General Discussion - Need advice: Buy new bucket of salt or supplement?

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Need advice: Buy new bucket of salt or supplement?

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Topic: Need advice: Buy new bucket of salt or supplement?

Posted By: Goonter
Subject: Need advice: Buy new bucket of salt or supplement?
Date Posted: September 27 2020 at 12:54pm

Hello!

So here is the story. I noticed my parameters decreasing in calcium/alk and I’m using instant ocean salt which I bought a bucket and have started using that instead of a bag. I tested with API and asked on a separate forum and they insisted it I needed to get salifert test kits... I got nearly the same numbers. I figured maybe I didn’t mix the bucket well enough and it may have had stuff settle, so I tested water prior to mixing the salt and after and it’s been the same. Calcium is around 340 and alk is about 9 on both batches.

My corals are looking great which is what I’m leaning more toward over numbers. So here are my options and I can’t decide which is a better route?

-Continue using the salt mix but start supplementing.

-Buy a new bucket of the same mix and hope it’s a better composition.

-Switch salts.

Parameters:

28 gallon - 1 fish, 6 corals (1 SPS) I don’t think my tank has a heavy enough bio load that this these parameters should be a problem and with the size I think all 3 options are viable.

Salinity 1.025

Temp: 77

Alk: 8.9

Ca: 355

Mg: 1140

Any advice on which is the best/cost effective/least headache approach?

Replies:

Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: September 28 2020 at 1:57pm

Interesting question.

I'm unsure.

I think I would dose over a few days and bring the numbers up, but keep using the salt.

Adam

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Come to a meeting, they�re fun!

Posted By: Goonter
Date Posted: September 28 2020 at 6:32pm

Thanks Adam— that’s the route I decided to go. I’m working on the magnesium right now then plan to work on the calcium. I’ve been going back and forth on selecting a calcium/alk supplement. I’ve been debating on either BRS cacl/sodium bicarbonate, reef code a/b powder, or tropic marin all for reef (I’ve heard amazing things about this, it is pricier but viable for a small tank). Any recommendations? I’ve done esv b-ionic in the past and liked it, but it’s sold out everywhere I’ve looked.

Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: September 28 2020 at 9:05pm

Kalkwasser

Adam

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Come to a meeting, they�re fun!