grover2 Posted January 3, 2007 Share Posted January 3, 2007 I am not all that new to the hobby, but I guess it is all relative. I would like to switch brands of sea salt and was wondering what brand other hobbiests prefer and where you purchase it. It seems that buying local is necessary due to large shipping costs. However, I would be willing to pick it up anywhere between Eugene and Portland if necessary. Maybe even Seattle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 WELCOME!! (To) (P) (N) (W) (M) (A) (S) (yahoo) Check out cichlids and salt in springfield. good prices and he can get you about anything you want. Or in eugene theres liquid sunshine. If you pay membership dues for $20 you will get a member card good for 10% off at the stores listed in the sponsor section. Lots of people seem to like reef crystals or tropic marin. www.Cichlidsandsalt.com is the store in springfield and they carry oceanpure which i hear good things about. www.drsfostersmith.com has good deals on salt if you buy a couple buckets at a time usually and has free shipping sometimes. but i would give sean a call at cichlids and salt and see what he can do for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 Thanks for the advice. Does anyone else have any? I was thinking about switching to Tropic Marin, but I wasn't sure anyone local was carrying it. I don't really have the time or ability to run all over town checking. Thier web sites are not overly helpful on what brands they carry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H20cooled Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 I used Ocean Pure for a long time and never had any problems with it, I switch because I wanted higher levels of CA, Mag. I've been using Kent and it works fine now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 For your area cichlids is probably the best price, call him and ask what he has in stock if your interested in something he doesnt have Im sure he can get it, I got some ocean pure from him to try out and seems to be just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powdertang05 Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 go to dr foster and smith they gave salt i love oceanic and its cheap for a 200g bucket costs 36 bucks with shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted January 4, 2007 Share Posted January 4, 2007 Sean at Cichlids & Salt ordered 2 200gal buckets of Oceanic for me even though he doesn't normally carry it anymore. Gave me a great price too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Nice to see someone from my neck of the woods on the boards. I live in Creswell also. I manage the Ray's FoodPlace in town. I have been using OceanPure for over a year now. I had really bad algea problems that went away when I started using OceanPure. I usually get my salt from Cichlids and Salt in Springfield. Sean is a great guy. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spayne Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Wow! You're from Creswell, too! Can this town sustain two houses with reef tanks? (laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 not sure if the power grid in creswell can support it! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanF Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Might be alright as long as you live on different ends of town. I figure they stretched the power grid pretty good on your guys side of town when they put in all of that fancy development over there. Let me tell you I still can't believe all of the new stuff down there. I go away for a few years and the town doubles in size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 LOL, next thing you know they are going to name an sps "camas beauty" because there are so many of Creswell reefers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 6, 2007 Author Share Posted January 6, 2007 Jay, I noticed you were from Creswell also. I am a little intimidated by your 300+ gallon tank. I am running a 120 and am still overwhelmed by that. I shop at Ray's almost daily, I have probably seen you there. Thanks for the info on the salt. I have been struggling with hair algae and various other kinds since I bought this tank 8 months ago (bought used, fully stocked). I thought I might try a different kind of salt and see if that helped. I picked up some emerald crabs and sally lightfoots today. Maybe they will help as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Watch the sally lightfoot. I had one that was really good until it got big and then it started chasing/eating other fish. Just keep an eye on him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 6, 2007 Author Share Posted January 6, 2007 Aparently I missed all the other posts about Creswell before I posted my reply. Have you noticed all the power outages in the area in the past month, maybe we really are taxing the power supply to much!!!!! Most people just blame it on the weather, but who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 6, 2007 Author Share Posted January 6, 2007 I actually got two sally lightfoots, at what size do they attack fish? I was more worried about the sally's getting into it with my banded coral shrimp. I don't know why I never learn.... I went to the LFS for emerald crabs and the friend I went with was exclaiming over how cute the sally's were and the LFS guy said they were great for algae to.... now I regret getting them already. I should always stick to my list, nothing more!