Instant Ocean - good but not the best

[yeahcheetah]

People are talking good things about this salt. Here is my experience:
I use those come in soft plastic 50lb bags. After several months, I found unable to raise Ca level while keeping the kH at desired level. Then I checked Mg, which is about 200ppm lower than optimum. I change 20% water every week and I don't have much coral (all LPS) nor crazy coralline growth, although I do see snail shells grew a lot. Then I did a search and realized that other people are also reporting low Ca & Mg level in this salt. Now, since I want to raise Ca, I have to riase Mg first. A simple calculation showed that I have to use 145.8g MgCl2 or 311.3g MgCl2.6H2O (both have greater than 99.9% purity) to bring Mg from 1090ppm to 1290ppm in my 50G tank. That's a lot of salt to add. Currently my tank kH is 9-10, Ca 320-340ppm, Mg ~1090ppm, SG 1.024. And I used IO salt from the beginning. Anyone have a good suggestion? Appreciated.

 

[Deanos]

I suggest you raise magnesium via its own additive. Using IO salt during water changes will not accomplish your goal of raising magnesium.

See this article on how to make your own additives including magnesium: Recipes

 

[Craig]

You hit the nail on the head. It is good but not the best. However if you take cost into account IMHO it's the best. The low CA, MG, and ALK value can easily be compensated for with proper dosing.

 

[ming]

IMO, each salt has their own problems

 

[meschaefer]

You hit the nail on the head. It is good but not the best. However if you take cost into account IMHO it's the best. The low CA, MG, and ALK value can easily be compensated for with proper dosing.

I agree, I adjust my newly mixed water before adding it to the tank. It is very easy to do and the cost of the additives is negligible. Every brand of salt has it's own levels, and I found that I always needed to adjust something.

 

[mankc]

People are talking good things about this salt. Here is my experience:
I use those come in soft plastic 50lb bags. After several months, I found unable to raise Ca level while keeping the kH at desired level. Then I checked Mg, which is about 200ppm lower than optimum. I change 20% water every week and I don't have much coral (all LPS) nor crazy coralline growth, although I do see snail shells grew a lot. Then I did a search and realized that other people are also reporting low Ca & Mg level in this salt. Now, since I want to raise Ca, I have to riase Mg first. A simple calculation showed that I have to use 145.8g MgCl2 or 311.3g MgCl2.6H2O (both have greater than 99.9% purity) to bring Mg from 1090ppm to 1290ppm in my 50G tank. That's a lot of salt to add. Currently my tank kH is 9-10, Ca 320-340ppm, Mg ~1090ppm, SG 1.024. And I used IO salt from the beginning. Anyone have a good suggestion? Appreciated.

simple calculation? lol...This is Thomas by the way, you bought the 50 from me. Remember how far you had me go to drop it off?
Anyway I use Instant Ocean as well only because it is cost effective, but as far as the Calcium and Alkalinity goes, I just dose B-Ionic and that keeps my levels right. Buy "Reef Crystals" instead, it's also made by Instant Ocean but is supposedly better for reefs.

 

[Celestin]

you can try mixing IO with Red Sea to create your own more balanced salt. There should be a thread on RC regarding the mixing of these two salts since Red Sea is high in Ca and Mg

 

[Tim]

I use a blend of IO and oceanic and it works for me....

 

[yeahcheetah]

simple calculation? lol...This is Thomas by the way, you bought the 50 from me. Remember how far you had me go to drop it off?
Anyway I use Instant Ocean as well only because it is cost effective, but as far as the Calcium and Alkalinity goes, I just dose B-Ionic and that keeps my levels right. Buy "Reef Crystals" instead, it's also made by Instant Ocean but is supposedly better for reefs.

LOL. You are too impressive to forget:
- Your new tank is impressive
- Your sister's dogs are impressive
- Your jeep is impressive, especially the high beam
- And your mother's apartment rent is very, very impressive
Now since you have mentioned, I have to thank you again for delivering the tank to me from Mahattan to Port Jefferson. :tongueani
As to the math, I was an under in chemistry. I am actually glad that I can still handle it after so many years.

 

[Celestin]

Pardon, I meant to say Oceanic before