Table salt vs "saltwater salt" ???

[headlessblade]

i know that table salt has NaCl, iodine, and another filler, but wat does saltwater salt contain? can I use cooking sea salt to make my salt water tank, its suppose to be NaCl only? whats the real difference btw table/cooking salts, salt in homedepot for the snow and the salt u buy specifically for a saltwater tank?? (I searched the forum didnt see anything)

 

[noodleman]

saltwater is made up of a combination of many different salts. The generic term "salt" just refers to an metal ion and an anion that is ionically bonded to each other

 

[ming]

The saltmix for your tank has a lot of trace minerals, as well as calcium and alk additives
cooking salt is just NaCl with iodine. Everything would be off proportion. Try do a calcium or alkalinity test on tablesalt mix, lol

 

[DevIouS]

Excuse the honesty...but some things are not meant to be questioned.
Either you have too much time on your hands or being more than cheap.

You can get a 200 gal bucket of actual salt "meant for fish" for $40 shipped right to your house.
It'll save you the energy of even trying to compare the 2.

 

[Deanos]

Headlessblade: I provided you with this link in the past, WetWebMedia. I implore you to read the links which have been categorized into the many subjects that inexperienced reefers have questions about.

BTW: I would have been surprised if your search resulted in any hits, as I don't think that question has come up.

 

[headlessblade]

thanks for the honesty, but I rather ask a question that may be dumb to some, and learn something(which i already have thanks guys, keep the replies coming). Yes am very cheap, yes I have some time, NO I did not know a 200g bucket was $40(didnt look it up, I was actually interested to know why they are different), oh snap look i learned something from your comment to (actually a couple of things one about "salt" and one about you but ill keep that to myself and ur a mod to shame shame)...

Excuse the honesty...but some things are not meant to be questioned.
Either you have too much time on your hands or being more than cheap.

You can get a 200 gal bucket of actual salt "meant for fish" for $40 shipped right to your house.
It'll save you the energy of even trying to compare the 2.

 

[digitalreefer]

I would strongly advise a good book or 10 before you go any further. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist is a great book that covers water options as well as many other topics that may clear up some basic questions you'll have moving into the world of saltwater.

 

[tosiek]

I think if table salt or rock salt was the same home depot would be making a killing on reefers alone. Would see alot of reefers following the trucks that lay salt down on the roads with buckets collecting.

Dunno if you set up your tank or not but if you look at the box of salt and look at the ingredients it would slap you in the head why. Listed are 20 or so different minerals/trace elements that are imbeded into the salt along with balanced alk/cal.

Follow the links deanos gave. Also think i've seen two web reef help links to setting up tanks explain exactly why table salt is not used. The new marine Aquarium:Step by step setup and stocking guide also explains why. Just gotto do some reading other than these boards.

 

[headlessblade]

Ill check it out if it's in a public library or at cuny library...

also it's funny how most of the times I post a question, there always some sort of negative comment toward my post... what is the point of this website/FORUM again? I signed up to learn, talk to people that have saltwater tanks, ask questions! most of the time I ask a question, I SEARCH IT ON GOOGLE AND NOTHING SEEMS TO COME UP, so I come here and post...(wwm will come up if the answer is there)

anyways thanks noodleman and ming.

 

[headlessblade]

yea I didnt set up anything yet just had some crush coral soaking in a tank lol.... so i cant see the ingredients of the "saltwater salt"... and instead of take a cold trip to petland, easier to ask...

 

[digitalreefer]

This isn't a cheap hobby... don't skimp on research and reference material. I bought a bunch of books and started research a year before I even thought about starting my tank. I still use the books as reference regularly and buy new books whenever I see a good one. Would you buy something for the tank if it's not available for free? Think of the books as a tank expense.

 

[digitalreefer]

Again, crushed coral isn't the best idea for a substrate... I'm not trying to be mean, but a $40 book could save you a lot more in livestock death later.

 

[TimberTDI]

but I rather ask a question that may be dumb to some, and learn something

Actually, you're just being lazy. Sorry bro.

 

[headlessblade]

yes well my salt water setup is in RESEARCH Phase... Right now I rather buy a book for school than a fish book since I dont have the tank set up yet, and online has endless information, like you said it took you a year, it might take me more or less than that, but my point was what's the point of this forum if questions cant be asked? I even search the forum first because the search function is a good tool... from what I've gathers so far the lights are the most expensive, so that will just have to wait...

 

[Deanos]

Which of your questions hasn't been answered? In this thread, you received 2 quality answers within 8 minutes of posting (only ones you've thanked, btw :grumpy

 

[headlessblade]

wow yea am being lazy! coming to a SaltWater forum and posting a question great! and the CC was bought to use with my flowerhorns... but i didnt use it yet, because i was thinking i could mix it with some sand, dunno yet...

 

[digitalreefer]

I'm not saying you can't ask questions. I'm just saying that a book is a good place to figure out what questions you should be asking and that it serves as a valuable reference both before and after the tank is set up. The internet is full of info, but anyone can post online. I could have an entire site on rocket science if I wanted even though I know nothing about it.

 

[deelucky]

Ill check it out if it's in a public library or at cuny library...

also it's funny how most of the times I post a question, there always some sort of negative comment toward my post... what is the point of this website/FORUM again? I signed up to learn, talk to people that have saltwater tanks, ask questions! most of the time I ask a question, I SEARCH IT ON GOOGLE AND NOTHING SEEMS TO COME UP, so I come here and post...(wwm will come up if the answer is there)

anyways thanks noodleman and ming.

hey dont get disouraged by negative post.feel free to post these questions the only dumb questions is the one you dont ask.alot of people who dont know nothing about saltwater setups always brings up the table salt question,no matter how dumb you may think the question is posted anyway somebody will have an answer for you and it wont be so negative.

 

[headlessblade]

sorry dude, it's a forum and some members act like I am not suppose to ask questions... I dont get it... Am sure there are millions of books there, but do I really have to buy a book to know what the answer is to this specific question? sigh (*I always use several resources, but posting it here I doubt anyone will say "use table salt it's fine" without someone else reading there reply and saying "wtf? ... etc, he/she trying to trick you"...)

thank you all for your help.

 

[deelucky]

relax.listen a bit of advice skip the CC unless you have no choice.i would go with sand in the long run it will be better for you and your livrstock.if you use the CC you might not like it later or it can cause you more problem than what its worth.