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Post by Syntax on Mar 23, 2014 12:29:04 GMT -5
Those articles are old. I'm not sure how accurate the information is?
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Post by BriMc on Mar 23, 2014 12:37:28 GMT -5
I agree, no one has run any recent scientific tests recently of any that have been published.
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NateG
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by NateG on Mar 23, 2014 12:56:31 GMT -5
I recall someone on reefcentral making a list of the salts used in reefcentral TOTM. I believe 60% of them used IO. Smattering of everything else beyond that. Like many have said, IO has been more than effective for a very long period of time; much longer than I've had my hands wet.
I've had better results in my tank from switching back to reef crystals from a free bucket of tropic marin pro. It's what works for me. Just gotta find what works best for you and stick with it.
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Post by Lance on Mar 24, 2014 10:50:43 GMT -5
The confusion is that the professionals use something different than the limited "majority" here on this site. I would be interested to know what Lance uses and what he doses. The confusion lies in what is stocked in the tank, frequency of water changes, what is dosed/amount/frequency... There are a lot of variables... That's the confusion. Just because a salt is widely available does NOT mean it is the the best option. There are a lot of factors in play here, not just majority rules. I use IO. See my post earlier in this thread. Some other comments... - My tank is very stony-coral heavy. They need lots of Ca+, more than can be provided in a salt mix unless I was doing very frequent water changes so...
- I dose BRS 2 part using peristaltic pumps controlled by an Apex controller;
Ca+ is dosed between 9 AM and 2 PM
Alk is dosed at night between 8 PM and 9 AM AND a pH controller shuts it off if pH exceeds 8.2
This assures that pH remains stable at night when it is prone to fall AND the Ca+ and the Alk never meet in the tank, causing precipitation. - I add 20oz of BRS Mg+ with every 1 gal of Ca+ solution I go through. I use a gallon approx every 3 weeks.
- Right now, my tank requires less Alkalinity than Ca+ - that's just how my tank runs. I know this because the Apex controls dosing using a combination of timing (nighttime hours) AND the current pH.
- I change about 30% of the water once a month. More frequent/smaller would be better but I am lazy that way.
 I always stir up the sand band in my display tank to get as much debris out as possible.
- I use a turkey baster to blast out pockets of debris in the live rock at least once a week. Doing this will work miracles for preventing unwanted algae growth!
I was having less than stellar growth from my palys and zoas. They were doing fine, just not multiplying very fast, so I did a few things: - I added a frag tank for just palys and zoas
- I reduced they light the get
- I plumbed so that this frag tank get the "dirty" water straight from my display tank
- I started dosing Iodine; not testing at the moment, just following manufacturers instructions (anyone recommend a brand for Iodine test kit?) I noticed that my crustaceans now shed more frequently - since they need iodine to shed, this implies that they may have been suffering a shortage.
- I started dosing amino acids; not sure if this is having an affect or not
Now my zoas and palys in the frag tank are doing much better. My next step is to add a power bar to my Apex controller which I will use to dose Iodine while simultaneously shutting my skimmer down for an hour or two. I'm not a huge fan of removing supplements as fast as they are added. I'd also love to dose Aminos this way but that will have to wait for a refrigerated solution. So, that was a book. |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Mar 24, 2014 11:16:24 GMT -5
I would probably be good with Io as well because I also dose 2 part but I've always used reef crystals since the beginning of time so "if it ain't broke don't fix it!" If I start having problems because of my salt (doubtful) then I'll contemplate changing brands.
I had a brand new bucket of Io sent to me on accident instead of reef crystals awhile back and I didn't use it simply because I've had such good results with reef crystals. Actually I traded it to lance because I knew he used Io.
Not that anyone cares but liveaquaria uses reef crystals and I'm pretty sure they have to dose 2 part and many other things as well.
Lance I really appreciate you sharing all that info! Great to get insight from experienced reefers like yourself.
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Post by BriMc on Mar 24, 2014 16:55:15 GMT -5
Many years ago Tropic Marin was getting lots of praise as being the best salt, the reason behind this was because their salt was the only salt available to the shops in bulk and cheap. Originally it came in a large plastic inner bag and a outside burlap sack, then it went to a plastic burlap looking sack. I think is was a 400 gallon sack. All the shop owners claimed it was the best because they used it until one of the big marine scientist did a comparison of about ten different salts and Tropic Marin was on the bottom of the list. I think the article was published in Marine Monthly.
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Post by Syntax on Mar 25, 2014 15:42:15 GMT -5
Am I seeing things? Did a couple posts disappear here?
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Post by Pokahpolice on Mar 25, 2014 16:02:20 GMT -5
The confusion is that the professionals use something different than the limited "majority" here on this site. I would be interested to know what Lance uses and what he doses. The confusion lies in what is stocked in the tank, frequency of water changes, what is dosed/amount/frequency... There are a lot of variables... That's the confusion. Just because a salt is widely available does NOT mean it is the the best option. There are a lot of factors in play here, not just majority rules. I'm pretty sure that if you wanted to you could find a 'professional' having success with any of the brands listed on this thread. I don't see a general consensus amongst 'professionals' on what to use. Talk to four different people and you'll get four different answers. What's that mean? It tells me that all the major brands are pretty much the same thing. |
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Post by Syntax on Mar 25, 2014 16:48:01 GMT -5
Agreed Bruce,
I've been using Red Sea Coral Pro with fine results; however, if I'm going to be stalking my new tank with a majority of SPS then I'll be dosing regardless of salt. I have liked Red Sea Coral Pro but for the cost it's hard to ignore IO.
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Post by speedyron on Mar 29, 2014 15:35:10 GMT -5
- I started dosing Iodine; not testing at the moment, just following manufacturers instructions (anyone recommend a brand for Iodine test kit?)
Seachaem Iodine & Iodide over 75 tests, about 20$ is what i use. Will need use distilled water for accurate results |
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Post by Lance on Mar 29, 2014 17:21:04 GMT -5
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Post by speedyron on Mar 30, 2014 7:46:31 GMT -5
no problem. The instructions to me seem confusing. the way they word it, but once you do it once is easy. The iodide reagent you mix up with the distilled water lasts up to four hours. This allows you to test, dose, and give some time for your tank to turn over a bit before you test the results of your dosing.
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I always stir up the sand band in my display tank to get as much debris out as possible. 
