RC/AWT Salt Study Results

W

washingtond

Premium Member
Just go this link from over at RC on the AWT salt study that they conducted and here are the results.

http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages.com/AWT_Salt_Analysis_0208.pdf
 
Wow really interesting but debatable. I've never had RC read that low in calcium. I had one batch that did out of probably 50 buckets I've been through but they are normally right around 400-425 so that immediately make me a bit suspitious.
 
@kwl1763 wrote:
Wow really interesting but debatable. I've never had RC read that low in calcium. I had one batch that did out of probably 50 buckets I've been through but they are normally right around 400-425 so that immediately make me a bit suspitious. said:
Well, AWT is testing with ion specific probes- they don't pick up anything except ca++ ions, unlike our test kits which pick up other calcium compounds.
Click to expand...
 
Ya when I reread it says actual calcium amounts may be 10-20% higher so that makes sense. Makes it scary for seachem among others meaning calcium was over 500!

To me this just reiterates the need to test every new bucket no matter what your salt and adjust accordingly!!
 
From what I see I'm still using red sea pro but I did see one brand I would not use ever after seeing the results.
 
there is copper in seawater...i think excess copper is bad for invertebrates, for me the phosphates and nitrates level is what shocked me.

http://www.seafriends.org.nz/oceano/seawater.htm#composition
 
As Scott mentioned, the take the calcium and mg values with a grain of large sand... we found the ca off by as much as 80-100 ppm low and mg as much as 200ppm low in our testing.

Based on what I am seeing, not taking cost into account, the, Coralife, Kent or Marine Environment (though that was really low on ALK) would be the most balanced with the highest levels of Ca/ALk/MG/Potassium and the lowest of the Cooper, Ammonia, Moly/Stron/, PO4, Nitrates, Boron etc...
 
I would not have a knee jerk reaction and start changing salts as a result of this study just yet especially if the salt that you are currently using makes your corals and happy. This was an excellent study and explains some things we have seen and creates new questions at the same time. You should always do your home work by getting all the information that you can before making any changes as there are many variables at play here in my opinion.
 
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