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Mine didn't become a problem until his body reached the size of a $.50 piece or a little larger. When I went to get him out I had to tear down half the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 6, 2007 Author Share Posted January 6, 2007 One of mine is almost that size already, well I guess all I can do is keep an eye on them. Thanks for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanF Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 The power has always been that way down in Creswell when I was a kid power was out at our house in the middle of winter for a week. We ended up staying at the Motel there in town. I believe it is the power company down there. They are slower than all get out about fixing anything. They service most of the rural areas around here. For Hair algae you would need a fleet of Emeralds or Sallys. Sea Hares are ideal but sensitive and sometimes the problem that is causing the hair algae kills them. You said this was an established tank, do you know how long the tank was up and running for before you got it. I am guessing the previous owner probably got frustrated with it and wasn't maintaining it properly. What brand of salt are you using now? Personally here is how I would start to battle a hair algae problem in a well established tank. First get a good salt you trust the Tropic Marin is nice but expensive when you can find it personally for what I am going to recommend I would probably use a cheaper salt. The cheapest salt that I have heard good things about would be Oceanpure. You are going to need to do frequent large water changes. I would recommend running some sort of phosphate remover also. What type of filteration are you running on the aquarium? I would also recommend using some Macroalgae the more aggressive the better. I know it sounds weird but you want to grow as much algae as possible but also be able to remove it from the tank. Whatever is causing the algae will eventually be disappated to a point where the hair algae is no longer able to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 7, 2007 Author Share Posted January 7, 2007 Thanks for the advice SeanF! I am actually from the Creswell area also. I grew up on Lynx Hollow off Hwy 99. However, I went to school in CG. I graduated in 91, how about you? I have been using Instant Ocean (I had two buckets that are now almost gone). I would like to switch brands, although the guy at the LFS said there was no difference between the brands as far as phosphates are concerned. I have a 120 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump. I have a filter bag, protein skimmer and algae (the wirey kind) in the sump. I have been wondering if this is enough? It came with red pump that I can only assume was a phosphate remover pump. It was so increadibly black that the contents were un-identifiable. I have run phosphate remover in that device a time or two, but it is very time consuming to change the medium. According to the directions the phosphate remover/medium should only run for 3 or 4 days before being changed or removed from the system. Anyway, yesterday today (I did a 10% H2O change yesterday) Temp 75 76 pH 8.0 8.0 phosphate 0.5 0.5 nitrate 20 10 nitrite 0.05 0.05 ammonia 0.25 0-0.25 alkalinity 1.7 1.7 Well in taking new levels to post, I decided to test my RO/DI water for phosphates and it was 0.1. So I guess I discovered part of my problem right there. I guess I need to put some more work into my filter system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 lol, I know someone on Lynx now with a salt tank... small world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 8, 2007 Author Share Posted January 8, 2007 Nyles, are you from this area as well? My original salt tank was began when I lived on lynx hollow. I wonder if I know the person? lol.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Thanks for the advice SeanF! I am actually from the Creswell area also. I grew up on Lynx Hollow off Hwy 99. However, I went to school in CG. I graduated in 91, how about you? I have been using Instant Ocean (I had two buckets that are now almost gone). I would like to switch brands, although the guy at the LFS said there was no difference between the brands as far as phosphates are concerned. I have a 120 gallon tank with a 10 gallon sump. I have a filter bag, protein skimmer and algae (the wirey kind) in the sump. I have been wondering if this is enough? It came with red pump that I can only assume was a phosphate remover pump. It was so increadibly black that the contents were un-identifiable. I have run phosphate remover in that device a time or two, but it is very time consuming to change the medium. According to the directions the phosphate remover/medium should only run for 3 or 4 days before being changed or removed from the system. Anyway, yesterday today (I did a 10% H2O change yesterday) Temp 75 76 pH 8.0 8.0 phosphate 0.5 0.5 nitrate 20 10 nitrite 0.05 0.05 ammonia 0.25 0-0.25 alkalinity 1.7 1.7 Well in taking new levels to post, I decided to test my RO/DI water for phosphates and it was 0.1. So I guess I discovered part of my problem right there. I guess I need to put some more work into my filter system. Your nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia are all too high. You should do some large WCs. Also is your alk tested in ppm or dKH? It seems low as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Nyles' date=' are you from this area as well? My original salt tank was began when I lived on lynx hollow. I wonder if I know the person? lol....[/quote'] Cottage Grove, but ya, I drive past to work everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grover2 Posted January 9, 2007 Author Share Posted January 9, 2007 impur, thanks for the advice. I realize they are all to high and I am working on doing multiple water changes. I did one saturday and will do one tomorrow. Now that I have my water filter system moved to my laundry room, I think it will be easier to run the amount of water I need for these changes. I would have to get the test kit to see the measure of the alkalinity, but it the card in the kit lists 1.7 in the average/good range. Nyles, I meant did you grow up in CG or Creswell? If so when did you graduate. If it is to personal that is fine, just thought we might know each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.