disturbing read

[Cal_stir]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/rs/feature/index.php

i read this the other day, i switched salt, i'm now using H20cean

 

[Exotic Reef]

I personally used to use H20cean..... after recent batches mixing up VERY dirty I refuse to use (or sell) it. My New preference is Royal Nature..... I absolutely LOVE it..... There's not a single complaint I have against it.... my my corals have colored up significantly since the switch and growth has steadily be increasing!

Darren

 

[Cal_stir]

I personally used to use H20cean..... after recent batches mixing up VERY dirty I refuse to use (or sell) it. My New preference is Royal Nature..... I absolutely LOVE it..... There's not a single complaint I have against it.... my my corals have colored up significantly since the switch and growth has steadily be increasing!

Darren

i mixed the pail prior to using it as per the instructions and had no problems, i am disturbed by the amount of heavy metals in the instant ocean salt

 

[phi delt reefer]

I'm using esv for component salt. Takes about 1/2 hour to mix for u have to wait for each component to dissolve before moving on. Not a drop of residue leftband I have mixed over 100 gallons of it in a 5 gallon bucket, lol. Might move onto darren's Royal Nature stuff for I have to run to the border to get the esv stuff. No retailers in Canada.

 

[Salty1]

Very interesting information. I have used Instant Ocean for years (mainly because of availability & price) but will now look for a different source. Instant Ocean has always been low on calcium and required additives to raise this to proper reef values. My mixing barrel requires cleaning after a few months of use (brown crusted material would bond to walls of container). Thank for the info.

 

[phi delt reefer]

i mixed the pail prior to using it as per the instructions and had no problems, i am disturbed by the amount of heavy metals in the instant ocean salt

what's odd is that people dose those elements back into their tanks as "trace elements" but most are just heavy metals.

I find reefing has too much bull$hit science. Its actually quite frustrating for there is very little actual science happening when they do research and development.

 

[blaked]

my bud runs coral pro salt, im thinking of switching to it but cant find 3rd party data,...
im using good ol IO at the moment but need to switch to something more for LPS AND SPS

 

[blaked]

havta do more research on royal salf sounds good to me whats the price in canada?

 

[Krazykarl]

Im due for salt and would be interested in this too... Whats the price for a pail?

 

[Exotic Reef]

The Canadian Retail price is $95.00.

My Regular price is $85.00.....small buckets are now available as well... I will have them in next week.

The Royal Nature Is currently on sale for $75.00

 

[Darryl_V]

IO has always worked well for me.....I've seen too many beautiful tanks using IO to think that it could be a problem.  I think people are quick to change salts and try the newest additive because the are'nt getting the results they want....but trust me...it's not the salt....and its not the additives. 

 

[teebone110]

I am looking for some IO, where is the best deal locally?

 

[Darryl_V]

I am looking for some IO, where is the best deal locally?

Well I always get mine on the BA's boxing day sale...not sure who has the best price right now.

 

[TORX]

I am looking for some IO, where is the best deal locally?

IO 160 gallon treatments are normally on sale at Pet Smart for under $50. Cheaper then the LFS around where I am.

 

[pulpfiction1]

[quote author=teebone110 link=topic=1148.msg7358#msg7358 date=1309410062]
I am looking for some IO, where is the best deal locally?

IO 160 gallon treatments are normally on sale at Pet Smart for under $50. Cheaper then the LFS around where I am.
[/quote]

i think the regular peice is 39,does go on sale cheaper sometimes

 

[shayneh]

IO has always worked well for me.....I've seen too many beautiful tanks using IO to think that it could be a problem.  I think people are quick to change salts and try the newest additive because the are'nt getting the results they want....but trust me...it's not the salt....and its not the additives.

I agree with Darryl I use the IO reef crystals just so I don't have to add calcium and magnesium but with proper husbandry I've never experienced any deleterious effects simply using the IO. I find there are too many gimmicky or bogus reports about IO yet whenever I've gone to a large public aquarium (Berlin Aquarium, Munich Aquarium, Frankfurt Aquarium, Florida Aquarium, Key West and the Sea World chain) I see they use IO ...albeit in giant bags that would last us a lifetime. I figure if it's good enough for all the scientists, engineers, and biologists that work in these places it's good enough for my tank.

 

[Cal_stir]

I think I've had good success with IO salt so far but who knows, there are some anomalies I can"t explain, some zoas do very well and others slowly disappear, I've seen this with mushrooms and others. I'm sure that large marine animals can tolerate high levels of heavy metals but I don't think the smaller ones can.
Personnally I don't want the heavy metals in my tanks, so I have switched to another brand and hopefully it doesn't contain the high levels that IO does.
I'm going to use it for at least a year and see if anything changes
Also I will be culturing phyto and I think I will run one batch with IO and the rest with h2ocean and see if there is a difference
I was disturbed to see that IO contained such high levels of heavy metals, and when it cost $30 to ship and a store can sell it for $40, I don't think there is alot of R&D going on.
Sometimes when you just do what everybody else is doing, and accept what you get, you miss out on something better.

 

[Darryl_V]

Sometimes when you just do what everybody else is doing, and accept what you get, you miss out on something better.

Or you switch salts over and over and get worse results....read about this all the time.

Tons of RC TOTM's use IO..........and those are the best aquariums in the world.  If it works for them then I don't think I'm missing out on something better....what could better even be?

 

[Blob-79]

im gonna jump on the bandwagon lol

I use IO reef crystals..dont plan on switching anytime soon.

I understand concerns about heavy metals and all that. However salt containing trace amounts isnt the same as your top up water containing trace amounts. ie when you add salt(and trace amounts), you are also removeing the same trace amounts. Top up water not so much...

IMO IO crystals are tried tested and true, go ahead and switch if you like. I just dont really think it should be a concern. I have seen many many beautiful tanks run on IO, Darryl_V's tank being the epitome

 

[Cal_stir]

I'm not planning on switching salts over and over, and i'm not telling anyone to switch,i just think it is good to be informed about such things. I don't think IO should have so much heavy metals in their salt, I don't like it, and if the switch proves me wrong then I will prob switch back