Anyone using Tropic Marin Bio-Actif salt?

[larryandlaura]

I have used Reef Crystals for years now and decided to change salts. The Tropic Marin Bio-Actif salt is supposed to aid the skimmer. Anyone have any experience with this salt. I have done three small 30 gallon water changes and not noticed to much change. I am however going to do a 50 gallon change and hoping the claims are true. I have about 235 gallons of water.

[binford4000]

Changing salts can be hard on your tank. Best advice is do it very slowly ! I am curious how it's going to help your skimmer work better ? I'm going to follow along on this one! And do some reading. I know tropic marin does sell some high end salt tho

[larryandlaura]

It's been a few weeks and not much has changed. I did the 50 gallon change and we will see if the skimmer in a week skims a bit more. Still feeding the fish every other day and corals twice a week.

[rarelyseriousb]

The idea if the bio active salt is it has a carbon source for bacteria. It is kinda like vodka dosing. That is why skimming would improve. Try adding a bacteria supplement to the system. The carbon feeds the bacteria. Microbacter7 or probio

[jasper]

How is the new salt working out? Noticing any extra skimmer activity or lowering of nitrates and phosphates?

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[larryandlaura]

Honestly not very much of a difference at all. Same amount of skimmate and phosphate is the same. Going to keep on using Tropic Marin Bio-Actif salt for a few months. Hopefully the claims are true.

[jasper]

If your willing, try adding some bacteria as rob said....I use the stuff from two little fishes, something 8...has one more strain than microbactr7!!!

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[larryandlaura]

Talking to the rep at Macna he said nothing had to be added. In a few more changes im going to try MB7.

[binford4000]

Talking to the rep at Macna he said nothing had to be added. In a few more changes im going to try MB7.

Hmm. Question? Wouldn't adding MB7 bacteria create more skim on it's own. Trying to learn honestly. I know when I started up the new tank and used enzyme 9 to lace the base rock it was recommended to turn skimmer(s) off for four days by Marcos rocks to ensure that it was not removed from the water column and to expect heavy skim for several weeks after that. My two skimmers pulled green mud for weeks.

[rarelyseriousb]

Yes you are correct. The carbon source feeds the bacteria. The bacteria is not in the salt. Some strains of bacteria prefer certain types of carbon. That is why some people have success with doing mixed carbon dosing. Like vodka, sugar, vitamin c. When add the bacteria to the tank you should shut the skimmer down for a while. The bio active salt will feed the bacteria in your tank but it might not be the ideal carbon for the bacteria in your tank. So people will have different results with the product depending on the carbon source in the product and what bacteria is in the tank. So my opinion I would add different bacteria to try an seed the tank till something catches on. Plus if one strain of bacteria out competes the others you may rebalance the population in the tank.