Question About Switching Brands of Salt

[Andy V]

I have been using Reef Crystals for over a year, and I had quite the surprise today. I just opened a new bucket of RC and mixed up some water for a water change. I obviously used the same amount of salt that I have always used to do the water change.

I tested the water in the bucket, and was shocked to find the calcium reading only 200ppm. I tested it twice, and I also tested the water in my tank to check if the test kit was bogus...it wasn't.

I have read some of the threads on salt here, and it seems that the vast consensus is that Tropic Marin regular mix is the most CONSISTENT, even if the parameters are not perfect. Is that still the case?

The other question is, if I decide to switch brands of salt, can I just do it all at once? That is, just switching brands, without mixing brands on my next water change. I do 10% changes every week, so the change would take course over a few months.

I know that people recommend mixing brands of salt, but I have limited space to keep multiple buckets of salt, and quite honestly, I don't feel like going through that hassle.

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[JayM]

you can do it all at once if you want, as long as you supplement for any buffer, Mg, Ca, alk, etc with any new salt mix. I think you just got a bad batch. Dowflake to the rescue.............

 

[Arthur1]

Gotta love quality control lol

 

[Andy V]

My last bucket would give me about 350ppm when I would mix it up. Still too low, but if it was at least consistent it would be nice. That way, once you figured it out, you could just add your buffer, calc, etc. in the same amount everytime...