Description
Complete artificial seawater salt blend with an ionic composition formulated for coral growers. Concentrations of Mg, Ca, K, and Sr are linearly increased, while Na is decreased to maintain appropriate salinity value. Enhanced alkalinity. Mixes to a final salinity value of 35.4. Minor and trace elements included are specifically those not considered by researchers to be phytotoxic and which exhibit a nutrient-type depth profile in open oceanic waters. Clean; no residue in mixing vessels.
Formul8 engineered salt formulations strictly utilize materials with purity not less than that which conforms to FCC grade for major components, and ACS-Reagent grade for minor components. Due to the purity of components utilized, all Formul8 variants mix to ≥99% clarity of purified water utilized in the seawater preparation. Ionic consistency between containers generally exceeds 99.5%. Formul8 blends do not deposit residue on static surfaces, such as mixing vessels and pipes. Recommended applications for Formul8 blends are: aquaculture; zoological displays; and scientific research projects demanding the greatest purity of components, homogeneity of blend, and accuracy of ionic values, such as in lab sea surface temperature analysis and biotope reproduction.
Ionic consistency between batches produced by the aquarist or technician is determined by the accuracy of measurements made of the four individual components. Accurate component measurements yield nearly 100% ionic consistency between batches, making pre-testing newly-mixed seawater to determine concentrations of important ions such as Mg and Ca unnecessary (the values are consistent every time, regardless of volume of seawater prepared, when targeting a specific salinity value).
We produce three variations of the Formul8 series, namely ASW, Reef, and RSW, corresponding with open ocean seawater values (S=35.2), enhanced coral grower values (S=35.4), and Red Sea values (S=40.1), respectively. For quick reference, ionic composition of these formulations is presented in the table below. Hyperlinks lead to the dedicated product pages and provide additional details regarding usage.
Parameter
Formul8 ASW
Formul8 Reef
Formul8 ASW
Salinity
35.2
35.4
40.1
pH average
8.35 +/-0.050
8.35 +/-0.050
8.35 +/-0.050
Alkalinity average
5.70 dKH / 8.00 dKH*
8.00 dKH
9.11 dKH
Chloride
19,313.69 ppm
19,392.43 ppm
21,934.01 ppm
Sulfate
2,712.36 ppm
2,712.36 ppm
3,080.35 ppm
Sodium
10,783.84 ppm
10,678.70 ppm
12,246.91 ppm
Magnesium
1,283.72 ppm
1,347.91 ppm
1,457.89 ppm
Calcium
412.10 ppm
432.70 ppm
467.99 ppm
Potassium
399.10 ppm
419.06 ppm
453.25 ppm
Bromide
67.23 ppm
67.23 ppm
76.35 ppm
Strontium
7.94 ppm
8.34 ppm
9.02 ppm
Boron
4.45 ppm
4.45 ppm
5.05 ppm
Fluoride
1.298 ppm
1.298 ppm
1.471 ppm
Rubidium
1.197×10-1 ppm
1.197×10-1 ppm
1.357×10-1 ppm
Iodide
5.584×10-2 ppm
5.584×10-2 ppm
6.332×10-2 ppm
Molybdenum
1.055×10-2 ppm
1.055×10-2 ppm
1.196×10-2 ppm
Vanadium
2.000×10-3 ppm
2.000×10-3 ppm
2.267×10-3 ppm
Nickel
4.695×10-4 ppm
4.695×10-4 ppm
5.443×10-4 ppm
Zinc
3.925×10-4 ppm
3.925×10-4 ppm
5.669×10-4 ppm
Manganese
2.747×10-4 ppm
2.747×10-4 ppm
3.402×10-4 ppm
Copper
2.542×10-4 ppm
2.542×10-4 ppm
1.134×10-4 ppm
Selenium
1.342×10-4 ppm
1.342×10-4 ppm
1.521×10-4 ppm
Iron
5.585×10-5 ppm
5.585×10-5 ppm
6.236×10-5 ppm
Cobalt
1.768×10-6 ppm
1.768×10-6 ppm
3.402×10-6 ppm
Astute observers will notice that the minor and trace elements incorporated into these formulations are those which are specifically demonstrated by oceanographic researchers to exhibit nutrient-type depth profiles, and which are not considered phytotoxic at NSW values; this list conforms with our minor and trace element solution, Isol8 MT, which is intended to be dosed into recirculating seawater systems as a means of maintaining NSW values, at the daily rate of 1 mL / 250 gallons, or 1 drop (0.05 mL) per 12.5 gallons.
Lanthanide metals (Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Promethium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, and Lutetium) are not incorporated into these formulations; this decision has been made as a result of the considerable body of evidence which shows that these elements, collectively, are phytotoxic in concentrations which are at or below those of their respective NSW values (assuming S=35.0). Additionally, barium and chromium salts are excluded on grounds of contact toxicity.
All variants of the Formul8 series incorporate sodium chloride, not the case with our Formul8x series which requires that the user add their own, locally-sourced sodium chloride in order to create a complete seawater analog. For those interested, …
