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DIY Salt?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Bela, Sep 28, 2010.

  1. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    So I cam across a DIY aquarium salt thread. I was sort of browsing around RC and someone had linked to this. I was wondering if anyone had tried this. I would personally be a little nervous doing this with coral, but I figure this might be really inexpensive and since I am going FOWLR I wouldn't have to worry too much about calcium, alk, mag in the sense that if it isn't exactly IO quality, it could still work. So has anyone tried anything like this? Supposedly it is 1/10-1/5 the cost of buying even the bulk 200g boxes of the IO/RC!
    http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=233&t=271&p=1259&hilit=salt#p1259
     
  2. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    "I ran a cost analysis and this works out to about $6.83 for 150 gallons. Can you say MUCHO savings"

    THIS is mostly what caught my eye! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/wink.gif

    If anyone hasn't tried this (I don't know if I am quite brave enough yet), is there something other than reef crystals any of you recommend for a FOWLR? Looking for a cheaper alternative since I shouldn't have to worry as much about the high ca/mah/a;g levels in the RC.
     
  3. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Here'e something to think about. Sea World has a significant amount of resources to work with when it comes to taking care of their marine life. For their dolphin tanks and stuff like that, they do the DIY salt...however, they buy Reef Crystals for their reef tanks and other smaller display tanks. Not sure what that says, but something worth considering. I'm sure they have a reason why they use Reef Crystals considering that they are already doing the DIY salt for their massive tanks...

    --AJ
     
  4. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Is it possible they are sponsored or something? I dunno... seems like it might be easier to just use the RC on a couple thousand gallons versus a couple million? Not sure why they don't just use ocean water TBH. Aren't they all right near the ocean?
     
  5. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    I don't believe they are sponsored as they said that they buy it by the pallet and had 3 pallets on hand at the time.  I got the impression that it was due to cost.  And they are in Orlando (at least the one I visited...I think San Antonio and San Deigo too) and that's quite a ways (an hours drive) from the ocean...so no ocean water for them. 
    --AJ
     
  6. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Does this imply that the reef crystals is actually cheaper? Now I am confused... Also, the one in San Diego is right on the harbor. I assume you were referring to the San Antonio one being an hour away from the ocean?
     
  7. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Sorry, I did not mean to say cost...I was thinking one thing and said another.  What I was thinking is composition.  Making sure that the trace elements are added at the proper levels and things like that.  With some of the bigger animals, I'm sure this is much less of a concern as they don't use those elements like corals do.  Sorry for the confusion.
    And for the Sea Worlds that are located directly on the coast...I bet they do use sea water...but the one in Orlando that I toured did not.
    --AJ
     
  8. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    I see...
    The reason I was asking to begin with is because I was going FOWLR. For my last few years here in Iowa I will not be keeping corals. I am not sure that fish need these trace elements. The mix I was looking at basically gets the salinity, calcium, magnesium, etc. on par with ocean water. The recipe also has trace elements like iodine and the like but I don't know that I would even want to bother with this. Again, I was thinking of a simple DIY mix for fish only.
     
  9. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    If you can be sure that your ingredients are pure, then I see no reason why you shouldn't be able to do this on FOWLR. I always get a little concerned about using non-food grade materials in my tank. I've invested a lot to be experimenting on my home tank and would prefer to use materials that I have a higher degree of confidence in...but that's just me...I know many others use non-food grade materials successfully without negative effects.

    --AJ
     
  10. Bzishka

    Bzishka Inactive User

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    sadly the water in our tanks is probably better then the water in the ocean /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/sad.gif
     
  11. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Especially the Gulf Of Mexico right now...
     
  12. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Well, I don't think food grade would be a problem. I can get NaCL pure food grade without an anti-caking agent. From there I would probably just add CaCl and call it a day. I have read a lot about what to do in theory, but I am not seeing anyone doing anything with it long term. I found a little info on a person that tried it and stopped (for seemingly no reason). Not really sure what to think. I suppose it isn't TOO expensive to just buy the reef crystals, but at 1/10 the cost I just saw it as a potential to save a nice chunk of money is all. If I find any more conclusive info I will be sure to link it.
     
  13. AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    The potential money that could be saved certainly makes it worthy of a little experimentation. If you do this, please let the rest of us know how it goes. Thanks Bela!

    --AJ
     
  14. Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Not sure I am brave enough to do it without much data on it. It is one of those things where, as you said, people DON'T do this for a reason right? Either that or we have all totally bought into the hype of brand name salt mixes! I am sure it is one of the two! I will look into it some more this weekend.
     

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