Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please?

bluespotjawfish · 01-31-2008, 09:49 PM

So, I am trying out Seachem's Reef Salt. Stats:

1.025 Salinity
148 alk (lower than I want)
510 calc (higher than I want)
1175 (much lower than I want, already adjusted this to 1350)
8.2 pH (decent)

So, I'm not sure if I should adjust anything else or not. I can already see a white film covering the equipment in the container. It was mixed on Monday. I have tested values twice (once on Monday and again yesterday). I use Salifert and LaMotte tests.

(My old salt mixutre was 160 alk, 435 calc, 1350 mag, 8.0 pH).

Frankie · 01-31-2008, 10:09 PM

Why change up if your old salt was ok?

framerguy · 01-31-2008, 11:50 PM

Yeah, what was your old salt. It sounds great! I am nearly through with a bucket of Seachem Reef and quite frankly I'm not impressed.

Boomer · 02-01-2008, 12:09 AM

I ask the same and that alk is even lower than you think as there is 3.6 x borate in it, which displaces the actual carbonate Alk testing.

At 1.025 it is..

148 ppm - 22 ppm = 126 Actual carbonate Alk

A normal salt mix is more on the order of...

148 ppm - 7.5 ppm = 140.5 Actual carbonate Alk

prow · 02-01-2008, 12:13 AM

ahhh you beat me too it. i remember we had this same discussion on seachems and they added borate. someone from seachem chimmed in and gave a explaination on it but forgot what it was, trying to find that thread.

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2008, 10:01 AM

I only changed because I don't want another bad batch of RCrystals. My tank didn't like it. The borate is the reason I haven't done anything with this batch yet.

So, does the LaMotte Alk testkit pick up the portion of alk that is borate?

IME, all salts I have tried that have a high calcium content are low in alk. Oceanic, TMPro, RSPro, and now Seachem... Why?

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2008, 11:04 AM

Ok, here are the borate and total alkalinity test results (Seachem Testkit)

2.7 meq/L Total Alkalinity
1.0 meq/L Borate

Pretty sad!

Now, no one has answered the question on what I should do at this point.

Answers:
1) Throw it away?
2) Add some carbonate Alk to bring that up to normal level?
3) Use as is?
4) Go shopping to forget my troubles?
5) Go shopping at an online fish store because it is snowing and I don't want to get cold?
6) Both 2 and 5?

Jason25 · 02-01-2008, 11:07 AM

I have great success with IO, my ALK and Calcium are right where they should be.

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2008, 11:19 AM

I used IO for years and actually still have some that I intended to mix. Can't get my pH high enough with it anymore.

Results of the same tests ran on the tank itself:

3.1 meq/L Total alk
1.4 meq/L Borate (not sure of the source for this, I use kalk, and sometimes c. alk, probably another salt I have tried was high in borate???)
1.7 meq/L Carbonate

Compared to the salt mix:
2.7 meq/L Total Alkalinity
1.0 meq/L Borate
1.7 meq/L Carbonate

Adjusting the mix to 3.1 meq/L Total by adding carbonate would equal 2.1 meq/L carbonate (only about 110 ppm).

Answers:
1) Throw it away?
2) Add some carbonate Alk to bring that up to normal level?
3) Use as is?
4) Go shopping to forget my troubles?
5) Go shopping at an online fish store because it is snowing and I don't want to get cold?
6) Both 2 and 5?

framerguy · 02-01-2008, 11:25 AM

For what it's worth, my vote is #6.

BigAl07 · 02-01-2008, 11:26 AM

#6

Tell Jack and Morgan HOLA!!

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2008, 11:37 AM

After all I just paid off my credit card and it is a new month!

BigAl07 · 02-01-2008, 11:39 AM

Hey if it's paid off TEAR it up and CANCEL it

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2008, 11:47 AM

I got a few others that are still feeling last years tank rebuild, hospital bills, transmission rebuilds, my trip to Fiji et al.

Looks like I do get a tax refund this year though.

My online shopping spree would be to get more salt (haven't got a clue what to get but it won't be SReef, seems like I've tried them all), and replacement bulbs for the UV sterilizer and HQI lights. Not too exciting.

Not sure how I hijacked my own thread by going shopping. I really do want some serious advice here.

bluespotjawfish · 02-01-2008, 04:52 PM

Well, I haven't gone shopping or added any alk.

What I have done is diluted the mixture and then added some IO I had around the house. The new mixture stats are:

156 ppm alk
450 ppm calc
1245 ppm mag

I am out of mag, so gotta mix some more up but I can make this work.

Any disagreement on this approach?

