Who has given up Aquavitro Salinity? WHY?

ralph atl · Apr 13, 2011

http://www.aquavitro.com/Products/salinity.html">[FONT=Arial][COLOR=#0000ff]http://www.aquavitro.com/Products/salinity.html</a>[/FONT][/COLOR]
[FONT=Arial]I've used various salts over the years, but the 2 that I've used for the longest are Tropic Marine Pro & lately, Seachem Reef.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I was going to switch to Salinity, but at 90 bucks a pop.....I took Randy's advice (go figure, like 400 times now!) and switched to IO! I supplemented with BRS 2 part calcium & mag.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I brought IO to respectable numbers as stated.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I tested tank on 04-05 and this is what I got:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Calcium: 300[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Alk:10[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]Mag:1000[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial](then, I added a ton of calcium and mag)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]I said, well, I'll just buy Oceanic and mix it with IO at 50-50......[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]considering this:[/FONT]

<div style="text-align: center;">[FONT=Arial]Salt Product [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Calcium [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Alkalinity [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Magnesium [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Aquatic Gardens [/FONT]</div>

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]430 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]8 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1240 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Brightwell Neomarine [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]370 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]11 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1140 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]CoraLife [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]560 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]9 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1380 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Crystal Sea Marinemix [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]340 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]9 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1050 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Crystal Sea Marinemix Bio-Assay [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]340 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]9 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1050 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]D-D H2Ocean [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]450 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]10 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1380 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Instant Ocean [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]400 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]11 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1350 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Kent [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]540 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]11 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1200 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Marine Environment [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]480 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]7.5 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1450 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Oceanic [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]580 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]8.5 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1650 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]OceanPure [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]510 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]10 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1320 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Red Sea [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]400 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]8 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1300 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Red Sea Coral Pro [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]490 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]7 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1300 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Reef Crystals [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]490 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]13 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1440 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Reefer's Best [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]420 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]11 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1200 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]SeaChem Marine Salt [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]500 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]10 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1400 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]SeaChem Reef Salt [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]540 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]10 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1450 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Tropic Marin [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]375 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]10 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1230 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Tropic Marin Pro Reef [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]450 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]8.5 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1380 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]Tunze Reef Salt [/FONT]

[RIGHT][FONT=Arial]420 [/FONT]
[/RIGHT]

[FONT=Arial]9.5 [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial]1350 [/FONT]

[B]So............[/B]
[B]45 bucks for 160 gallons of IO[/B]
[B]40 bucks for 90 gallons of Oceanic[/B]

[B]= SALINITY! lol[/B]

[B]I made the change, mixed it yesterday, and I'm doing a water change tomorrow. It doesn't have all that borate, it's easy to find, and my tank EATS Calcium, Mag, and Alk! Plus, I supplement, why should I struggle?[/B]

[B]WHY did you decide not to use it?[/B]

crewdawg1981 · Apr 13, 2011

Just to throw it out there, but comparing the $90 for Salinity isnt exactly apples to apples with other brands... reason being that the $90 bucket of salinity makes 225 gallons of water at 1.025... other brands like RC "200" gallon boxes are calculated at 1.022 or 1.023.

ralph atl · Apr 13, 2011

Crewdawg1981;635412 wrote: Just to throw it out there, but comparing the $90 for Salinity isnt exactly apples to apples with other brands... reason being that the $90 bucket of salinity makes 225 gallons of water at 1.025... other brands like RC "200" gallon boxes are calculated at 1.022 or 1.023.

so..........please explain your point? Even at 1.026 RC is still cheaper, and I still don't like it...lol....

crewdawg1981 · Apr 13, 2011

I realize its still more expensive... but its not as bad as the sticker shock suggests.

jeffh · Apr 13, 2011

I've never had to pay $90 for a bucket of Salinity.

crewdawg1981 · Apr 13, 2011

JeffH;635422 wrote: I've never had to pay $90 for a bucket of Salinity.

Me either... got the barrel deal from Jenn. I think the price equates to something like $46 per bucket.

smallblock · Apr 13, 2011

jeffh;635422 wrote: i've never had to pay $90 for a bucket of salinity.

+1

Edit: If you have a problem with it leaving a film and turning your mixing equipment white search for a thread I created back last year. Just saying this because I see its an option in the poll. It can be 100 percent avoided

wmboots · Apr 13, 2011

I did a water change over the weekend with my 2nd bucket of salinity checked and found these params - ph 8.1, alk 4.5, mag 1350, calc, 450.
none of my results reflected what was on the tag attached to the bucket. I originally wasn't going to use this bucket but it was here and I needed to change water. I personally am not enthralled with this product I actually find I am dosing more using this product than I did with I/O. Example performed water change sunday, checked water monday evening expecting I would find similar params as above but found alk 2.5 and mag 1325 with ph unchanged (I rarely check calc as I dose every other day with alternating between 2 different products). I don't recall ever having to dose alk and mag using I/O just 36 hours after peforming a water change.
I am giving serious consideration to buying a bucket of I/O and mixing with salinity.
has anyone else experienced these issues with salinity? I am directly attributing my loosing 2 gorgeous colonies of zoa's directly to salinity and the issues I detailed above.

