Instant Ocean salt-Ca-350, Ph-8.2, Alk 3.7

[Cliff]

I am trying to boost my Ca to 400+, but every time I change water the Ca only goes up to 330 plus. Now I found out the new batch of sea water mixed from Instant Ocean salt I've been using only produced Ca 350, Ph 8.2, Alk 3.7 from my Salifert test kits.

Here is the question:
Has anyone experimented with boosting the replacement water to Ca 400+ (before adding to the tank), so the water change would boost the Ca instantly?

Also, anyone disgree with those measurements?

 

[esmithiii]

At what salinity did you test it at?

Ernie

 

[Anonymous]

I always test and bump-up my water for water changes. I must say you are lucky to have a bag of IO at 3.7. (mine is usally around 2.4)I mix up my water the night before and bring it up to 1.022. The next day I test then add Kent Turbo Ca and superbuffer-dkh. Let it set for a few hours and then do the water change!

 

[chris_h]

The easiest solution is to switch to a better brand of salt. I have recently switched from IO to kent. It probaly is less expensive overall when you dont have to add a bunch of crap to raise all of your elements up.

 

[esmithiii]

Once again, natural sea water is at 1.0265 in the vicinity of most coral reefs.

How long do you let it sit before you test?

 

[64Ivy]

I use IO but always try to match my tanks parameters (440 ppm Ca, 11.5 dKH alk) with B-Ionic before changing the water.

 

[Lunchbucket]

i found the same results w/ my IO batch. i was wondering why i couldn't get my CA+ above 400. so i add SeaChem Liquid Ca+ to raise it up to what i want.

i though IO faired the best out of all the salts in that one test that was posted on here. so why use anything else? if so what brand and where is cheap (mail order)?

thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[esmithiii]

Is it really that big of a deal?

Example 1:

10% water change, tank water before water change: 450ppm Ca, Mixed saltwater: 350ppm Ca, resulting tank water: 440ppm

Example 2:

20% water change, tank water before water change: 450ppm Ca, Mixed saltwater: 350ppm Ca, resulting tank water: 430ppm

Example 3:

50% water change, tank water before water change: 450ppm Ca, Mixed saltwater: 350ppm Ca, resulting tank water: 400ppm

Is it really worth the hastle for that extra 10ppm (in a 10% water change) that will soon be taken care of in your normal dosing regimine?

I mean, you have to test the water, add suppliment, test again, etc.

Ernie

 

[chris_h]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lunchbucket:
<strong>i found the same results w/ my IO batch. i was wondering why i couldn't get my CA+ above 400. so i add SeaChem Liquid Ca+ to raise it up to what i want.

i though IO faired the best out of all the salts in that one test that was posted on here. so why use anything else? if so what brand and where is cheap (mail order)?

thanks
Lunchbucket</strong><hr></blockquote>

http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp says that IO does not have enough calcium and Kent has more than NSW does. Kent also has similar results for other elements. I just ordered my first bucket of Kent so I can not speak with experience, but I think I will be more succesful with Kent. When you figure in the cost of all of the supplements added it will not be more expensive than IO. I currently am adding no supplements and just using water changes to maintain elements so using the best salt is very important.

 

[BradB]

Well, I used to put kalwasser in my IO mix to boost the calcium to 450, aerate it a while, at least till the Ph went back down to 8.3. Now, I just add it with 300 calcium. Like esmithiii said, not a big difference.

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

Agreed - unless you're doing a huge water change then the impact has got to be small.