RC or IO? Why?

[jbdreefs]

I'm curious to know if you use reef crystals or instant ocean. Please also let me know why. I need more salt and I'm considering going to RC. At first glance it seems that RC has a higher concentration of CA and Mg. However, if you supplement these parameters, is there another advantage for RC over IO?

 

[ripped tide]

I use RC so that I don't have to dose newly mixed instant ocean before it goes into my tank.

If money was no object, I would use the brightwell's neomarine, or tropicmarin.

 

[basscyn]

I think RC has a higher Calcium content. I found I had to dose more to keep the CA where I wanted it. Ive switched back to IO in hopes that I finally hook up this Calcium reactor ive been sitting on.

 

[grouper therapy]

I've used IO for years , I have never predosed. Simply a matter of economics for me. I can buy a lot of kalkwasser or 2 part for the added cost. I've tried almost every salt out there including RC and I seen no difference in my tank. IO affords me to do larger and more frequent WCs which I think is more important than higher levels of cal and mag. With higher levels of undesirables the higher levels of cal and mag seemed useless to me.

 

[islandreef]

It also depends on what you want to keep in your tank. If you have corals that need the additional trace elements and calcium, and you can afford the additional cost then RC. I have used IO when I first started how many years ago and now that I am getting back into it I am once again going with IO. I do however dose kalkwasser in my auto topoff. Cheaper for me than RC. Thats just me though.

 

[ripped tide]

IO is a great salt. It is good for softies and Lps. When mixed, the calcium levels are under 400. RC mixes at ~480. For an sps dominated tank, i wouldn't want to go from 450-500 down to under 400 and then dose back up to 450ish, seems counter productive. I'd rather spend less than $10 more for a box of RC

 

[gordob]

I have tried different salts in the past (IO, Oceanic, Red Sea Coral Pro, one other that I can't remember) and I've had the most success with RC. I don't dose much of anything, and my corals have seemed to thrive with RC.

- Brad

 

[jbdreefs]

Grouper, I think you make a very good point about the water changes. How do you dose your kalkwasser? I've read about people adding it to their ATO, but is it really that simple?

 

[grouper therapy]

JBDreefs;733628 wrote: Grouper, I think you make a very good point about the water changes. How do you dose your kalkwasser? I've read about people adding it to their ATO, but is it really that simple?

I drip the kalk 24/7 via a needle valve . I don't care for the ato method. Too many chances of equipment failure. I guess a needle valve could malfunction(not sure how) my will slow from time to time due to build up at the tip.

 

[ripped tide]

Another thing I've noticed is that sticking with one brand and not jumping around helps too. Consistency is key

 

[grouper therapy]

Ripped Tide;733619 wrote: IO is a great salt. It is good for softies and Lps. When mixed, the calcium levels are under 400. RC mixes at ~480. For an sps dominated tank, i wouldn't want to go from 450-500 down to under 400 and then dose back up to 450ish, seems counter productive. I'd rather spend less than $10 more for a box of RC

That level of calcium IMO is not needed. I have grown huge colonies of sps while maintaining calcium levels closer to 400. Depending on your water change size the difference it makes in the levels is not that much. If the new water is off by 10% and you do a 20% water change that is only a 2% change in the total volume. Your dosing can be adjusted to correct that over the time period between water changes.

 

[ripped tide]

I had been doing pretty decent sized weekly changes. Now that the biopellets are running, not so much.

My tank is used to RC at this point. I don't mind forking out the extra bucks to not have to change my routine.

I am pretty sure that io and RC are the same salt, with rc containing extra magnesium and calcium chlorides.

 

[thanh386]

IO. Good cheap salt. And cause I'm poor

 

[grouper therapy]

Ripped Tide;733655 wrote: I had been doing pretty decent sized weekly changes. Now that the biopellets are running, not so much.

My tank is used to RC at this point. I don't mind forking out the extra bucks to not have to change my routine.

I am pretty sure that io and RC are the same salt, with rc containing extra magnesium and calcium chlorides.

That is the best reason in my opinion. If it works why change:thumbs:

 

[lilrobb]

Ripped Tide;733619 wrote: IO is a great salt. It is good for softies and Lps. When mixed, the calcium levels are under 400. RC mixes at ~480. For an sps dominated tank, i wouldn't want to go from 450-500 down to under 400 and then dose back up to 450ish, seems counter productive. I'd rather spend less than $10 more for a box of RC

While I agree with the general statement, 10$ buy you a lot of Kalkwasser

 

[ripped tide]

This is true. But then I would need to take extra steps to get the calcium back up to where I keep it. I am not totally against it, but don't have a reactor and don't want to deal with mixing it and dripping it.

 

[rdnelson]

grouper therapy;733693 wrote: That is the best reason in my opinion. If it works why change:thumbs:

Does that hold true with underwear too? :lol2:

 

[jbdreefs]

Okay, I started with IO, so I'll just keep it that way and stay with my routine. However, I should probably look into kalkwasser at some point. Currently, I supplement with seachem's calcium and alkalinity buffer. If there's a better way, I'm all for it.

Constantly topping off my sump was the first routinely thing that had to change. I think manually adding these buffers will be the next to go. Thanks for the discussion.