Edit: Now in defense of pricing I have never paid more than $65 for a bucket of salinity, I don't know where you are getting the $90 price at but they are charging you the buddy rate (ie: my buddies want to see me prosper)

gnashty · Apr 13, 2011

Ive bought 2 barrels of salinity for around $200 each on 2 different occasions (split one) and was happy with it for a while, especially at that price. I stopped using it and switched out to Reef Crystals recently. I was getting low Mag/CA/Alk (1100, 350, 3 meq/L respectively) constantly on the salinity and it was really caking up my brute. Smallblocks method works though for the caking just takes patience..lol. That and once you pay barrel price its hard to pay more then $50-$60 for a bucket of salinity.

I think my barrels needed a good stir as I seemed to get better levels towards the bottom.

I figured, if I had to dose the change water anyway - might as well Reef Crystals...

ralph atl · Apr 13, 2011

Smallblock;635424 wrote: +1

Edit: If you have a problem with it leaving a film and turning your mixing equipment white search for a thread I created back last year. Just saying this because I see its an option in the poll. It can be 100 percent avoided

please explain how?

I mix it 24-48 hours in advance.

gnashty · Apr 13, 2011

mysterybox;635443 wrote: please explain how?

I mix it 24-48 hours in advance.

If I recall correctly - very very slowly, basically "sprinkle" not "pour" it in in 1/4-1/2 cup increments 30 minutes apart and it will prevent the caking.

crewdawg1981 · Apr 13, 2011

gnashty;635454 wrote: If I recall correctly - very very slowly, basically "sprinkle" not "pour" it in in 1/4-1/2 cup increments 30 minutes apart and it will prevent the caking.

Yeah something like that... I'm not THAT patient. I do two cups at a time, spaced out. Still get some of the caking, but not that bad.

wmboots · Apr 13, 2011

is this discussion about salinity caking during the mixing? I have never had a problem with it caking and I mix 25-50 gallons at a time and I pour it in 1/2 cup at a time and not too slowly either. I usually mix 24-48 hours in advance and just let the power head running keeping it stirring

ralph atl · Apr 13, 2011

OK, thanks! I poured in 2 cups at a time without caking....

smallblock · Apr 13, 2011

yeah I'll see if I can find the thread.

Edit:

cr500_af · Apr 13, 2011

Where did the parameters in the OP come from? I used a 200g box of Reef Crystals and the BEST calcium number I ever saw was 380 mixed at 1.026; the best magnesium around 1200. After using 8 batches of it (mixed ~25g at a time), if I had RC test at 490 the first thing I'd do is throw away my test kit.

I went back to Salinity, because even though my alk was always low it is cheaper to dose up the alk than it is to dose up the calcium.

To those who voted "too expensive", keep in mind that a bucket of Salinity that does 120g does a true 120g at 1.025-1.026. A "160g" bucket of many other salts doesn't go nearly that far at typical reef tank salinity levels. If you do the math the price difference isn't as big as it seems. Of course, if you don't take note of how many gallons you really get out of a bucket you won't notice.

smallblock · Apr 13, 2011

Would someone explain how it crashed their tank, I saw one vote for that option.

ralph atl · Apr 13, 2011

cr500_af;635493 wrote: Where did the parameters in the OP come from? I used a 200g box of Reef Crystals and the BEST calcium number I ever saw was 380 mixed at 1.026; the best magnesium around 1200. After using 8 batches of it (mixed ~25g at a time), if I had RC test at 490 the first thing I'd do is throw away my test kit.

I went back to Salinity, because even though my alk was always low it is cheaper to dose up the alk than it is to dose up the calcium.

I agree with you! This was from RC!

here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505</a>

and here:

[IMG]http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1991986">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1991986</a>

mvm · Apr 13, 2011

You'll find that most of these "higher end" salts with higher cal/mag/ect. seem to settle more while shipping. In fact, D-D H20 salt now has a message in it that states "settling may occur during shipping. Please mix thoroughly before use." I have used both salinity and D-D and am happy with both. D-D does seem to leave more of a film/layer of sediment as it is an organic salt.

Edit:

mysterybox;635497 wrote: I agree with you! This was from RC!

here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1714505</a>

and here:

[IMG]http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1991986">http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1991986</a>[/QUOTE]

How long into the season will your avatar last this year?:thumbs:

Edit: [QUOTE=][B]Smallblock;635496 wrote:[/B] Would someone explain how it crashed their tank, I saw one vote for that option.[/QUOTE]
I think he was being facetious....

wmboots · Apr 13, 2011

cr500_af;635493 wrote: Where did the parameters in the OP come from? I used a 200g box of Reef Crystals and the BEST calcium number I ever saw was 380 mixed at 1.026; the best magnesium around 1200. After using 8 batches of it (mixed ~25g at a time), if I had RC test at 490 the first thing I'd do is throw away my test kit.

I went back to Salinity, because even though my alk was always low it is cheaper to dose up the alk than it is to dose up the calcium.

point taken but what is more destructive to a tank? a little low on calcium or being 50% low on alk?
I will take my chances on my calc being a little low, yea growth is stunted but I have lost more coral colonies and suffered more red and green algae outbreaks due to alk being too low than I have from low calcium.
I don't know about RC test numbers I never used the salt but I do know I/O numbers have been pretty good. I happen to recall I have 150 gallons of I/O I picked up with that 150 gallon tank system I picked up a few weeks ago. Think I will try a 50/50 mix of salinity and I/O next change in a couple of weeks. If I think about it I will post test results of the mixed batch and 36 hours after the change

Who has given up Aquavitro Salinity? WHY?

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