Reef Salt & Hatching Brine Shrimp

[Jimbo205]

I have been hatching Artemia Nauplii following the directions in an article by Mike Helleg and Gary Lange in the Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine (TFH) for about 8-10 weeks now. I have been using aquarium salt that I purchased from the local fish store for this time.

On my nano reef tank I need to do a water change of about 2 cups per day. Which is about the amount of water that is used while hatching Artemia Nauplii which I also do on almost a daily basis (all the fish love it!).

I decided that I would start using the Seachem Reef Salt when I ran low on the Aquarium Salt and then I could just add the brine shrimp with the Reef Salt water and feed the fish and change the water at the same time.

I have tried this for 2 batches and both times the Brine Shrimp would not hatch.

Why?

Is there something about the Reef Salt that would prevent Brine Shrimp from hatching?

I am using the exact same measurements for the Seachem Reef Salt that I was using for the Aquarium Salt.

Please help.

Thank you.

[Tech Support GL]

Make sure that you are giving the eggs the correct salinity, temperature, some air flow, and a lighting source. It is very important to create the best stable environment or the eggs will not hatch.

[Jimbo205]

Salinity was correct.

Found out the hard way that the baking soda and magnesium from Epsom Salts that are asked for in the directions are already in Seachem Reef Salt.

I do not know why too much magnesium or baking soda prevents Brine Shrimp from hatching but I found out the hard way that it is true.

Next question, why?

[Tech Support GL]

The water was probably too hard. Reef Salt already has a fairly good magnesium level and then to add more alkalinity and magnesium may have been too much.