Salt

[sealtea116]

What is the best salt to buy Red Sea Instant ocean reef crystals or sea salt? Any ideas is one cheaper then the other thanks for the help guys

[tmz]

Given those choices, I'd go with IO,personally.

[sealtea116]

What are other choices I don't know that's whT I have seen at my lfs

[Guygettnby]

Instant ocean is perfectly fine and reef crystals also. I prefer reef crystals now that I have more SPS in my tank, but instant ocean would be what I used if I didn't use RC

[tmz]

What are other choices

There are many. IO and RC are popular and have long track records.. I've used Coralife for about 10 years, It is an inexpensive salt with a little lower alk, which I like for my tanks . .

[Neebles]

I use reef crystals, have switched to other brands but have always gone back to RC. It's cheap, it works, and I haven't had any problems.

[dgolan7]

I use IO best bang for the buck and a long track record. Ca is 380 to 400 alk is around 8.5 to 9 and mag is in the ballpark 1200. Perfect for most tanks. It also don't have as many unknown s

[Pife]

IO and RC. Cheap and they work for me.

[pdiehm]

I may try Red Sea. I can't seem to mix a batch of IO without cloudiness. Cold water, room temp water, 77 degree water...all cloudy mixes.

[dkeller_nc]

I may try Red Sea. I can't seem to mix a batch of IO without cloudiness. Cold water, room temp water, 77 degree water...all cloudy mixes.

That's typical for IO, but the cloudiness clears over a 6-12 hour period. My own procedure is to mix a batch of IO in a trash can, then allow it to circulate at reef tank temperature for 12-24 hours. That's enough to get it to clear up completely and lose the sharp odor it has when freshly mixed. Then, if I'm not going to use it right away, I store it uncirculated, covered and at ambient temp (about 65 deg F in my basement) over the course of a couple of weeks as I use it.

[tmz]

I use IO best bang for the buck and a long track record. Ca is 380 to 400 alk is around 8.5 to 9 and mag is in the ballpark 1200. Perfect for most tanks. It also don't have as many unknown s

What salinity produces thugh levels? They are higher at 1.026, IIRC.

[pdiehm]

That's typical for IO, but the cloudiness clears over a 6-12 hour period. My own procedure is to mix a batch of IO in a trash can, then allow it to circulate at reef tank temperature for 12-24 hours. That's enough to get it to clear up completely and lose the sharp odor it has when freshly mixed. Then, if I'm not going to use it right away, I store it uncirculated, covered and at ambient temp (about 65 deg F in my basement) over the course of a couple of weeks as I use it.

Mine does not disappear. My QT tank upstairs looks like someone poured a little bit of milk in it...it's got a milky white haze.