How Much Does Salt Cost?

[aaronnorth]

Hi,

My friend is wanting to set up a 240l marine tank with corals but he is unsure of the cost. When i went to LFS it said on the box "£16 for 120l" so does that mean if i did a 50% water change i would use the whole box??

I would also be grateful if you could point out the cheapest source/ brand.

I am also right in saying salinity should be 1.026??

Thanks for your help.

 

[ben1987]

Hello mate.

Depends if you buy in bulk or not. Or which brand. 25KG tubs are about £55. 10KG is usually £30-35.

I woudl imagine 120L fill would take 4.5kilos give or take a bit, So 9k for the 240L. Those are estimates trying to think back from when i filled mine

SG should be 1.026 for reef yes

and TMC salt seems to be the most readily available around us

 

[aaronnorth]

Hello mate.

Depends if you buy in bulk or not. Or which brand. 25KG tubs are about £55. 10KG is usually £30-35.

I woudl imagine 120L fill would take 4.5kilos give or take a bit, So 9k for the 240L. Those are estimates trying to think back from when i filled mine

SG should be 1.026 for reef yes

and TMC salt seems to be the most readily available around us

Thanks, i seem to remember the box being a 4kg, so you are probably right. He was shocked when i told him the price but i did say i may be wrong and you can buy in bulk.

Dearer than i previously thought aswell! I thought it may cost around £5 a week for the salt lol. I can confirm that i wont being going marine anytime soon

Thanks Ben.

 

[Nick16]

240l tank eh aaron. mmmm yes, friend

 

[Truck]

240l tank eh aaron. mmmm yes, friend

im thinking the same thing mixed tense in the first post

 

[rabbut]

If you are keeping corals, you probibly don't want to be using cheap s?#@. Most cheap brands have low Mg, Ca, Alk and/or trace elements in any combo, and you will spend more money on suppliments to make the water good for corals... Mg and Alk aren't too bad for softies, but softies will take up Ca and trace elements, and the Ca needs Alk and Mg present to remain stable... Hard corals need lots of all of those...

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is well recomended, and you can get 25Kg buckets for about £60-70 delivered. The SG is a reading in the weight of 1l of fluid at 20 degrees C. 1l of RO weighs exactly 1KG, SG 1.000, so 1l of salt water has 26g of salt disolved in it at SG 1.026. Thats 6240g for the whole 240l tank, or just over 6Kg That's what the theoretical maths says at least, you'll probibly find you need more

All the best
Rabbut

 

[ben1987]

Forgot to say that the TMC salt round here is a reef grade one. Its what i use.
Once the first fill has been done then you wont use much salt at all. 240L tank = 10% weekly water changes of 24L So probably 500 grams of salt.
It always seems to take me a little more than the 26G per 1L
Then obviously the more you get in one go the cheaper it works out per kilo, i wouldnt bother with th 4kg boexs.

 

[aaronnorth]

I did say it was for my friend plus it is easier to use "I" lol.

Thanks for the information, really useful to know rabbut. whats "alk" - alkaline?

You have answered my next question to Ben about the percentage of water changes, i was unsure on how you need to change in a marine tank - i suppose you just change more if any NO3 or PO4 starts showing?

 

[rabbut]

Aye, if N03 or PO4 starts to run away, up the waterchanges, or look at chemical/algea filtration Sometimes a skimmer upgrade can help also if you run one...

Alk is an abreviation of Alkalinity. This is used by hard corals to build their sckelaton. It also holds the Ca reading stable

All the best
Rabbut

 

[aaronnorth]

ok thanks.

 

[aaronnorth]

This maybe getting setup at around new year time, looking at a 5ft which is a good size to start with, he couldnt believe the price of live rock
I shall get some pictures up if we get it done.

One more question i have, could i give him some of my mature media out of a freshwater setup?

Thanks, Aaron

 

[chr15_8]

This maybe getting setup at around new year time, looking at a 5ft which is a good size to start with, he couldnt believe the price of live rock
I shall get some pictures up if we get it done.

One more question i have, could i give him some of my mature media out of a freshwater setup?

Thanks, Aaron

I dont think you can, sure i remember reading on here its totaly different. sure someone will correct me if im wrong though

LR is cheaper 'second hand' best thing to do if looking for a reefer braking down there tank. Its will then cost round £5 per kilo rather than £15 or so.

 

[aaronnorth]

Thanks, i didnt think it was possible,

 

[omega59]

i purchase a big bucket which contains 3 bags inside. this last me entire year for my 30gal. i get it on boxing day when it is about $35 regular price i think is $50ish. =) and a top when you buy the buckets, ask them to open it for you LOL.

 

[ben1987]

Aaron,

i can give you some cheato for his sump, some live Sand and some gunge from my tank to help speed up his cycle a bit. Use UR classifieds to look for live rock too, i got most of mine for £4-5 a kilo.