View Full Version : Which salt for me?
DozerDozer
09/16/2012, 07:00 PM
Hi all. I'm having a hard time picking between 2 salt mixes. I have a brand new IM 38g nano reef tank. I'm planning on a variety of coral and fish. I want the best salt to help my tank grow and stay healthy. I'm deciding between Red Sea Coral Pro mix or D-D H2Ocean Magnesium Pro plus mix. Any difference between the two? Should I be looking at any other brands? Thanks for help. My experience level is intermediate.
Peter Eichler
09/16/2012, 07:11 PM
Of all the things in this hobby that you can overthink, salt brands should be one of the last. I use reef crystals and can't think of a single good reason to get any other salt, especially those that you've listed which cost more.
DozerDozer
09/16/2012, 07:17 PM
It's my first tank in a while. I'd like to keep dosing to a minimum. I like the fact that these salts have those additives. I'm not worried about the extra cost. It should help me keep some of my parameters in check.
Peter Eichler
09/16/2012, 07:40 PM
It's my first tank in a while. I'd like to keep dosing to a minimum. I like the fact that these salts have those additives. I'm not worried about the extra cost. It should help me keep some of my parameters in check.
It's marketing nonsense that they have something extra compared to lesser expensive salts. With any system that has healthy growing corals you're going to have to dose regardless of ehat salt brand you use. In fact I think reef crystals is higher in alakalinity than either of those salts you're considering and that's probably the most crucial thing to maintain of all of our parameters.
Take the money you save from not buying D-D salt and get yourself some better lighting or a better protein skimmer for you system. That's at least something that you'll notice a difference on.
downbeach
09/16/2012, 07:48 PM
Over the years, I've used many brands of salt mix, including the two you've mentioned. I think they were good mixes, but I really don't think they were any better than reef crystals, and were almost twice the cost. Did you get a good RO/DI unit?
DozerDozer
09/16/2012, 07:57 PM
Yes. Got RODI. So which salts would you try? Do u recommend reef crystals?
downbeach
09/16/2012, 08:07 PM
Yup, that would me my choice.
Yedgy
09/16/2012, 08:10 PM
I'm deciding between Red Sea Coral Pro mix or D-D H2Ocean Magnesium Pro plus mix. Any difference between the two?
Differences between these 2 are minimal because they're made by the same company in Israel. They are both excellent salts, but be aware that because of their elevated element levels, they should be mixed a bit differently than garden-variety salts. I use RSCP and am very happy with it. I've used both but prefer the Red Sea product; it mixes faster and more cleanly and doesn't leave as much salt creep on my equipment.
IME, instructions one typically sees about mixing salt (heating the RO/DI to tank temperature before adding salt, allowing to mix for at least 24 hours, etc.) simply don't work with RSCP, producing a cloudy mess. See the Red Sea forum on this board for important info about mixing up crystal clear water with this product.
I'd like to keep dosing to a minimum.
Many cheaper salts have unbalanced levels of major ions and thus need supplementation at mixing time to balance them. Both salts you mention have good, balanced levels of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.
Good luck with the new reef! :thumbsup:
tony11387
09/16/2012, 08:11 PM
Hi all. I'm having a hard time picking between 2 salt mixes. I have a brand new IM 38g nano reef tank. I'm planning on a variety of coral and fish. I want the best salt to help my tank grow and stay healthy. I'm deciding between Red Sea Coral Pro mix or D-D H2Ocean Magnesium Pro plus mix. Any difference between the two? Should I be looking at any other brands? Thanks for help. My experience level is intermediate.
IMO, you might as well flip a coin.
downbeach
09/16/2012, 08:22 PM
Here's a good article:
http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/salinity-mixing-saltwater/
I would also get a good refractometer, along with calibration fluid to test your salinity.
I prefer instant ocean over any salt.
TucanSam007
09/16/2012, 08:32 PM
red sea coral pro has my vote. Never had a problem with it and my hard corals are thriving. Like how it has high alk which keeps me dose less to keep me between 9-10dhk
Palting
09/16/2012, 08:42 PM
Yes. Got RODI. So which salts would you try? Do u recommend reef crystals?
