Truely the best Salt

[ta_lewis]

Guys,

I have another question, Im tring to find the best salt. I know that everybody have their opinion about which is the best, but I would like to see data to support your opinion. You might be thinking dude why does it matter, but as an Engineer I just need to know am i getting the best bang for my buck.

So if you could send some links to support respond that would be great.

Thanks

[sohal1025]

I think they are all pretty good, many people have told me even the medical grade salt has no difference.

[cilyjr]

here is the study done of many salt mixes done by Advanced Aquarist
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1

[cilyjr]

oh here is part 2
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1

[crumbletop]

Instant Ocean has been around a long time, and lots of very successful tanks use it. I don't think there really is an objective "best". Some salts have had issues with them over the years, with quality control, etc.

[cilyjr]

i guess i should say i use instant ocean...always have

[old salty]

Since you are an engineer, let me ask you something? What do you expect marine salt to do? For example, do you want to use additives to bring your pH up to it's proper level or do you expect the salt you purchase to maintain pH between water changes? Do you want to add calcium to a freshly mixed batch of salt, or would you rather the salt contain additional amounts of calcium?

Once you figure out what it is you want the salt to do, you can narrow your choices to what's best for you.

[ta_lewis]

If Im going to spend my money on a produce i wont it to as close to the real thing as possible. I would like to know upon the initial mix which salt will be close the real sea water, where these animal come from. You know.

For Example: If you was sick and you went to the drug store to by a product that would him you feel better, you wouldn't just buy random stuff I bet your going to ask the pharmacy which would work best for your.

That is the same way I approach this hobby.

[old salty]

If you want something that is close to NSW, I suggest you try Bio Sea. I have done some extended experimenting with it and it has shown itself to be one of several excellent choices out there. Here are the measurements I came up with during testing which was performed with Elos test kits.

Ca: 400-425
Alk: 7-8dKH
Mg:1200-1300
pH: 8.3 (after 24 hours of mixing)

These are pretty close to NSW values. I think it's only fair to point out that I do not use this brand of salt. With SPS tanks, and coral tanks that constantly utilize Ca, Mg, and everything else, it is important to use a salt that contains elevated levels of these key "ingredients". This may not completey remove the requirement of additives, but surely goes a long ways to reducing the how much you need to add. Keep in mind that this is "my" requirement for salt. You may have a fish only tank in which elevated levels of Ca and Mg are not doing you much good and may actually be emptying your wallet faster than necessary.

[EdKruzel]

IO has been around a long time and that may be their biggest problem with ego and quality control; the little guys have caught and surpassed IO.

For great quality, easy mixing and excellent aquarium levels, I've found Tropic Marin and Oceanic to be a cut above most.

[crumbletop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11030561#post11030561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
With SPS tanks, and coral tanks that constantly utilize Ca, Mg, and everything else, it is important to use a salt that contains elevated levels of these key "ingredients". This may not completey remove the requirement of additives, but surely goes a long ways to reducing the how much you need to add.

I'm not sure I totally agree with this. It probably depends on how big your water changes are. I do 15% every 2 weeks and don't have to do anything special to my mixup water or my tank. I use IO and my tank uses ~.6 meq/l per day due to the amount of stony corals I have. I dose 2-part and don't change anything in my routine when I do a water change, nor do I dose anything into the freshly mixed up IO. My alk and Ca stay dead on at 3.2 meq/l and 450 ppm. If I did larger or more frequent water changes then I guess the ca and alk in the salt might make a bigger difference, but for me it is negligible.

[cloak]

IO has been around for as long as I can remember. Iodine, Magnesium,, what's that?

FWIW

[cd77]

ta_lewis -- You won't find a definitive answer to this question. Salt studies will show you positives and negatives to each salt tested, and none that I've seen conclude that "X brand is the best". Even when a study concludes that "X brand salt most closely approximates natural sea water" you have to look closely at the data analyzed and you'll find that "X brand" contains too little of Y or too much of Z. Some studies are biased. Even natural seawater has it's drawbacks.

Find a mature tank you really admire and ask the owner what brand of salt he/she uses and stick with that.

[loosecannon]

Lewy may I call you lewy? salty and cd made good points. 1) I think if you git sick and you went to the drug stor you would tell the pharmacy what simtoms you have. Same for salts . Some have more cal., for reef tanks, others don`t need it. Sea water should be the best right, wrong! Salt mix has more elements major and trace . this elements get used up and filter out vary fast and need to be replaced as fast as they are uesd.

[ta_lewis]

Thanks to everyone who posted a comment about this issue. Old Salty I was looking to purchase some bio sea salt but I didnt wont to mention it . I wanted to see if someone had some thing say about the salt without me asking. So thanks for you comment and info you provided. Im going to order some soon.

[mg426]

IO here.

[Randy1]

I also use IO. I do more water changes because the salt cost much less than some others and my tank is better because of it.