So….. Lets talk basics.
Every once in a while, some gets the notion into their head “I’d really like to start a Saltwater tank”. Now, that is followed by some Research (we hope). Talk to other people that have a tank(more then one). Then talk with your LFS associate(who we hope knows what their talking about). Remember that its really easy to spend alot of money, really, really fast on things that you don’t actually need in this hobby.
Now, The guy at the Local Fish Store Is going to tell you to buy a few things. The most basic of these is SALT. Its what makes the whole system what it is, and more importantly, what it isn’t. It isn’t fresh water, and there won’t be goldfish in this here tank. So lets take a minute to talk about what that box or bucket of salt is all about. Inside that container is salt, yes, but its special salt. Its got something called trace elements. Its got Extra Calcium in the mix so that the tank starts off with that little something it needs. It also comes with ” Extra Vitamins”, but not much details on what that means, no matter where you look. The last thing that most brands of Reef salts claim to add is a Metal detoxifier. Side Bar: if your not ready to add Reverse Osmosis water to your system, STOP. Get some. Then continue.
The only real difference in brands is the content of Calcium and Magnesium, the pH target It is blended for, and the dkh (a measure for hardness that well get into some other time) of said mix.
So.. How do u decide which to buy? You need to decide whats going in you tank. Fish? Coral?
If your happy with a fish only system then you can get what ever you chose. The only thing you can’t do is add Morton’s table salt! Get your self some salt. Follow the directions on the packaging to you desired salinity, and try to keep it around 1.020 range. and your done.
However. Your reading this article on a Saltwater Aquaculture site. Its alittle more complicated for maintaining a reef. Most reef keeper like to maintain a salinity of between 1.022 and 1.025. Calcium and magnesium also need to be about 420ppm and 1460ppm respectively. These ranges are found in most salt mixes and should be stable for a period of 2-4 months. That means water changes. So, as a personal preference, I like to buy a brand that offers me a reasonable amount for a reasonable price.
What does all this mean? Not much really. Decide what you are looking for. Fish only or a reef tank. Decide if you need to spend that little extra on a more expensive brand. Make sure your ok with the amount that you paid, because that’s the brand you’ll want to stick with. Talk to a few Different Local fish guys. Ask them what brands they use in their tanks at home. And as with all my articles, the most important thing you can do to avoid trouble, research, research, research.
Chris Wall@ BDR