Salt preference

truereefer · 11/06/2015, 08:21 PM

Currently unhappy w coral pro...what your experience? I'm looking to try tropic marin? any thoughts?

ReefGuy77 · 11/06/2015, 08:28 PM

I've always used reef crystals without any problems. I've never kept SPS though, but my softies and LPS have all done well using it. Also, haven't had any algae blooms.

truereefer · 11/06/2015, 08:34 PM

I don't plan on any sps myself. Wondering if the coral pro is worth it. I also want to look into nutrients and algae problems as well, as I have heard the elevated elements in coral pro might contribute to such. Haven't looked into reef crystals yet.

jason2459 · 11/06/2015, 08:39 PM

Basic Instant Ocean.

For me its cheap, nothing I don't want in there like unneeded organics (vitamins, aminos, etc), and has good baseline parameters.

And I'm glad the title of the thread isn't asking for what is the "Best" salt as there isn't one.

ThaBeast · 11/06/2015, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason2459

Basic Instant Ocean.

For me its cheap, nothing I don't want in there like unneeded organics (vitamins, aminos, etc), and has good baseline parameters.

And I'm glad the title of the thread isn't asking for what is the "Best" salt as there isn't one.

+1. Test and balance parameters for consistency, counting on any manufacturer to always 'get it right' is foolish in today's world

jason2459 · 11/06/2015, 08:48 PM

Also settling can occure and cause inconsistency even through out a bag or bucket. It's a good idea to mix it up first if not using them in their entirety. Buckets roll around and turn upside down and bags just mix it around. Or dump several bags into a bucket to mix several together could be even better.

bertoni · 11/06/2015, 10:03 PM

A lot of Tanks of the Month have run on Instant Ocean.

karimwassef · 11/06/2015, 10:07 PM

I use RC which I think is IO + extra calc, alk and mg.

It's usually ok, but they have some inconsistencies in Alk that make large water changes dangerous unless you measure the Alk in the new water and compensate to match the tank.

I make changes in increments of 100g (2 bags) and still experience some spikes in Alk.

Other than that, no issues.

jason2459 · 11/06/2015, 10:23 PM

RC also includes some organics. Most salts labeled or marketed for Reefs include them. Which is fine if that's desirable. For storing water like I have always done its not good.

Sk8r · 11/07/2015, 01:35 AM

I just switched to Instant Ocean, and it's doing well.

Kies1 · 11/07/2015, 01:15 PM

Switched back to reef crystals after trying another brand.

smatter · 11/07/2015, 02:24 PM

Instant Ocean since the '80s

ug.mac · 11/07/2015, 03:26 PM

Aquavitro Salinity, I've used other salts but still find this one give me the exact parameters I want for my SPS.

SPS911 · 11/07/2015, 10:49 PM

Another reef crystals guy here.

thegrun · 11/08/2015, 05:29 PM

What didn't you like about Red Sea Pro save the cost? I used it for years on my 50 gallon tank and thought it was great, but their prices kept going up and so I switched to Instant Ocean with my 120. The calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels are a little lower with Instant Ocean, but I simply increased my dosing slightly to compensate. Since I usually mix up a months worth of salt at a time the IO also has less calcium precipitation than the Red Sea Pro salt when stored for a few weeks.

AugustWest · 11/08/2015, 06:42 PM

I've tried a few different salts , Red Sea blue bucket most recently. Always find myself back on plain old Instant Ocean. Easy to find, relatively consistent and the price can't be beat.

heathlindner25 · 11/08/2015, 07:33 PM

I love Tropic Marin bioactive...best salt I've ever came across.

BlackTip · 11/09/2015, 12:02 PM

Basic IO. I can't justify the cost to benefit difference for higher priced salt.

DiscusHeckel · 11/09/2015, 12:06 PM

I use Tropic Marin Pro.

CaminDFW2 · 11/09/2015, 12:40 PM

+1 for Salinity... Mixes well, constant alk and calcium bucket to bucket..

Arthur1 · 11/09/2015, 01:30 PM

Most of my accounts, I use IO but prefer other salts such as Crystal Sea Marine mix. And to +2 on you not labeling the thread with "best salt"!

Scorpius · 11/09/2015, 02:09 PM

ESV. Mixes clear, no residue, consistent.

Arthur1 · 11/09/2015, 02:47 PM

Scorpius, I still have yet to try that salt. Its good to hear something good about it b/c it doesn't seem to be brought up all that often.

Roy Arena · 11/15/2015, 07:19 PM

Using IO again. I like to mix RC and IO 50/50. But really IO is not bad for the money, numbers are just a little on the lower side.

Pablos RSM 450 · 11/15/2015, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by truereefer

Currently unhappy w coral pro...what your experience? I'm looking to try tropic marin? any thoughts?

Why are you unhappy? I will be switching to Red Sea Coral Pro from Reef Crystals. Got tired of the inconsistencies and brown residue of Reef Crystals. I ran test on other big brands and Red Sea Coral Pro had the best results.
At $90+ a bucket for Tropic Marin Pro Reef 6.6dKH is unsat.
Tropic Marin Pro Reef
Mg 1350
Ca 470
Alk 6.6 dKH

Seachem Reef Salt
Mg 1200
Ca 527
Alk 10.47 dKH

Reef Crystals
Mg 1080
Ca 450
Alk 8 dKH

Red Sea Coral Pro
Mg 1470
Ca 480
Alk 12.32 dKH

11/06/2015, 08:21 PM	#1
truereefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 2	Salt preference Currently unhappy w coral pro...what your experience? I'm looking to try tropic marin? any thoughts?