01-31-2008, 09:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? So, I am trying out Seachem's Reef Salt. Stats: 1.025 Salinity 148 alk (lower than I want) 510 calc (higher than I want) 1175 (much lower than I want, already adjusted this to 1350) 8.2 pH (decent) So, I'm not sure if I should adjust anything else or not. I can already see a white film covering the equipment in the container. It was mixed on Monday. I have tested values twice (once on Monday and again yesterday). I use Salifert and LaMotte tests. (My old salt mixutre was 160 alk, 435 calc, 1350 mag, 8.0 pH). __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

01-31-2008, 10:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,035 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? Why change up if your old salt was ok? __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

01-31-2008, 11:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
framerguy Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 2,920 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? Yeah, what was your old salt. It sounds great! I am nearly through with a bucket of Seachem Reef and quite frankly I'm not impressed. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 75g Main, 55g Fuge w/DSB/+-25#LR, 25g Sump, turboflotor skimmer, 2x250w MH(9hrs/d), 4x65w PC(14h/d), 950gph mag drive/seaswirl return, 100# LR, 3" SB chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

02-01-2008, 12:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 1,939 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? I ask the same and that alk is even lower than you think as there is 3.6 x borate in it, which displaces the actual carbonate Alk testing. At 1.025 it is.. 148 ppm - 22 ppm = 126 Actual carbonate Alk A normal salt mix is more on the order of... 148 ppm - 7.5 ppm = 140.5 Actual carbonate Alk __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

02-01-2008, 12:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
prow Manta Ray Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 3,771 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? ahhh you beat me too it. i remember we had this same discussion on seachems and they added borate. someone from seachem chimmed in and gave a explaination on it but forgot what it was, trying to find that thread. __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." ........Lao Tzu........ my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html

02-01-2008, 10:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? I only changed because I don't want another bad batch of RCrystals. My tank didn't like it. The borate is the reason I haven't done anything with this batch yet. So, does the LaMotte Alk testkit pick up the portion of alk that is borate? IME, all salts I have tried that have a high calcium content are low in alk. Oceanic, TMPro, RSPro, and now Seachem... Why? __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

02-01-2008, 11:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? Ok, here are the borate and total alkalinity test results (Seachem Testkit) 2.7 meq/L Total Alkalinity 1.0 meq/L Borate Pretty sad! Now, no one has answered the question on what I should do at this point. Answers: 1) Throw it away? 2) Add some carbonate Alk to bring that up to normal level? 3) Use as is? 4) Go shopping to forget my troubles? 5) Go shopping at an online fish store because it is snowing and I don't want to get cold? 6) Both 2 and 5? __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

02-01-2008, 11:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jason25 Achilles Tang Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 881 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? I have great success with IO, my ALK and Calcium are right where they should be.

02-01-2008, 11:19 AM	#9 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? I used IO for years and actually still have some that I intended to mix. Can't get my pH high enough with it anymore. Results of the same tests ran on the tank itself: 3.1 meq/L Total alk 1.4 meq/L Borate (not sure of the source for this, I use kalk, and sometimes c. alk, probably another salt I have tried was high in borate???) 1.7 meq/L Carbonate Compared to the salt mix: 2.7 meq/L Total Alkalinity 1.0 meq/L Borate 1.7 meq/L Carbonate Adjusting the mix to 3.1 meq/L Total by adding carbonate would equal 2.1 meq/L carbonate (only about 110 ppm). Answers: 1) Throw it away? 2) Add some carbonate Alk to bring that up to normal level? 3) Use as is? 4) Go shopping to forget my troubles? 5) Go shopping at an online fish store because it is snowing and I don't want to get cold? 6) Both 2 and 5? __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

02-01-2008, 11:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
framerguy Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 2,920 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? For what it's worth, my vote is #6. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 75g Main, 55g Fuge w/DSB/+-25#LR, 25g Sump, turboflotor skimmer, 2x250w MH(9hrs/d), 4x65w PC(14h/d), 950gph mag drive/seaswirl return, 100# LR, 3" SB chronicles-akwareum (\___/) This is Bunny. (=O.o=) Copy and paste him into your signature (")__(") to help him gain world domination

02-01-2008, 11:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 8,844 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? #6 Tell Jack and Morgan HOLA!! __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

02-01-2008, 11:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? After all I just paid off my credit card and it is a new month! __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

02-01-2008, 11:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 8,844 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? Hey if it's paid off TEAR it up and CANCEL it __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

02-01-2008, 11:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? I got a few others that are still feeling last years tank rebuild, hospital bills, transmission rebuilds, my trip to Fiji et al. Looks like I do get a tax refund this year though. My online shopping spree would be to get more salt (haven't got a clue what to get but it won't be SReef, seems like I've tried them all), and replacement bulbs for the UV sterilizer and HQI lights. Not too exciting. Not sure how I hijacked my own thread by going shopping. I really do want some serious advice here. __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

02-01-2008, 04:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
bluespotjawfish Manta Ray Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 3,838 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Seachem Reef Salt Stats - A bit of help please? Well, I haven't gone shopping or added any alk. What I have done is diluted the mixture and then added some IO I had around the house. The new mixture stats are: 156 ppm alk 450 ppm calc 1245 ppm mag I am out of mag, so gotta mix some more up but I can make this work. Any disagreement on this approach? __________________ Lorraine To BB and all Bluespots - Journey of the 2nd Year ...The 2nd Year - Photoshow Check out Mr. BJ and friends... Mr. BJ's Aquarium - PhotoShow

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