View Full Version : Recommended Brands
CassAttack
01/18/2014, 07:55 PM
Since I've been out of the game for 5 years I was hoping someone could give me their opinion on different brands for various items. I tried reading reviews at Fosters and Smith but they're all 5 stars so I don't know which is best, and I also read some pretty thorough articles about salt that were helpful. I know everyone has personal preferences so I'm hoping maybe this can give me a starting point- or even a list of brands to avoid! My questions on brand names are the following (my ideal tank to be will be a 50g or so SPS)
Salt: I used to use Tropic Marin, but thinking about switching to Instant Ocean Reef after reading some articles and checking prices
2 Part Ca/Alk Systems: Used to use C-Balance
Testing Kits: I heard Red Sea is the best?
RO/DI System
Mg Supplement
and of course anything else you can recommend would be helpful! I'm trying to save in advance and plan out instead of splurging and figuring out the details later (this is a new concept for me lol...)
oscarinw
01/18/2014, 08:17 PM
I do a biweekly 17-18% water change and because of that I like to keep costs as low as possible. I use Instant Ocean and the Randy H-F recipe # 1. LINK TO ARTICLE (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/)
For the calcium chloride dihydrate and magnesium chloride hexahydrate I use Ebay. $30 bucks lasts me about 4-5 months worth of stuff.
For my testing I use API since it's the most efficient too. I think that if I ever have problems I might consider moving to a more accurate test but in the meantime I use API Reef and Marine test kits and they have been good. Customer service for them is great even being so affordable. I have a Red Sea magnesium pro test kit. Finally my RO/DI set is non-branded bought through an online vendor that I have used for years for my home. PM for specifics.
The more affordable I make this hobby, the more enjoyable as I know I am not throwing money away so I try to stay as frugal as possible and did a lot of research before embarking on these processes and brands.
I hope this helps out.
moondoggy4
01/18/2014, 11:39 PM
Either use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals or Red Sea Pro skip Tropic Marin, Speatrapure has a refurbished 90 gpd unit for about 120 bucks.
Loyalty to salt brands is always a contentious issue. But since we are on the topic, I am currently using Tropic Marin Pro Reef and love it. Its produced some great results for me and friends I know who use it too.
tmantaylor18
02/07/2014, 12:54 PM
Loyalty to salt brands is always a contentious issue. But since we are on the topic, I am currently using Tropic Marin Pro Reef and love it. Its produced some great results for me and friends I know who use it too.
Have you noticed super low alk levels lately? This has always been my favorite salt by far but this last batch mixes to 3.8 dKH
sponger0
02/07/2014, 01:07 PM
Red Sea pro Kits work well for Alk, Mag and Calc
Hanna Checker for Phos
billdogg
02/07/2014, 01:22 PM
I use Salifert for all my test kits. Not the cheapest, but very repeatable results. Salt? I get the stuff on sale - usually regular IO from Foster&Smith in 200g boxes, free delivery.
For supplements I buy bulk from BRS. A reasonable price for a quality product. Ditto for carbon and GFO.
Welcome Back!
Indiana Reefin
02/07/2014, 02:06 PM
I've used:
Kent
Red sea coral pro
Instant ocean
Reef Crystals
I like Reef Crystals the most. Never had a bad batch.
fishysteve
02/07/2014, 09:24 PM
I've always used Tropic Marin Pro Reef and been very happy with it.
For calcium and Alk supplement I use Peladow ( bought 100lbs for $10 years ago) and Sodium bicarbonate from VWR and been happy with it.
For Mag supplement I use Mag chloride / mag sulfate from BRS
As for test kits, I use Salifert for Calcium and Mag, LaMotte for Alk. I like the LaMotte because it's accurate and you don't have to buy the whole kit when the chemicals run out. There are refills for cheap. Sometimes I use my Hanna checkers.
For phos I use the Hanna checker.
For GFO I use BRS high capacity GFO
For carbon I use BRS ROX 0.8 in a reversed flow cartridge filter.
rjnxr7
02/08/2014, 08:42 PM
Whatever u do don't buy top fin at pet smart ,don't skimp on salt u get what u pay for. I found out the hard way
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