Best Reef Salt to use?

[kitti-fish]

I have been Instant ocean reef crystal and although it’s worked well the price has pretty much doubled and for almost $90-100 after tax, I’d rather spend my money on a better quality salt, if there is one. Anyone recommend anything?

 

[Fish Fan]

I think that the Aqua Forest salts seem to be priced similar to IO, but mix clean in the bucket, so I feel like they are a good alternative. Arguably, Tropic Marin salts are the premium product, and I see that a lot of people like the salts by Red Sea, off the top of my head.

There's been a handful of threads on this, I'll link a couple recent discussions, and member @rtparty did a great job testing a lot of salt mixes, here's that thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-ultimate-salt-test.949805/
As well as:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...favourite-salt-and-why.1156206/#post-14311900https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-salt-is-everyone-using.1154198/https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/best-salt-mix-brand-–-consistency-parameters-and-value.1135712/
Good luck!

 

[kitti-fish]

I think that the Aqua Forrest salts seem to be priced similar to IO, but mix clean in the bucket, so I feel like they are a good alternative. Arguably, Tropic Marin salts are the premium product, and I see that a lot of people like the salts by Red Sea, off the top of my head.

There's been a handful of threads on this, I'll link a couple recent discussions, and member @rtparty did a great job testing a lot of salt mixes, here's that thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-ultimate-salt-test.949805/
As well as:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...favourite-salt-and-why.1156206/#post-14311900https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-salt-is-everyone-using.1154198/https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/best-salt-mix-brand-–-consistency-parameters-and-value.1135712/
Good luck!

Oh thank you I was having trouble finding some links through the phone app. This helps!

 

[rtparty]

Almost every salt is better quality than IO

My current go to is ESV and I don’t see moving away from it. When you catch it on sale it’s like $90 for 200g

 

[kitti-fish]

Almost every salt is better quality than IO

My current go to is ESV and I don’t see moving away from it. When you catch it on sale it’s like $90 for 200g

I haven’t heard of ESV. Hitting up my LFS to see what their have in stock this weekend since the price of IO is kind of ridiculous since it’s not the best in the market but used it since it was cheap..not anymore

 

[oakcityreefer]

I can speak to Nyos Pure. Im on my 2nd bucket after switching from IO. I didnt have any issues with IO except its dirty. I run my mixing station through a filter sock. IO always turned it brown but Nyos leaves it clean. Its very fine like powdered sugar so dust can be a problem. I mix in the garage so no problem for me.

 

[DSC reef]

In my opinion, there is no "best salt". I always preferred red sea but I found sticking with one brand that works for consistency better than buying for brand names. Most of us have fallen for marketing, fancy labels or the next big thing but as your reefing experience matures you'll find that sticking with what works for you is way better

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I used Tropic Marin pro reef for a few years but the cost now is stupid expensive. I've moved to Aquaforest Reef Salt and Honestly you cant tell the difference side by side. I also like that you can read the batch number right in the store and check it's ICP batch number online.

 

[kitti-fish]

In my opinion, there is no "best salt". I always preferred red sea but I found sticking with one brand that works for consistency better than buying for brand names. Most of us have fallen for marketing, fancy labels or the next big thing but as your reefing experience matures you'll find that sticking with what works for you is way better

I’m more wanting a salt that helps my coral grow better. Although what I used has been fine, I feel like I always need to dose closer to water change days. Need something with better parameters and is just better quality. I found issues with IO but nothing major till the price hike.

 

[gabelex14]

I'm using Fritz RPM blue box. It mixes super clean and consistent so far. It also includes some trace elements like strontium in the mix. I've seen that Nyos does an ICP on the batches and post the results on a sticker. If I wasn't getting good results from Fritz that's who I would change to.

 

[Linden13]

Wow I thought I was having trouble finding it for a decent price last time I bought salt. I just did a quick check price definitely went up. Looks like I might be switching salt soon

 

[slingfox]

I have been Instant ocean reef crystal and although it’s worked well the price has pretty much doubled and for almost $90-100 after tax, I’d rather spend my money on a better quality salt, if there is one. Anyone recommend anything?

I believe the most economical high quality salt (ie, each bucket comes with ICP results, mixes quickly and very clean) is Nyos Pure. You can get it for $89.99 per 20kg box on PremiumAquatics.com. The price includes tax and free shipping.

You can get it cheaper than this when it goes on sale. If you can find something of similar quality (ICP results + no residue when mixing) for cheaper let us know!

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

I use Tropic Marin Pro Reef. I used to use the Bio Actif which is Pro Reef with Bio Actif infused, and a higher DHK, but you have to use it right away. It was a good motivator on not getting lazy on your water changes. But now with so many tanks, I need to spread out my water changes. I just add the Bio-Actif separately. (Bio -Actif is a seaweed based mild form of carbon dosing) I have heard positive things about Nyos, but I also heard sometimes there are supply issues.
I also use TM's All for Reef and ESV two part for micro adjusting.
Oh yeah... 30% of my water is actual NSW (depending on time of year, rain, etc.)

 

[fish_collector]

I use IO, home made 2 part, quality RODI and frozen fish food, it grows acropora well. I don’t know what else one would need in a salt mix

There is no “best” salt, it’s whatever salt you find that works for you. I will say switching salts is a questionable thing to do in itself, sometimes it does more harm than good.

 

[exnisstech]

Best for me is a salt that grows coral, is available locally and mixes close to 8 dkH. IO purple fits that bill. It mixes dirty but TBH i don't really care because I don't have a fancy mixing station, just a brute and powerheads. It's all I've used for 10 years. IO and kalk ran this tank for 6+ years

3+ years on this on using IO and AFR.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Trying to pick a best salt is like trying to pick the best car. Almost all salt mixes work fine.

 

[reefmaster70]

I use both NYOS Pure and Aqua Forest interchangeably. I just buy whichever one happens to be cheaper at the time, as I always have to order it, no one local carries either. They both mix clean in my 50g storage tank, and my corals and fish are all doing great.

 

[X-37B]

Salt is salt. I dont think any one brand is going to grow coral better than the next.
I used IO forever. Tried ESV for a few years and now just use RS blue bucket.
Blue bucket is close to the parametrrs I run and thats the best advice I can give for salt.

 

[kitti-fish]

I use IO, home made 2 part, quality RODI and frozen fish food, it grows acropora well. I don’t know what else one would need in a salt mix

There is no “best” salt, it’s whatever salt you find that works for you. I will say switching salts is a questionable thing to do in itself, sometimes it does more harm than good.

I get it! IO has been a great salt but my growth for corals is stagnating and with the huge price hike I’d rather spend my money on salt that will help my coral grow. By the end when I need to do a water change, I’m having to dose calcium and alk which I don’t love.

 

[areefer01]

Trying to pick a best salt is like trying to pick the best car. Almost all salt mixes work fine.

Glad someone pointed this out. Best is saved for statistics/sports. The only thing that I've personally done is contact the LFS near me to see what they typically have on hand in case I need to pick something up locally. That is to just make sure they have something as I don't believe an emergency change 1 time will upset the apple cart...

Hope you day is well.