Reef Crystal IO salt

[whatcaneyedo]

Originally Posted by Coleus

Yesterday, I mixed my Ro/di fresh water with Instant Ocean Reef Crystal. Got the salanity to 35ppt (1.026) and temp is 79F and did some water testing. I found the parameter is not what it claims on the bucket

The claim:
Cal : 455ppm
Mg: 1345ppm

Well the result i am getting from my Salifer Test kit is

Cal: 400 ppm
Mg: 1230 ppm

Anyone knows why?

Thanks

There have been many articles and posts pointing out that different test kits provide different values for the same chemicals. Even within the same brand I have received different readings between test kits. For instance I had a 'new' Salifert Alkalinity kit that claimed my alkalinity was 2 dkh higher than what my 'old' Salifert Alkalinity kit stated (neither had expired yet btw). It doesnt necessarily mean that the manufacturers lied on their bucket of salt or that it was a bad batch. Hobby grade test kits are all crap. Some crappier than others. But as long as they're close to your target range it really doesnt matter.

I've also found Magnesium to be one of the least expensive trace elements to supplement. I just buy my own non-pharmaceutical grade 100% Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate de-icing salt and mix it with Magnesium Sulfate epson salts (7:1 ratio by weight). It costs less than $1/lbs and I've been using it for over a year now with no adverse side effects on three tanks.

[ponokareefer]

Finding a salt that is high in magnesium seems to be the most difficult task. I was using a high end salt, but the magnesium levels were still only in the 1100's, so I'm switching to Instant Ocean, which is half the cost, and just dosing magnesium. Don't be fooled by "independant" salt studies of the high end salt either, like I was. I'd contact littlesilvermax, as someone else has suggested, and get the magnesium in bulk to supplement for cheap.

[rayjay]

Two more threads of interest from RC on the new I.O salt.

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

The second thread, while starting out about cost of I.O., gets into what people are finding for levels of the new production of the salt, and comments by Randy Holmes-Farley about I.O. and it's makeup.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...cium+magnesium

[banditpowdercoat]

I tried reef Crystal's. Went back to regular IO. Myka did a cost breakdown, even if you supplimented IO with top shelf suppliment's. It still would be cheaper than the salts that have more MG/CA. And those salts, you still have to dose. Just not enough. Most salts, I think, are more made for a FOWLR tank, and if you need more MG/CA, you just gotta dose it for what your tank requires.

[mark]

Since reading such a variance in levels in salt (all brands) I'm just sticking to plain old IO. I know the levels for Ca and Mg are low as do a couple of tests on each new pail, but then can easily supplement with bulk additives for probably about $5 a bucket (definitely less than $10).

[globaldesigns]

I used Reef Crystals, I don't do many water changes and find dosing not a big deal or a big cost. I use Seachem dry products, very inexpensive and good quality. Red Cora is selling LittleSilverMax products, but at $5 per cup, that is way too expensive compared to Seachem.

LittleSilverMax, I would be interested in knowing what you charge for MG, St, and Calcium and how it compares to Seachem. I am always interested if it is a higher grade product or cheaper for the same stuff. Thanks...

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

I used Reef Crystals, I don't do many water changes and find dosing not a big deal or a big cost. I use Seachem dry products, very inexpensive and good quality. Red Cora is selling LittleSilverMax products, but at $5 per cup, that is way too expensive compared to Seachem.

LittleSilverMax, I would be interested in knowing what you charge for MG, St, and Calcium and how it compares to Seachem. I am always interested if it is a higher grade product or cheaper for the same stuff. Thanks...

$5/cup?? WOW.
You can search ChemMasters threads here, he's got prices, Mg is like $2.95/Lb. shipping is extra but works to about $1-$1.5/Lb depending on volume

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

$5/cup?? WOW.
You can search ChemMasters threads here, he's got prices, Mg is like $2.95/Lb. shipping is extra but works to about $1-$1.5/Lb depending on volume

Yeah, Kevin at Red Coral is selling by the cup, he says one cup is equal to one pound. At $5 a pound that isn't cheap. However $1-1.50 a pound is really good.

Can you tell me what is better about his products, I am very interested to hear it. And at that price I think it is even cheaper than Seachem.