2011, 05:08 AM	#53
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Good luck. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/31/2011, 07:40 PM	#54
Ralph ATL Formerly mysterybox Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Flowery Branch, GA (North ATL) Posts: 1,842	I am switching to IO today. I mixed up 40 gallons of at 35, and I tested using Elos kits. I got 410 calcium, 1250 mag, 9.5 alk I added 6 oz of BRS Calcium & 11 Oz of mag. done. Thanks again. very simple. __________________ Ralph Scheriff

04/01/2011, 10:41 AM	#55
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Happy Reefing. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/01/2011, 12:28 PM	#56
elijaher Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kansas City,Missouri Posts: 1,188	Randy pretty much sum it up on salt mix. Maybe be better saying which salt mixed most reefer is comfortable using? I like Reef Crystals and Seachem Reef

04/01/2011, 08:09 PM	#57
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	I have to change my 2 cents. I am on the fence on this one. I am using H2Ocean now and found the mag was at 1000ppm. Not so good. I have had issues with IO and RC. HW Marine Mix and Reefer and TMPR have been great, no issues. Thinking about trying out Coral Pro but i may go back to HW Reefer. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

04/02/2011, 04:47 AM	#58
phillyfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: philadelphia pa Posts: 233	Do you guys get it shipped in or pick it up local?

04/02/2011, 06:33 AM	#59
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I buy IO online. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/02/2011, 08:35 AM	#60
allsps40 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,627	I get mine local, quicker and easier. Prices are pretty good locally to. You can get a bucket of IO for $50 and RC for $55-$60 but I had issues with 3 buckets in a row. __________________ __________ Current Tank Info: Past reef tanks: 20H softy, 29G mixed reef, 55G mixed reef, 40B sps dominant mixed reef and 75G sps dominant mixed reef. No tank currently

04/02/2011, 08:40 AM	#61
doakota1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: upstate n.y. Posts: 329	Randy. this is my water top off and continuous water change system and these are the supply tanks used they are 20 gal ea My question is do I have to get more dosing pumps or is there away I can dose with what I have ? new to dosing so any help would be appreciated thanks Gary __________________ The Bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten current tank info 48x24x18 starphire rimless from miracles swc 160 extreme : marc melev m style sump 36x22x16 ATI 8x39 power module :Ecotech Marine Vortech MP40w ES pump Apex controller Current Tank Info: new 90 gal build

04/02/2011, 09:30 AM	#62
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	What are you wanting to dose? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/22/2011, 07:13 AM	#64
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	It was updated only a few months ago. Is there a particular new salt you want info on? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef Last edited by Randy Holmes-Farley; 04/22/2011 at 07:18 AM.

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