Question on salt/Ph/and water changes

[Mac11]

So im converting my 55gal fowlr over to reef. Nothing spectacular, just leathers, xenia, and some others. I already have my lighting in RO water setup. My questions are:

-Ive been using Instant Ocean salt, now that im putting corals in, do I NEED to switch salts (to Reef crystals maybe) or just bump the salinity up a bit?

-The RO water I have is a different Ph than it is after I mix it with salt. For top-offs should I worry about the Ph difference when using it as freshwater topoff?

-How often should I be doing water changes with (and w/o) corals?

SPECS- 55gal-60Ilb. Live/Dead rock mix-refugium with different macroalgeas-NO sump/Skimmer-50gph HOB filter

Thanks ! any help is appreciated

 

[Ingy]

IO Reef Crystals or another Reef blend salt is required.

RO water is pH 7.0 (pure water). Anything other than pH 0f 7.0 means your water filter system needs upgrading (to a RODI unit). Therefore 7.0 is not only OK, its the best. BTW, the water that evaporates will have a pH very near 7.0 as well.

10% per week is recommended to replace used up minerals in the water. Keep an eye on your alk/calc/mag to see if changes to the amount are required. Yes, it also removes a itsy bitsy tiny amount of nitrates (ummm, 10% or so), but your macro algae will do better in nutrient removal.

 

[Mac11]

I get RO water from Earthfare, I beleive its 7.6ph but after I mix salt in its 8.4ph.

Thnaks for the help!

 

[jeffaquarius]

Edited: Ooops wrong one