flowerseller January 24, 2006 January 24, 2006 I made a new batch of IO water this weekend and tested it with new Salifert test kits. I thought I'd share my findings I tested a batch of about 25g that I made with an Aqua-Safe 5 stage RO/DI that had a TDS of 002 read by a CD 97 meter. Salifert tests: KH 4.23 meg/l or 11.8 dkh MG 1350 CA 390-400 the difference of 1 drop of test solution PO4 0.0 Pinpoint PH w/ recently calibrated probe PH 8.26 water temp 78.5 SG 1.025 by refractometer I process the water and collect it in a 32g trash can from HECHINGERS. I always clean it out, hose and wipe it down in between new batches. In the can is an 802 ph and a heater. ( plus my quiet one pump for top off) As early as I can, I turn the powerhead on and plug in the heater to begin aeration. Once I've made enough water, I add the IO salt I think I need and test the SG until I get it to 1.025. Once I get there, I continue to vigoursly circulate the water in the can with the lid cocked upside down and the waters surface "boiling" to allow for gas exchange. I don't use this water for atleast 24 hours. My routine has been to add 5-10 gallons to the system and then draw off the same amount after a few hours while I'm doing a few chores around the house. I do this once a week and sometimes twice if I've been heavily fragging or stiring things up that week. I must admit that I was somewhat pleasently surprised by the readings since I always read, heard and believed the results would be lower. I have nothing else to compare this too since I've just gotten the Salifert test kits and never tested all these params from the same batch. This salt was from a bag I just opened as I buy the non resale bags by the box of four and then store it in a tight lid bucket. My goal here is not to have you change salts, buy Salifert test kits or the RO/DI unit I have or even do your maintinence the way I do, just pass on what I thought was interesting test results that may help you out. I'm also sad to say I did not get a new router for my anniversary like I'd hoped. What is up with that?
emissary January 24, 2006 January 24, 2006 You want a new router? Hmm.. I'm sure I could dredge up some old cisco gear from someone... :D
rocko918 January 24, 2006 January 24, 2006 Thanks for the info chip!! IO has always been the go to salt for me.
GaryL January 25, 2006 January 25, 2006 no wonder my alk shot up so high with the reactor. thanks fro the info chip, you are a gentleman and a road scholar! router? dsl, cable, or wood? and what brand. harbor freight down here in hoodbridge has plunge routers for like 40 bucks+ the rst i can only rec microcenter or compusa
Folta January 25, 2006 January 25, 2006 Hmm.... interesting numbers. The last salt change I did with the seachem reef salt. Using a brand new salifert calcium test kit, it didn't even register as 300. I'm sticking with IO as well.
Lee Stearns January 25, 2006 January 25, 2006 I will do a double check on mine as well just to see if my numbers for IO come out in the same ball park- Thanks Chip Knew I was an IO fan for some reason.
flowerseller January 25, 2006 Author January 25, 2006 I'm hoping others will offer their test results as well. I'm processing another batch of water as I type and plan to run the same battery of tests a day or so after I mix it up. I don't have a strontium test kit or any others than I mentioned so hopefully someone will chime in for us that does and tests a new batch. If you use a diferent salt and have run similar tests, please take a moment to share your results with us. Bad or better. We're all in it together and I've been learning for 20+ years.
