I screwed up and ordered reg salt instead of reef crystals.

I have used Instant Ocean since I started many years ago. When I started with corals I switched to IO Reef Crystals. I ordered salt online the other day and didn't get reef crystals. Will there be much of a difference if I use it or could I buy some reef crystals and mix them?

 

What type(s) of corals do you have, and do you supplement cal, alk, and mag?

 

I have leathers, zoas, mushrooms, and euphyllia. And no I dont supplement anything.

 

I think you should be okay...I used io to start my tank given it was so much cheaper. Once cycled, I switched back to kent marine.

 

I do not see an issue. If you have a lot of coralline algae, clams or bigger stony corals than you might want to test Ca/mag/alk just to make sure you're keeping those values in line.

 

Ok, thanks for the info everyone. I already ordered a case of reef crystals just to be safe. I will just mix it together when doing a change

 

Your numbers will be lower, but still inline.

Since you bought RC too, maybe find someone local to send the IO to?

 

you'll be fine. a lot of people with sps tanks like to use plain IO salt. It's got less organics in it that will break down and lower alk for those ULNS tanks.

 

I did the same thing...and just alternated on water changes....one with IO then the next one with RC. I do dose alk, mag, and Ca and there was a very minimal impact over time (mostly to Ca)- nothing to worry about IMO. I have about 300 g total volume in my system and had a 160g bucket of salt to use up - to give you some idea of magnitude of the change.

 

Before I moved to CA I was pretty close with a well-known store/online merchant. For both the water they used in their systems and that they sold to customers, they used regular Instant Ocean and supplemented with CA, Alk and Mag. It was far more cost effective than buying the more expensive reef salt and you get similar results.

Now... I just noticed that the 160 gallon buckets of IO are available on Amazon (with Prime) so... big heavy buckets delivered to my door with free shipping makes me happy.