Is it ok to mix Salts?

[MikeC]

So I normally use ESV but have used Red Sea coral Pro in the past and I have a bucket left over.

My specific gravity is at 1.023 and I would like to bring it up.
I just mixed up some ESV at 1.027 and did a water change but I guess changing 10 gal on my 50 gal system did not cut it because I'm still getting only 1.024:fishhit:

Which I'm ok with for now but my question is if I wanted to bring it up some more, is it ok to use the quick throw in a bucket and mix Red Sea salt, or is it back out with the scale salt,magnezium ,partA& partB :fishhit: do you understand what I'm getting at I love ESV but some times mixing is a PITA!

 

[Dan_P]

Other than some differences in the amounts of chemical components in the salt mixture between the brands, they are interchangeable to the extent that your animals cannot tell the difference.

I would proceed with the water change short cut and not lose any sleep over it.

 

[MIKE NY]

The only problem I foresee is that at lets say at a SG of 1.024, BTW is good, ESV compared to other brands the levels of alk, cal, mag etc.. will be different...so either buy more ESV or I would do small W/Cs over a period of time to slowly raise your SG...The cal, mag and traces aren't a real concern, but too quick of a spike or drop in alk can kill and also effect the PH....you can always add elements to raise them in your make up water to match your tank, but not remove them and with only a 50 gallon system there isn't alot of water volumn to buffer...

 

[MikeC]

Ok that makes sence but a added questions.
How fast is too fast? if you were at 1.023 and wanted to bring it up to 1.026
Would there be a problem if you did a one gal water change at say make up water at 1.030?

Or just do small water changes at 1.026 once a week until it is up to 1.026?
Is it better to get the SG up to were it should be or have it to low for three weeks while you get there?

 

[lnevo]

Just add an extra gallon or 1/2 of same salinity salt water and let evaporation do the work for you to increase salinity while your ATO takes a break.

 

[KathyC]

Just add an extra gallon or 1/2 of same salinity salt water and let evaporation do the work for you to increase salinity while your ATO takes a break.

+1
I would just top off with SW for a little while to raise the SG.

 

[MIKE NY]

Just add an extra gallon or 1/2 of same salinity salt water and let evaporation do the work for you to increase salinity while your ATO takes a break.

x2...Ive done that many times....I just added extra water during my W/C and let evaporation bring it down to my normal level and the SG will go up...but the problem is that his make up water will have different element levels than his tank water...so mentioned a gallon or two a day shouldn't be that much of a change in water chemistry of the tank and should be fine.

 

[lnevo]

They are called "trace" elements for a reason. I wouldn't worry about mixing personally.

 

[MikeC]

Thanks everyone
Got it.