What are you guys getting when you mix Fritz at 1.026? I was not so pleased to see mine mix at : Alk-8.7 Calcium-500 Magnesium-1575 (yes that's not a typo) I thought I had mixed it at 40 ppt or something but checked it with two different refractometers calibrated with two different 35ppt standards! Why the ridiculously high Calcium and Mag? I know it probably won't hurt anything but that's nowhere near where I like to keep my levels. I hate for water changes to introduce instability not prevent it.
I haven't ever experienced that high. With that said, it being Ca and Mg I wouldn't worry. If it were crazy on the Alk it would scare me.
Actually, the best my tank ever looked was when I had Fritz all up in it. Could be a host of other things going on for sure, but that's my story. I'm beginning to work it back in - I asked Fishtank to keep it regularly. I've been using TM and man...it hurts each time I get a bucket! That's about where I like to keep my alk so when I change water things stay generally stable, unlike using reef crystals.
And Doc, maybe I should do half and half IO reef and Fritz because I can't get my mag up to a normal range. I've finally finished that bucket and am working on bags now so we will see. Parameters seem to be raising slowly but I'm considering mag dosing in the mean time. I also can't get my ph up over 8. Where does it put your ph?
Yes but she didn't have a mag test at the time. Doc tested with his and it was right around mine as well as I've tested with another salifert kit that came with the tank and it's also about the same. I said half and half because fritz was so high and mine was so low.. make a nice level in the middle. I wasn't really being serious.
A box is 200 gallons and the fish tank sells them for $58 bucks. Side note Blue box is one big bag White box is 4-50gallon bags both boxes are 200 gallons
Oh I'm totally going to grab some then! I've been using IO reef crystals and just not getting the numbers I want.
I have an old Aquavitro Salinity bucket that I use to keep my Fritz dry after I open it. I'm planning on buying another box next week at Corals for Charity.
I got a box of Fritz last weekend and did my first WC with it yesterday. I tested alk at a solid 8-8.5 and did the WC 45 minutes after mixing it. I was impressed at the clarity as well as the response from the coral, I've tried many salts but always ended up with IO Reef Crystals. Lately I've had algae blooms every time I do WCs, mine as well as my client's tanks. I even went so far as to buy a whole new mixing station, pump, and RODI. I woke up today to a clean front glass, crystal clear water and happy coral, it's just one WC but I certainly look forward to seeing how it does long term.