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What salt mix would you recommend?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Fultsreef, Feb 23, 2013.

  1. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    I am currently using oceanic salt for my 120 ...i am also researching salt mixes as i am planning on switching to a different brand to help raise my parameters a little more. So far i have i am looking for mixes that are easily available through area fish stores and are also available readily online for those "store was sold out and i need salt asap" moments. So far my research has narrowed down my options to instant ocean reef crystals, seachem reef salt, and tropic marin pro. What type of salt does everyone on here suggest? Is there another brand that i am missing that is of good quality? I know anemones clowns and corals suggested to me to try instant ocean reef crystals. I appreciate any thoughts, opinions and reviews of what is your "go to brand" of salt. I am not looking to make this into a "my brand is better then yours" debate.
     
  2. xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    La Porte City, IA
    Ratings:
    +1,014 / 6 / -0
    what is in your tank?
     
  3. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
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    Just starting to add corals...i have a mushroom colony, two variety of zoas, 4 varieties of sps, 4 varieties of lps, a long tentacle anemone, urchin, brittle sea star. Also have 8 various sized fish currently.
     
  4. xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    La Porte City, IA
    Ratings:
    +1,014 / 6 / -0
    Until your load gets really heavy, reef crystals will do you great.

    Eventually once your tank is super loaded you can upgrade to Seachem.
     
  5. Big John

    Big John Inactive User

    966
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    +0 / 0 / -0
    Seachem Aqua Vetro, available at AC&C, a bit more money but well worth it in the long run when you compare how many gallons you'll get at a SG of 1.025 out of a 200 gallon box of RC compared to the 225 gallon bucket of Aqua Vetro, good stuff.
    Reef Crystals is a very good salt used by many, including myself, Aqua Vetro is a higher end salt that is batch specific.
    Good Luck
     
  6. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
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    I appreciate the input! That is kind of what i was gathering when i was researching the trace minerals in reef crystals, seachem and tropic marin. Looked to me that the high end salts had larger amounts of calcium and magnesium etc in them compared to reef crystals and especially the oceanic brand i use currently. I think i will start out using reef crystals and go from there. When i do get to that point of going to a high end salt i think i will try the seachem. I have had great luck using seachem products back when i had freshwater and have read nothing but good things about their saltwater specific products.
     
  7. MXC207 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    634
    Cedar Rapids
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    Reef crystals all the way.
     
  8. hart

    hart Well-Known ReefKeeper

    730
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    reef crystals for me.
     
  9. nickbuol Here fishy, fishy, fishy...

    718
    Marion, IA
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    +17 / 0 / -0
    Since this thread may be searched in the future by others, we should add that "it depends" a little too. For example, I currently am using Reef Crystals, although I am going FOWLR. I've contemplating switching to straight Instant Ocean for a couple of reasons. The trace elements aren't as critical, there are "experts" (whatever that means anymore) at ReefC that say that the trace items aren't enough to get much real benefit for reef keepers, and Instant Ocean is $10 less a box.


    So, for me, I may switch (slowly) over time to the most basic Instant Ocean, but for others with awesome reef tanks, it seems like they are seeing positive effects of those trace elements in the Reef Crystals and the even more expensive (possibly more refined and tweaked) Seachem.


    What would be helpful for this thread is if those people with nice reef tanks also noted what other supplements they were adding, if any, so that people can make a better call on what is contained in different salt mixes may or may not still be lacking. I would, but again, I am just a FOWLR guy...
     
  10. mxrcr

    mxrcr

    74
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    +10 / 0 / -0
    I recently switched from reef crystals to Red Sea coral pro from brs. I just got tired of dealing with the brown film. So far, so good. Brs also has super fast shipping.
     
  11. blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

    Cedar Rapids, IA
    Ratings:
    +738 / 5 / -0
    Sounds like a good Q&A topic.
     
  12. mikesams05p71

    mikesams05p71 Well-Known ReefKeeper

    634
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    I also started with Reef Crystals but made a move over to the new Kent Reef salt. IME the Kent is awesome. As soon as I switched all my corals were open more then ever and started growing. Another big thing that I like is it dissolves in just a few minutes. Perfect for people who make water up as they go for water changes like me. ( Mixed variety of coral in tank and have dosed kalk during both salts )
     
  13. kimbo

    kimbo

    90
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    +0 / 0 / -0
    I have been using kent marine. but am actually thinking about switching to Red Sea coral pro. any body use that stuff?
     
  14. Eric Experienced Reefkeeper

    West Des Moines, IA
    Ratings:
    +33 / 0 / -0



    True - but it would need to rely on facts and documented case studies in controlled environments versus personal preference.


    Salt brand, as well as a handful of other topics related to reef keeping, is highly opinionated. Where one person has great success another using the same salt brand fails as the environment and husbandry is different.





    My opinion:


    Instant Ocean is a product that’s been around for quite a while and is one of many solid choices for a salt mix. I like the fact that it priced competitively and easily obtainable. My personal belief is that the additional elements present in “reef specific” salt mixes are quickly depleted in the home environment and need to be replenished for continued success.


    The original poster indicated that he’s looking to move salt brands for elements to raise parameters – IMHO Instant Ocean is a fine choice but no stand alone salt mix can provide everything necessary in our home reef tanks. Reef Crystals can be duplicated by dosing calcium into Instant Ocean.


    -Eric



     
  15. jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0
    Reef crystals is all I've used for the 5 years I've had a reed. Great for the money.
     
  16. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
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    +1 / 0 / -0
    I appreciate all the input on what salt brand all of you are loyal to. Now for another question that was derived from a previous comment made about bio-load...so say i have light coral bio load and mid to high fish bio load...would using a high end reef salt have negative effects on the livestock? Especially if magnesium,calcium and other trace elements are at high levels and their is not enough livestock in the tank to deplete these elements?
     
  17. moneypit

    moneypit Inactive User

    167
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    The thing with salt mixes is there all different, to this day I still use I/O and Oceanic mixed and have never had a problem, switched to Tropic Marin Pro, big mistake( coral wise). It's pretty much whatever works for you and you adjust from there Cost also factors in for a lot of people as well.


    "so say i have light coral bio load and mid to high fish bio load...would using a high end reef salt have negative effects on the livestock? Especially if magnesium,calcium and other trace elements are at high levels and their is not enough livestock in the tank to deplete these elements?"

    Your corals may not like it in the beginning but after everything gets put back into sync should be fine. Animal wise they may be irritated but they'll adapt.
     
  18. nickbuol Here fishy, fishy, fishy...

    718
    Marion, IA
    Ratings:
    +17 / 0 / -0






    Don't you have a thread topic on here somewhere about your parameters being low though? Not criticizing, just an observation.
     
  19. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    I was looking into the trace element levels of different salt mixes and from what i see from comparing oceanic (what i currently use) and seachem the calcium and magnesium levels are comparible. The difference i saw was the alk levels were higher in the seachem. Oceanic was at 8 and seachem was at 10 for alk. I found this odd as i was always told oceanic was a fowlr salt...yet from what i have seen it seems to be a low bio load reef salt. Still researching and havent decided on the salt to use but i appreciate the responses. I am skeptical on using reef crystals as i keep reading about a brown sludge and fallout that is steering me away from it for now.
     
  20. erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    I've been using Reef Crystals for a long time with good results. On suggestion is to keep an eye on the dKH cause sometimes they have discrepencies in their batches for some reason. But it's been a long time since I've heard of any issues from that.
     

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