11/06/2015, 08:39 PM	#4
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Basic Instant Ocean. For me its cheap, nothing I don't want in there like unneeded organics (vitamins, aminos, etc), and has good baseline parameters. And I'm glad the title of the thread isn't asking for what is the "Best" salt as there isn't one. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

11/06/2015, 08:48 PM	#6
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	Also settling can occure and cause inconsistency even through out a bag or bucket. It's a good idea to mix it up first if not using them in their entirety. Buckets roll around and turn upside down and bags just mix it around. Or dump several bags into a bucket to mix several together could be even better. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

11/06/2015, 10:03 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A lot of Tanks of the Month have run on Instant Ocean. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/06/2015, 10:07 PM	#8
karimwassef Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 11,033	I use RC which I think is IO + extra calc, alk and mg. It's usually ok, but they have some inconsistencies in Alk that make large water changes dangerous unless you measure the Alk in the new water and compensate to match the tank. I make changes in increments of 100g (2 bags) and still experience some spikes in Alk. Other than that, no issues. __________________ Failure isn't an option It's a requirement. 660g 380inwall+280smp/surge S/L/Soft/Maxima/RBTA/Clown/Chromis/Anthias/Tang/Mandarin/Jawfish/Goby/Wrasse/D'back. DIY 12' Skimmer ActuatedSurge ConcreteScape

11/06/2015, 08:28 PM	#2
ReefGuy77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Merrimack, NH Posts: 15	I've always used reef crystals without any problems. I've never kept SPS though, but my softies and LPS have all done well using it. Also, haven't had any algae blooms.

11/06/2015, 08:34 PM	#3
truereefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 2	I don't plan on any sps myself. Wondering if the coral pro is worth it. I also want to look into nutrients and algae problems as well, as I have heard the elevated elements in coral pro might contribute to such. Haven't looked into reef crystals yet.

11/06/2015, 10:23 PM	#9
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	RC also includes some organics. Most salts labeled or marketed for Reefs include them. Which is fine if that's desirable. For storing water like I have always done its not good. __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

11/07/2015, 01:35 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I just switched to Instant Ocean, and it's doing well. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/07/2015, 01:15 PM	#11
Kies1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 544	Switched back to reef crystals after trying another brand.

11/07/2015, 02:24 PM	#12
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Instant Ocean since the '80s

11/07/2015, 03:26 PM	#13
ug.mac Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vancouver, BC, CANADA Posts: 100	Aquavitro Salinity, I've used other salts but still find this one give me the exact parameters I want for my SPS. __________________ IM Fusion Lagoon 25

11/07/2015, 10:49 PM	#14
SPS911 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Westchase Posts: 302	Another reef crystals guy here.

11/08/2015, 05:29 PM	#15
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	What didn't you like about Red Sea Pro save the cost? I used it for years on my 50 gallon tank and thought it was great, but their prices kept going up and so I switched to Instant Ocean with my 120. The calcium, alkalinity and magnesium levels are a little lower with Instant Ocean, but I simply increased my dosing slightly to compensate. Since I usually mix up a months worth of salt at a time the IO also has less calcium precipitation than the Red Sea Pro salt when stored for a few weeks.

11/08/2015, 06:42 PM	#16
AugustWest Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 765 Blog Entries: 1	I've tried a few different salts , Red Sea blue bucket most recently. Always find myself back on plain old Instant Ocean. Easy to find, relatively consistent and the price can't be beat.

11/08/2015, 07:33 PM	#17
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	I love Tropic Marin bioactive...best salt I've ever came across.

11/09/2015, 12:02 PM	#18
BlackTip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 1,598	Basic IO. I can't justify the cost to benefit difference for higher priced salt. __________________ 325G DT. 100G sump. In-sump refugium. SRO-5000SSS. 2 Gyres 150. 2 Water Blaster HY-5000. 2 Razor 320W. Apex Gold. MR2 GFO. 2 800W Heaters. Tunze Osmolater. 2 20g-long QT tanks. Geo 624 CA. 80W UV

11/09/2015, 12:06 PM	#19
DiscusHeckel Acropora Gardener Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 2,780	I use Tropic Marin Pro. __________________ Featured Tank OCT 2016 \| "Reef Hobbyist Magazine" TOTM OCT 2016 \| "Ultimate Reef", UK FB \| "/troutsReefTank/" 65G SPS Reef- ATI 8 X 39W PM; TM [Bacto-Balance A-; Reef Actif; Nitribiotic; Iodine]

11/09/2015, 12:40 PM	#20
CaminDFW2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 103	+1 for Salinity... Mixes well, constant alk and calcium bucket to bucket..

11/09/2015, 01:30 PM	#21
Arthur1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 578	Most of my accounts, I use IO but prefer other salts such as Crystal Sea Marine mix. And to +2 on you not labeling the thread with "best salt"!

11/09/2015, 02:09 PM	#22
Scorpius Stick Head Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 1,208	ESV. Mixes clear, no residue, consistent. __________________ Current Tank 65gal DSA rimless. Vortech MP-10 x4 Vectra M1. Kessil A360we x3 4-24in T5's. BRS 2 part LPS/SPS mixed reef. Will do ______ for Acropora.

11/09/2015, 02:47 PM	#23
Arthur1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 578	Scorpius, I still have yet to try that salt. Its good to hear something good about it b/c it doesn't seem to be brought up all that often.

11/15/2015, 07:19 PM	#24
Roy Arena Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Chandler AZ. Posts: 202	Using IO again. I like to mix RC and IO 50/50. But really IO is not bad for the money, numbers are just a little on the lower side.