anyone use Kent salt?

[mattseattle]

I'm in the process of switching from Oceanic over to another salt. I bought a small thing of Kent to test it out. After initial mixing and testing, I am very pleased with the results. I haven't completed a water change yet so I'd like to hear your opinions on the salt before I proceed.

Initial testing shows:
SG - 1.0255
Alk - 10.9 / 3.89
Calc - 420
Magnesium - 1260

Calcium is a tad low to be in balance with the alk but not that terrible.

 

[Elmo18]

Hey Matt. I have never used Kent salt , but those numbers look good. I would also do another test of Kent salt, but from another person (i.e. possibly a different batch), just to test the consistency.

I am currently using Instant Ocean, and have been using that for 3 years.

- Elmo

 

[mattseattle]

Yeah I have a small bag of IO as well that I tested and the results were:
SG - 1.025
Alk - 10.2 / 3.66
Calc - 360
Mg - 1200

So a little lower than the Kent results I came up with.

Maybe I'll go to another fish store and pick up another small thing of Kent and do a comparison. Hopefully that will give me some clue as to whether Kent has consistant batches or not. Thanks for the idea.

 

[WaterDogs]

SueT a mod on www.clamsdirect.com has used Kent salt from day one and she has her a tank in Mike Patella’s book Ultimate Aquariums on page 100.

 

[WaterDogs]

I know salts are a touchy subject but ccross said he uses Aquacraft Marine Env. 2 part; you can buy it locally at the Seattle Fish Store. Presently I am using IO.

Dwaine

 

[mattseattle]

thanks Dwaine for the info. I've done several searches on different Reef web sites and so far haven't found any major negative things with the Kent salt. Looks like it's been around for quite a while. I think I'll go ahead and give it a try and see how things go.

 

[DLONG]

I've used Kent salt for about 5-7 years before switching to Oceanic (following the craze). I never had any problems with Kent salt, and will be going back to Kent.

I heard in the past, the Kent uses Instant Ocean and than "inhances" it with slightly higher calcium, alkalinity, and one of their products (coral-vite or some such thing).

Doug L

 

[mattseattle]

thanks Doug - that is good information!

 

[fishermann]

Matt I used Kent and love it, watch your mag with it, you well have to supplement it, great salt. I read on RC I think that oceanic is now making Kent, I know IO used too. Whenyou coming up, I got the new 225 filled today and running, have some work to do yet but it has water in it, would like to have posted the plumbing and stuff but don't know how. Thanks

 

[jferg]

Instant Ocean was (and may still be doing so now) supplying Kent with their salt as of June 2004. I was told this by a rep from Marineland (Instant Ocean) at IMAC in Chicago last June. BTW, I have used Kent salt for many years to breed marines and I have had no problems with it.

-Jim

 

[DLONG]

Matt I used Kent and love it, watch your mag with it, you well have to supplement it, great salt. I read on RC I think that oceanic is now making Kent,

Well, if Oceanic is now making the Kent salt, the mag. should be plenty high. :shock:

 

[NaH2O]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers Jim and Doug!!!

Anyone have nitrate and phosphate readings on freshly mixed Kent salt?

 

[mattseattle]

i tested after 24 hours and my salifert test kits didn't show anything on either of those readings.

 

[Oscapus]

I have used Kent salt for many years, but cannot compare it to anything because it is all I have ever used. So, I guess I can blame any problems I have on the salt!

 

[mattseattle]

well i did my first water change with it yesterday. everything seems fine. the pH of the salt after mixing it was 8.3.