New to Salt - couple questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 29, 2011
3,441
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38
New England
I'm not new to fishkeeping, and I've had salt before - but never a large one, so bear with me.

1. What's the cheapest way to get salt? I'm not going to buy the expensive pail/boxes at pet stores. In the past, my salt tanks were 10 - 30 gal, so cost wasn't a problem. The new salt tank may be a 75. Can the cheap store salt be used?

2. What about seawater? Please don't get into parasites, etc - I just need to know if it would be compatible with tropical saltwater fish - probably just adjust the salinity as needed ?

3. Is there a rule of thumb for heating, or NOT heating a salt tank?

4. Pros and Cons of beach sand? Aquarium gravel, with coral pieces? I do not like coral gravel - it is not pretty, and gets ugly fast, with red or green algae.

Let's get started with those questions - thanks!
 
1 - you can make your own salt mix, the salt sold in grocery stores both iodized and sea salt have an anti-caking agent that is deadly to fish. You'd need to find 100% pure salt and add Calcium, Magnesium, and trace elements to create proper PH.

2 - PPL do use seawater - draw backs,Nitrite and pollution heavy on along the shoreline.You have no control over whats in this water. Probably won't have to add salt.

3- most tropical fish come from waters 78-80 degrees, local fish you'd have to research the temp.

4 - No Pro's. Shorline sand is usually polluted, gravel does nothing for Saltwater PH, both gravel and large corals chuncks are very hard to clean.

If you can't afford to do it don't
 
If you're planning on collecting sea water for your tank -

-Wait a hour after the tide has came in (to best avoid the crap that's on the shoreline/beach).
-Try to find the cleanest source ie not near harbors with boats, or near any pipes leading into the sea..

A friend of mine only using water collected from the sea for his tank and his corals LOVE it.

Think of it this way. Your mixed sea salt/RO water mix has had....a few days, few months to mix properly. The sea has had millions to years to mix. And if you get a clean source it will be full of life (pods)




Sand? You will get green or brown algae on any form of sand as it will feed on the silca deposits within it (this will 'burn' off though as the silca levels are consumed and will return to normal). It can't be avoided in any new tank but it can be controlled when it dissipates, very easily, with routine maintenance which you should be doing anyway. I'd personally go for a crushed coral sand/mixed with a small bag of 8mm crushed coral. Mainly because it has better buffering capacity than everything else you mentioned.



By the way...You haven't mentioned live rock but what I would say is buy the best grade you can and avoid buying second hand stuff unless you know it's coming from a good, well maintained tank.
Second hand LR can be full of Phos and other bad stuff that will leech into your water giving you problems, unless like I say, it has came from a well looked after tank


Someone else mentioned making your own salt..... I would avoid this like the plague. It will be difficult to get right first time and then maintain. I know it can be done but I've never heard anyone or seen any tanks that have done this.... for a reason. Maybe a good idea in an emergency but that's it.


All the best :thumbsup:
 
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