Spin off on Cyano thread

[Wall_Tank]

To each his own.

Buy a salt
Mix to the desired salinity
Test each bucket or batch of the salt
Adjust params to your hearts desire.

[~reefchik~]

red sea coral pro salt

Thanks.  I should have been able to recall, but it's been a while.  You don't see it sold a lot of places around here, either.  I guess a lot of people think that's the best?  That and Kent?

[Reefd Up]

I think you'll find a different answer as to what salt is the best from pretty much every person.  Plus, someone might consider X salt the best, but use Y salt because of the price or availability. 

[~reefchik~]

LOL, Nikki....guess that's like a lot of things in life.

[Reefd Up]

Oh...another thing to consider is...

One month you'll have everyone raving about X salt and ranting about Y salt...and then the next month everyone is on to some other salt.  I'll admit, I've jumped on the bandwagon here and there.  I started with IO, tried Oceanic once, switched to Reef Crystals for quite a while, switched (for no reason) to RSCP for a while, kept using IO on my QT tank, and now I'm onto a mix of SeaChem and IO (they balance each other out well and has a low cost).  I'd say I vary salts about once every 6-10 months. 

I've only had one experience ever where I was deterred from a salt, and I'm not even 100% sure it was the salt.  So, I don't really have a favorite.  I do have to question those who change salts almost every month to go with the latest and greatest trend.  Stability is key with this hobby. 

[harleyrider]

Ill second that, if its not broke dont fix it!

[lazylivin]

Ill second that, if its not broke dont fix it!

That is what this guy says - I've used Instant Ocean salt from day one and since it's worked well for me, I haven't tried anything else because I feel that if it isn't broken, don't fix it!

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2009-01/totm/index.php

[~reefchik~]

That is an insanely gorgeous tank - wow.  I love his stand and canopy too.  Thanks for sharing that.

[jeremyt]

that monti he made with a bunch of frags turned out great.  looks amazing  

but i bet people have made some nuttier ones than that by now

[harleyrider]

Actually United Pet Group does exist. These companies are bought and sold all the time. I understand there are websites that tell you all kinds of information. There are also phone numbers on these websites, with real live people that you can talk too. http://www.unitedpetgroup.com/. And I never said that Central Pet made salt, just that Kent is a subsidary of Central Pet. I actually said Kent is an affiliate of Central Pet. As, far as the new up to date salt analysis goes, it does not do any of the salts anymore justice than the year prior.

Hers the number if you need it, or anyone else would like to talk to them 513-337-0600 formally (united pet group)

[slandis3]

OK leats please get this thread back on topic.

[slandis3]

ok i removed all the non related stuff in this thread. the op wanted to know if there was a direct link between Instant ocean and cyano. Not who owns what. I myself got caught up in the mix. So please keep this discussion about cyano and instant ocean salt.

[~reefchik~]

Well, at this point I'm blaming a couple things other than the salt for these issues. 

I got my phosphate test kit a few days ago, so that's happening today.  The macro algaes are going nuts in both the fuge and the display.  Bryopsis is coming back.  Hair algae (a very short variety, but still.... ) making a comeback on several rocks.  Nitrates seem to be hanging at 10 with water changes.  Cyano in sheets all across the back wall of the tank.  And black spots on the sand in a couple places without strong current.

I suspect it's a combo of using disturbed 3 yr old live sand, old abused rock (came with tank) and most likely filtered tap water, seeing's how my RO membrane is apparently dead. 

I had a bunch of medical stuff done last week, and now working on putting my business all into Quickbooks (huge undertaking OMG) and that's kept me off the streets and out of the forums    Time to set aside some tank time today for sure.   

[TechGuy]

Well, at this point I'm blaming a couple things other than the salt for these issues. 

I got my phosphate test kit a few days ago, so that's happening today.  The macro algaes are going nuts in both the fuge and the display.  Bryopsis is coming back.  Hair algae (a very short variety, but still.... ) making a comeback on several rocks.  Nitrates seem to be hanging at 10 with water changes.  Cyano in sheets all across the back wall of the tank.  And black spots on the sand in a couple places without strong current.

I suspect it's a combo of using disturbed 3 yr old live sand, old abused rock (came with tank) and most likely filtered tap water, seeing's how my RO membrane is apparently dead. 

I had a bunch of medical stuff done last week, and now working on putting my business all into Quickbooks (huge undertaking OMG) and that's kept me off the streets and out of the forums    Time to set aside some tank time today for sure.   

What is your TDS?

[~reefchik~]

What is your TDS?

No clue. 

[TechGuy]

No clue. 

LOL. Thats a good place to start!

[~reefchik~]

Test results:

PO4:  0.02 to 0.03 (almost undetectable color change)
No3:  less than 5 mg/L
CA:  440
pH: 8.2

I guess what phosphates and nitrates there *were* are now bound in the macroalgae? 
What the heck is causing the cyano to flourish then?

Also every one of my turbos died within a few days of each other.  Are they known to be sensitive to changes in CA or alkalinity?  The only big change that week was adding the skimmer. 

 

[harleyrider]

fix your R/O problem and you will fix your tanks problem!

[rmstevensiii]

It sounds like you're using old rock, and 3 yr old sand, which was disturbed during the tank move.  Either, or both could be leaching back into your tank.  Some you can test for, and some you cannot.  IMO, you should stay on top of the water changes, and physically remove all of the algae that you can until things stabilize.  I personally, do not believe that it's a source water problem.  My tanks both run on on tap water with no skimmer.  (Not the preferred method, but to each his/her own.  Your mileage may vary.)  The last time I tested, my TDS at the tap was close to 800.  I suspect that your probs are related to the the rock/sand from the old system....not your choice of salt.

My .02

[~reefchik~]

It sounds like you're using old rock, and 3 yr old sand, which was disturbed during the tank move.  Either, or both could be leaching back into your tank.  Some you can test for, and some you cannot.  IMO, you should stay on top of the water changes, and physically remove all of the algae that you can until things stabilize.  I personally, do not believe that it's a source water problem.  My tanks both run on on tap water with no skimmer.  (Not the preferred method, but to each his/her own.  Your mileage may vary.)  The last time I tested, my TDS at the tap was close to 800.  I suspect that your probs are related to the the rock/sand from the old system....not your choice of salt.

My .02

I think I agree with you.

Although I'm not willing to go back to tap water (LOL, that's probably essentially what I'm using anyway), I ran a really nice 55 gallon reef tank skimmerless with tap water years ago when I was too broke to buy any fancy equipment.   I still have photos of the nice corals in that tank!   

Now my challenge is to get a new membrane or a whole new RO or RO/DI system by say, tonight or tomorrow.   I'm tired of waiting, and I do believe the ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  This algae and cyano isn't going away magically by itself, that's for sure.