JMsAquarium January 25, 2006 January 25, 2006 I'm hoping others will offer their test results as well.I'm processing another batch of water as I type and plan to run the same battery of tests a day or so after I mix it up. I don't have a strontium test kit or any others than I mentioned so hopefully someone will chime in for us that does and tests a new batch. If you use a diferent salt and have run similar tests, please take a moment to share your results with us. Bad or better. We're all in it together and I've been learning for 20+ years. 51178[/snapback] Very nice post Chip, I use IO as well, same as you, the box with 4 bags. I use different test brands and will post as well the results. Gotta mix some tonite and let's see what I get
Guest UncleSamG-8 January 27, 2006 January 27, 2006 (edited) interesting salt study. not sure if the mix has changed since then... http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1 Edited January 27, 2006 by UncleSamG-8
flowerseller January 30, 2006 Author January 30, 2006 I made another new batch of salt, here's the results. batch #1_________batch #2 KH 4.23 meg/l______3.89 meg/L MG 1350__________1110 CA 390-400________330 PO4 0.0___________0.0 PH 8.26___________8.32 temp 78.5_________76.6 SG 1.025__________1.024 I had to put these ____ or the batch #'s run together. This batch #2 is from a different bag but from the same box. While the hardness is close, the calcium and Mg differences are large. Imagine changing 25% of your water in one shot and diluting your parameters in an effort to equalize with the new water. I can see why people complain about different salt mixes being different but this is a considerable difference in some important elements that can directly inhibit calcification by corals and coralline algae. This helps us understand when a fellow aquarists coralline algae turns white after a water change or even a salt manufactor change and they don't know why. Might even lend a little credibility to smaller, more frequent water exchanges and keeping up with your KALK and/or CA reactors. I'll be interested to test water in two weeks and see where that batch registers. Meanwhile, let us see your new water test results.
flowerseller January 30, 2006 Author January 30, 2006 Since I was testing this evening, I ran tests on my tank and here they are also. SG __1.029 Mg __1350 KH __3.89 CA___450 PO4__0.0 temp_80.2 I've already started lowering my SG which was a surprise but I now realize how it inadvertantly got so high. I add as much as 10g of water to the system and draw it off a little later and it generaly works great for me. When I did my little tests the other night, I added the water, tested some of it before adding and came up and shared my results. I never drew it back off and it evaported into the system leaving the salt behind and raising the SG. I'm on my way down to draw off the 10g of 1.019 water I added earlier.
dbartco January 31, 2006 January 31, 2006 tested mine a few mins ago sg 1.0245 CA 340 Hardness 11.5 (need to do conversion) ph 8.2 I would be more apt to belive the lower number as IO is notoriously lower in CA and higher in dkh.
flowerseller January 31, 2006 Author January 31, 2006 Your KH is around 4 I'm making water late this week or early next week for a few more tanks I maintain. I'll test that too and pass on the results since I should be into a third bag by then. Any more results out there anyone cares to share? We need to get a group box order going for the IO non resale 4 bag boxes.
magnetic1 January 31, 2006 January 31, 2006 What have you guys been paying for IO salt? Petco has those 10% coupons once in a while making their buckets $54.
dbartco January 31, 2006 January 31, 2006 $54 ouch! On the 160 or 200 gal? BRK, $43, or sometimes on special at $38. - box with 4 50 gal bags
rioreef January 31, 2006 January 31, 2006 Just bought a 160g bucket from Fins&Feathers in Ashburn. Priced at $49.99 but, take the 20% WAMAS discount and it $39.99. I'll support that from a store in my neighborhood. cr
flowerseller January 31, 2006 Author January 31, 2006 Since I can go thru a 4 bag box a month, I have a call in about another group pallet of salt order. I'll let you know when I hear.
magnetic1 January 31, 2006 January 31, 2006 I'm game. Please! 51638[/snapback] Lemme know too please. Yea.. the Petco one is a 180gal bucket. Reg price is $59.99 !!! I need it soon though... I might have to make a run over to F&F
flowerseller March 12, 2006 Author March 12, 2006 I'm now into bag #4 and got these reading a day after mixing SG __1.024 Mg __1150 KH __3.77 CA___360 PO4__0.0 temp_78.2 PH __8.23 I don't know where I put the test results from batch #3. I'll post them when I find the piece of wood I wrote it on.
ErikS March 12, 2006 March 12, 2006 I'll post them when I find the piece of wood I wrote it on. Intersting results....and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who does stuff like that :D
flowerseller March 15, 2006 Author March 15, 2006 We can get the 4 bag box of I/O salt for $35.00 a box if we can get 20 boxes sold in the next few days. These are the 50g mix bags that come 4 to a box. Sold as a full box of 4 only. That's less than $10.00 a 50g mix. I'll take 4 boxes = $140.00 plus tax Please PM me as soon as possible. These need to be paid for in advance and need to be picked up at BRK within 2 weeks of delivery. See this I/O link for order info
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