Anybody tried the Fluval salt yet?

[NL146]

What are your thoughts? I did a 10g water change after getting home Sunday night. About an hour later my corals looked a little distressed, not as open as before. The only thing I noticed different was my pH went from around 8.1 to 8.3 which I assume was the reason. Everything appears to have gone back to normal. was this an isolated incident, a fluke? Or maybe I just thought my pH was at 8.1 (I'm going crazy).

120g tank with 40g sump, so maybe 110 - 120g total volume.

Update (5/27/12):
The shock may have been because of a combination of factors - a new salt and the increased ph. I have not observed any negative impact from the use of the salt, neither have I noticed any special positive impact. will add their 3-ions product and I will be measuring Calcium and Magnesium before adding and (hopefully) each day after.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

I'll be trying it tomorrow. I'll let ya know what I find

 

[prattreef]

Generally when you do a WC with freshly mixed salt it stresses things out temporarily--ESV seems to be the exception to this rule IME.

 

[NL146]

I'll be trying it tomorrow. I'll let ya know what I find

Cool, thanks.

 

[NL146]

Generally when you do a WC with freshly mixed salt it stresses things out temporarily--ESV seems to be the exception to this rule IME.

That could be it. I'm curious whether my observation about the pH change was correct or just a mistake on my part.

 

[Metrokat]

Newly mixed salt water is never a good idea to use from what I hear. Fluval salt promises sludge free instant mixing which can be deceptive, just because you don't 'see' the salt doesn't mean it isn't mixed properly.

Also using any new salt should be done gradually, mix the old with the new and slowly increase the amount of the new till that is the only product being used. We are effectively using a new chemical compound, one that the tank is not used to. Shock is to be expected.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Just wondering did you test the fluval after it was mixed before you added it? I'd like to have someone to compare numbers to, especially about the ph- I'll also let you know what mine reads when mixed ph wise, if you didnt test it for all parameters it may explain the stress especially after you compare those numbers to your tank parameters.

 

[NL146]

Newly mixed salt water is never a good idea to use from what I hear. Fluval salt promises sludge free instant mixing which can be deceptive, just because you don't 'see' the salt doesn't mean it isn't mixed properly.

Also using any new salt should be done gradually, mix the old with the new and slowly increase the amount of the new till that is the only product being used. We are effectively using a new chemical compound, one that the tank is not used to. Shock is to be expected.

It may still have been a short time, but it mixed clear (without residue) and I had a powerhead in the mix for 5 to 6 hours before use. I wasn't changing salt, just doing a water change so I don't think gradual would apply in this situation. As said before, I don't discount the shock factor but it was 10g out of 120g.

 

[NL146]

Just wondering did you test the fluval after it was mixed before you added it? I'd like to have someone to compare numbers to, especially about the ph- I'll also let you know what mine read when miced ph wise, if you didnt test it for all parameters it may explain the stress especially after you compare those numbers to your tank parameters.

Unfortunately I didn't (and yes I should have). This is one of those times I was lazy but it doesn't look like I am suffering any long lasting effects. My test was extremely flawed but yours should yield usable results.

 

[NL146]

Generally when you do a WC with freshly mixed salt it stresses things out temporarily--ESV seems to be the exception to this rule IME.

I've used ESV mix almost immediately without any apparent impact on my livestock.

 

[cybermeez]

It may still have been a short time, but it mixed clear (without residue) and I had a powerhead in the mix for 5 to 6 hours before use. I wasn't changing salt, just doing a water change so I don't think gradual would apply in this situation. As said before, I don't discount the shock factor but it was 10g out of 120g.

I also have a 120 and am curious how frequently you do changes and in what amount?

Robin

 

[NL146]

I also have a 120 and am curious how frequently you do changes and in what amount?

Robin

I generally try to do a weekly WC of either 5 or 10 gallons. I run bio-pellets, gfo and carbon.

 

[bizzarro]

i change 4-5G on a 29G tank and I don't notice any shock to corals using oceanic, coralife, IO and on top of that the water is 15-20 degrees cooler and mixed for a few hours at most. I use to heat it but the water got to warm because I forget.

My coral stock is mostly mushrooms, zoas, and polyps with 1 LPS.

 

[Metrokat]

but it was 10g out of 120g.

:meow:
nano reefer over here, salutes your 120.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

:meow:
nano reefer over here, salutes your 120.

LOL.

I propose a nano FOWLR water recycle program to get free water from big tank's water change. LOL

 

[Metrokat]

LOL.

I propose a nano FOWLR water recycle program to get free water from big tank's water change. LOL

ohh pffft. I don;t want your kooties.
I make my own RODI and use Red Sea Coral PRO.

 

[NL146]

oh no

 

[rmulet]

I'm going to try it out this weekend.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

ohh pffft. I don;t want your kooties.
I make my own RODI and use Red Sea Coral PRO.

May I borrow your file for a sec?


I will try it tomorrow, but no corals in the tank though.

 

[Mrod058]

fluval salt is great

i used the fluval salt on my nano reef and my corals responded to it great i think its amazing... i dissolved right away
its just as good or may better then the red sea salt ive been using