SeaChem Reef Salt Update

[Pikeman]

A few weeks ago I posted the parameters of a 25 gal. batch of SeaChem Reef salt I made up where the alk was high and the Ca/Mg was low. Since then, I've made two additional batches of salt water. I didn't test the second batch, but did test the third and here are the results.

sp. gr. 1.025
Alk 7.5 dkH
Ca 430
Mg 1275

Sweet!!! I can not explain why the results from the same bucket are so divergent (Yes, I was very careful with my testing and my Salifert reagents are relatively new), but if this is the norm and not the exception I'm a happy camper.

Jeff

[CAReefer]

I got pretty close to the same results in my testing.

Sg 1.025
Temp 79 degrees
Alk 9.0
CA 425
Mg 1275

This has been consistent through the 6 bags I have used. I do mix 3 bags at a time into an old 200 gallon Oceanic bucket. I have definitely noticed improved coloration and PE since switching from my previous IO/Oceanic blend. I do 40 gallons a week in a 340 net gallon system, 4 weeks into this routine and things are definitely looking up.

Marshal
Happy Camper #2

[gqjeff]

Jeff, those are very close to the numbers I got before when I suggested it to everyone.. I have used my new bucket but ran out of reagent for a couple test kits.. I have gotten new kits so I will test another batch also when I make some water up soon.

Jeff

PS, glad you are liking it, my corals have loved it since June..

[reeferben]

Did you have a chance to test PO4 levels?

[VegasMike]

I can't even begin to say how happy I am with this salt. I had months of tank decline, slowly losing corals one by one until expressing my frustration here and getting the suggestion from Bob to switch salts. That is not an easy thing to do here in Las Vegas as the most prevalent brand is Coralife. It's hard to find any other brand, and forget about a consistent supply of any quantity for another brand. I finally got a guy in St. George, UT to place an order for the Seachem salt in bulk and he delivered it to Las Vegas on his way through. I used to order it from Marine Depot, but the boxes were huge and it was a little expensive, not bad. Now with the ability to get it consistently, it is great. I have eight buckets of it siting in my garage. :blue:

I had an Orange Digi that first turned brown, then started to slowly die. It was so bad that it was hard to distinguish between dead and alive tissue. I finally tore it all out of the tank, all that I could get to that looked dead anyway. A few branches fell down into cracks in the rock and I broke off a few with some living tissue to put in my frag tank/refugium. I have now noticed that the living parts have turned a very vivid orange and that some of the branches that fell into cracks are now orange and growing quickly. The salt change is really all I can point to. Both G. Alexander and Bob diagnosed the problem as a "potassium leak" and that appears to be dead on.

Great stuff.

[Aged Salt]

Marshal, have you noticed any differences in coral colors since the switch? If so which ones? Thnx. Bob

[mshur]

last night i mix 25g of fresh water...with seachem salt...
sg-1,025
ca- 400
alk-9.0
mg-1250..
i"ve been using it for a month now and i really like this new formula....for past month i did two ( i would say) big changes to my tank..1.k+
2. salt c/n. my tank looks great now....i got more blu/purple colors showing and i definitely see my corals more happier)
this salt is good)) even some people on rc complain with amount of borate in this salt...but,i dont see no harm to corals...
what actually borate do?

mike

[gqjeff]

Mike, glad it is working out for you.. I hated recommending something then people did testes and the params were not good.. I am glad to see all the new tests are showing much better results.. Its the best salt I have used in 15 yrs especially for the zeo system...

Jeff

[Pikeman]

Reeferben,

Phosphate is nondetectable on Salifert.

Jeff

[mshur]

HI JEFF,
yes,so far this salt showing good results....
is ur offer still in a effect?))


mike

[gqjeff]

Yep Mike we will get something going in the next couple few weeks cool... We are having a little blizzard type weather right now as I speak...

Jeff

[mshur]

thankx,jeff...

its not bad here in new york))

did u ever get a black tang?

mike

[gqjeff]

Nope got snubbed on the black tang and also the other one I was going to get got sold out form under me also.. Maybe the fish gods are trying to tell me something with my other 6 established tangs being big and onry.. I actually ordered a couple sweet wrasses today so I am holding off of the black tang for awhile...

Jeff

[Bob V]

Hi jeff i'm thinking changing salts to i use instant ocean and oceanic.What vendor are you using? Thanks Bob

[gqjeff]

Premiun Aquatics now carries it... Good price also..

Jeff