Reef Salt Comparison

the best luck I ever had with salt was mixing I/O and RC together. Never had no problems and everyone was happy, switched over to TM Pro and had nothing but problems. That was then this is now and I'm sure things have changed definitely going to look into the Getanked salt mix tho.

 

charts and graphs
http://web.archive.org/web/20010303215133/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp
Part 1: Salt Study/Review
http://www.reefland.com/articles/rho/sea-salts-part-one-a-review-and-a-new-study-to-determine-their-effects-on-reef-aquarium-inhabitants
Part 2:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/eb/index.php
More Reading:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_4/V4I3/Salt/salt.htm

 

We use IO at the store.

IO & RC are tried and true. Many studies have been done and IO & RC are always among the highest in key elements. Industry leaders have used them for years including Eric Borneman & Calfo.

Yes it has left a residue for years, but there are still tons & tons of incredible tanks out there that has used it for years.

I am one of those people that says if it is not broke, dont fix it.

 

^ agree

 

I use reef crystals, but the brown residue bothers me too so I run a cascade 500 canister filter which polishes it up and prevents the brown film.

 

this has always been my issue with bucket/boxes of salt mix. Anyone who knows me from the past knows that i belive one the best things you can do for your tank is make sure the balance between alk and calcium is correct.looking at the paramters above of 11.5alk and calcium >500 is not balanced. With 11.5alk, calcium shoul be 442 (give or take 10ppm) The only way to get this premix in balance is to leave the water out of balance until the calcium falls off enough or raise the alk to match the 500+ calcium which runs a risk of turning you substrate to a brick.
I believe that ideally you should find a mix that mixes to the alkaliniy you want and then you should add the calcium separately to bring it to the balanced amount. some mixes get close to a balance but because most people only scoop out enough mix to make what they need and most mixes have their contents settle in the container causing elements to separate and thus when scooped out for use it may not have the correct ratio of elements.
I will say that the average tank keeper probably doesnt want to deal with this level of detail with their salt mix so the salt makers just make their salts so you add water and go.Some might say i am splitting hairs here...maybe I am, but I believe that good water parameters are the core to a great tank, without good balanced water parameters it makes all other issue even more difficult to fix.
Gettanked salt allows me to practice what i have just preached above. I realize its not a mainstream brand or even a recognized name but it is truely the best quality and most consistant salt i have used by far!
I have no stake in the product....I just like to share a great product when i find one.
Btw here is a link to a great calculator that will tell you what the balanced level of calcium is for you alk level, i use it all the time!
http://www.ultimatereef.net/calculators/alkcalcalc.html
Billaka einsteins

 

I believe that the brown residue is from the anti caking agent they use in their salts...
einsteins