I use Reef Crystals. But, really, any known brand you can get locally and at the best price would be your "best salt". Early in the life of your tank, there will be minimal consumption of the minerals and elements. You will likely not need any dosing for a long time so long as you keep your salinity at 1.026 and do routine water changes. As an example, I did not need to dose anything for almost 18 months. By that time, I had a lot of stonies that were consuming alk/cal/mag, so I needed to dose. Eighteen months before that, water changes were all that was needed to keep up with the demand. I used reef crystals because it had higher alk/cal/mag, but I could easily have used IO and all it would have meant is that I would have to dose earlier, maybe at 14 months? :D
So, a brand name salt locally available at the best price is your "best" salt, IMO.
DozerDozer
09/16/2012, 08:46 PM
Great advice. Thanks. I'll go buy my refractometer tomorrow. I like how the RSCP mixes but I will read the red sea forum before I choose. I'll also go to lfs to see what they carry.
Peter Eichler
09/16/2012, 08:52 PM
I like the fact that these salts have those additiveshttp://www.yono.info/f.jpghttp://www.yono.info/d.jpg
What salts and what additives are you refering to?
reefermad619
09/16/2012, 11:53 PM
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww190/nigga_T/a4e6b282.jpg
smkooq
09/17/2012, 12:58 AM
Of all the things in this hobby that you can overthink, salt brands should be one of the last. I use reef crystals and can't think of a single good reason to get any other salt, especially those that you've listed which cost more.
Red Sea Coral Pro is actually a bit cheaper then Reef Crystal.
My LFS sells Reef Crystals from 60-70$
But if I order my bucket of Red Sea Coral Pro online I get them for 59$ each for the 175 gallon buckets, and since I buy 3 at a time I also get free shipping.
ReeferKimberly
09/17/2012, 01:08 AM
I switched from Red Sea Coral Pro to Reef Crystals......and I am happier with Reef Crystals.
Great chart Reefermad. Confirms what I thought.
pyton
09/17/2012, 01:11 AM
for a 38 gallon tank I don't think you can go wrong using any salt you wish and I seriously doubt you will have to dose anything. It would be cheaper to do a couple water changes than dose.
downbeach
09/17/2012, 06:37 AM
I usually buy salt mix when I see a sale, and you can get Reef Crystals for under $50.00 for a 200Gal. box, with free shipping on orders over $99.00. I usually buy at least two at a time. TFP (sponsor) has them for $48.26 right now, so I also buy a container of my favorite fish food (Spectrum)too.
Palting
09/17/2012, 07:57 AM
I buy Reef Crystals from Foster and Smith, a sponsor here. $45 for a 200gal boz, currently on sale for $40, free shipping over $40. Just for fun, I checked the Red Sea Coral Pro prices, and it's $70 for 175 gal bucket. I don't see the need to spend more money.
McCune
09/17/2012, 07:57 AM
I like seachem salt works great for me and not to expensive
smkooq
09/17/2012, 11:59 AM
I buy Reef Crystals from Foster and Smith, a sponsor here. $45 for a 200gal boz, currently on sale for $40, free shipping over $40. Just for fun, I checked the Red Sea Coral Pro prices, and it's $70 for 175 gal bucket. I don't see the need to spend more money.
I buy from bulkreefsupply, where Red Sea is cheaper then Reef Crystal. But Drfostersmith does have a great deal on Reef Crystals (200 gallon bucket for 48$!!). Although Red Sea buckets look much cooler :lmao:.
Either way i've only used 2 salt brands, Instant Ocean (the regular salt mix) and Red Sea Coral Pro, and although my tank is only LPS and softies I have not seen any difference in my corals/fish from switching between those two. But Red Sea does dissolve faster.
smartandfast
09/17/2012, 12:22 PM
I don't think that chart is very accurate. I get over 11dkh consistently with oceanic salt.
robertcedgar
09/17/2012, 12:55 PM
Reef Crystals....
Teamreef
09/17/2012, 04:09 PM
Instant ocean here
kga943
09/17/2012, 05:26 PM
i use instant ocean and both my high end lfs use it to
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