[iconoclast]

I've decided to buy IO RC and Oceanic from Dr F&S. I'm switching from crystal sea marine mix i got at a LFS a while back. its fine for fish but has to be supplemented heavily for a reef environment.

I'll mix IO RC and Oceanic to give high numbers on calcium, alk and mag. I'll mix and match depending on current tank needs for water changes.

I might have bought from petsmart, with their free shipping, except that I need to buy some other odds and ends.
I feel sort of bad not buying salt from the LFS but it just dosn't pay to do so, and for someone like me that uses public transportation its just such a pain.

[creo568]

Brooklyn locations dont know all the names but have locations.
1)47st 8th ave
2)58st 7th ave
3)65st 8th ave
4)62st bay parkway
5)71st 18th ave
6)86st 18th ave
7)Utica ave k&L
8)Ralph ave n

[KathyC]

Quote: Originally Posted by iconoclast I've decided to buy IO RC and Oceanic from Dr F&S. I'm switching from crystal sea marine mix i got at a LFS a while back. its fine for fish but has to be supplemented heavily for a reef environment. I'll mix IO RC and Oceanic to give high numbers on calcium, alk and mag. I'll mix and match depending on current tank needs for water changes. I might have bought from petsmart, with their free shipping, except that I need to buy some other odds and ends. I feel sort of bad not buying salt from the LFS but it just dosn't pay to do so, and for someone like me that uses public transportation its just such a pain.

A little background ..Zeb (Iconoclast) & I were talking via PM since I read that entire (man... it's long) thread on the salt testing that a fella over on RC did..and I suggested he rethink his plan to switch to Oceanic salt..for a few different reasons. Remember, I had the benefit of reading the whole thread and know what Zeb plans to keep in his reef. (makes a difference when chosing salt..apparently!)

soooo...Zeb wrote back to me with basically the same info he posted above regarding what salt he was NOW thinking of switching to..and he asked if I could 'extrapolate further' with whatever else I got from that thread... Still with me?

Well Zeb..here are a few more of the high points from the thread...and a couple of opinions from me relating to what Zeb now plans
The folks discussing this suggested strongly that most brands of salt SHOULD be fluffed/mixed/stirred before you use them as they DO tend to settle from shipment. They got a number of different test readings from the same unstirred bucket that were real eye openers!

IMO...at least the new Corallife salt buckets I recently changed to come with 3 individual bags of salt inside of the bucket..which will make it easy for me to 'shake' up each bag before use. I don't want to have to try & shake a bucket that makes 200g !!Yikes!! But it sure seems like this is the best thing to do before you start to use a new bucket..again..IMHO

A few of the folks on the thread decided to mix 2 different brands since some are inadequate in opposing things..i.e. some have higher CA but lower Alk, some lower CA but higher Alk & Mg....figuring they would have a nice balanced mix. Probably true I'd think...
I see Zeb wants to mix 3 ..that a lot of salt to purchase! Though I'm sure you'll not need any for quite some time doing that!!! lol

Then there was a whole big discussion about HOW to change brands..and this is why I decided to post this...of ALL the salts they spoke about switching to & from..the one that stood out as likely causing an issue (I'll get back to that in a sec..) was the brand that ZEB is changing from...which is Crystal Sea Marine Mix. (which I had never heard of before reading the thread..many references on the thread call it CS...)
I really don't know why so many folks claimed it happened, but they did suggest you go VERY VERY SLOWLY when changing from that particular brand to a new type of salt. Apparently numerous folks lots numerous corals due to the change. IMO, had it just been one or 2 people, it could have been that they switched salt brands too fast...but the thread read like it happened to everyone who changed from this brand...so Zeb..please be very careful!
Usually it is suggested that you either mix your old & new salt together and do a 20% water change..and on subsequent water changes you decrease your old salt ratio & increase your new.... Others (like me) are just doing whatever % water changes using the new salt (already seeing positive responses in both of my tanks!!)
From what 'they' say..Zeb would want to go 75 old/25 new..and small 10% changes..then 50/50..then 25/75..and so on...BUT while carefully watching the reactions of his corals!!

..and yes Zeb, you can have too much if a good thing

I'd also like to buy my salt at my LFS..but I've seen a good friends pricing book and he can't touch what places like Drs F & S and the others are paying by buying so much in bulk. It's really a shame, but the weight of the product precludes the shipping discount to the smaller stores...

[iconoclast]

haha.. no, not 3, just two. perhaps im breaking a naming convention Instant Ocean Reef Crystals= Reef Crystals made by instant ocean =)
So just two brands, oceanic and reef crystals

[dmr2000]

I get my salt about five minutes away at King Kullen LOL