Best Reef Salt to use?

[kitti-fish]

SPS, LPS you will have to dose. No water change will be sufficient unless it is 100%. All for Reef is probably the best way to go for you with a single programmable dosing head. As others have said the best salt is the one that is close to matching the parameters that you want to run.
I also appreciate the fact others that use different salt also put up photos of their tanks. It shows that you can have a successful reef tank on many different salt brands.
Side note: For those who keep on saying aquariums use IO, it is not by choice. If you have to do a water change on 50,000 gallons, price is a factor.

I run a pretty small tank so I spending a little more isn’t going to break the bank. I’m definitely contemplating a dosing system this year to make it easier for my coral. Thanks for the insight!

 

[CHSUB]

Reef Crystal user on a 40 gallon system, so cost is not a concern. Over growth after only 2 years is my problem. Imo, salt used is 100% insignificant.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I want something that mixes clean and fast for sure. IO always gave me foggy water even if I was using a power head. I am cleaning mixing container and I do water changes every 2 weeks (20%)

There's no real reason to ever clean the container, but if that is a criteria, then pick a lower alk mix. :)

 

[iannarelli]

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

Nah, that's way easier... Alfa Romeo.

 

[rtparty]

There are only a few salts which are known to mix very clean and fast. I looked at those and got the one which was the best price per gallon: Nyos Pure. If things change and Tropic Marine, Aquaforest, or ESV become cheaper and/or more convenient I will switch to them. Pretty straightforward!

If someone knows of a salt mix which also mixes with zero or almost no residue and is cheaper than Nyos Pure please let me know!

ESV is cheaper than NYOS.

Current retail pricing at BRS:

NYOS - $0.67 per gallon
TM Pro - $0.66 per gallon
ESV - $0.63 per gallon

ESV also goes on sale multiple times during the year bringing it below $0.50 per gallon

 

[kitti-fish]

Reef Crystal user on a 40 gallon system, so cost is not a concern. Over growth after only 2 years is my problem. Imo, salt used is 100% insignificant.

Are you also dosing?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you also dosing?

Yes, he is, and you should expect to dose in most any reef tank. Dosing is always cheaper than maintaining alkalinity by water change, unless you are doing large water changes for other reasons anyway.

 

[kitti-fish]

Are you also dosing?

Yes, he is, and you should expect to dose in most any reef tank. Dosing is always cheaper than maintaining alkalinity by water change, unless you are doing large water changes for other reasons anyway.

Is there a dosing system you’d recommend that won’t break my wallet in half? I’m looking at some options and they are all close to $500 or more

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is there a dosing system you’d recommend that won’t break my wallet in half? I’m looking at some options and they are all close to $500 or more

A dosing system does not need to be automatic, or expensive. Manual once a day dosing is fine for most tanks using something like All For Reef, and many tanks with a low demand can use that or other produces even less frequently.

Overall, any tank that actually needs once a day dosing (that is, daily alk demand more than about 0.4 dKH) cannot be satisfied by water changes unless you change large amounts daily using a mix with alk much higher than the tank.

I dose All for Reef using a BRS 1.1 mL per minute doser ($72) on a cheap electronic timer.

 

[exnisstech]

I do plan to get a dosing system I just need to find one that will either fit into a very tight area of the sump. I’m still on the phase of getting an adequate lid for my tank.

All 4 reef is one and done and is fine dosed manually, especially on smaller tanks.

 

[X-37B]

There are only a few salts which are known to mix very clean and fast. I looked at those and got the one which was the best price per gallon: Nyos Pure. If things change and Tropic Marine, Aquaforest, or ESV become cheaper and/or more convenient I will switch to them. Pretty straightforward!

If someone knows of a salt mix which also mixes with zero or almost no residue and is cheaper than Nyos Pure please let me know!

Not sure in cost but blue bucket mixes clean and fast. Add salt, bring to temp, adjust SG, takes around 30 minutes to mix. Once at temp and SG your good to go.
Been doing this with blue bucket, I get the bag, for 2 years now.

 

[X-37B]

A dosing system does not need to be automatic, or expensive. Manual once a day dosing is fine for most tanks using something like All For Reef, and many tanks with a low demand can use that or other produces even less frequently.

Overall, any tank that actually needs once a day dosing (that is, daily alk demand more than about 0.4 dKH) cannot be satisfied by water changes unless you change large amounts daily using a mix with alk much higher than the tank.

I dose All for Reef using a BRS 1.1 mL per minute doser ($72) on a cheap electronic timer.

Yea I just converted my 13 to A4R. I dose it by hand once a day.
I use esv 2 part on 3 other systems. Going to go to A4R soon on them. I will be able to reduce 1 dosimg pump and container in each system.
I plan to use it in my new 112 once I get to 4mlm of kalk daily.

 

[56longroof]

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?

Have you looked at Chewy or Amazon repeat delivery? Its cheaper this way.

 

[kitti-fish]

Is there a dosing system you’d recommend that won’t break my wallet in half? I’m looking at some options and they are all close to $500 or more

A dosing system does not need to be automatic, or expensive. Manual once a day dosing is fine for most tanks using something like All For Reef, and many tanks with a low demand can use that or other produces even less frequently.

Overall, any tank that actually needs once a day dosing (that is, daily alk demand more than about 0.4 dKH) cannot be satisfied by water changes unless you change large amounts daily using a mix with alk much higher than the tank.

I dose All for Reef using a BRS 1.1 mL per minute doser ($72) on a cheap electronic timer.

I will look into the all for reef when I stop by my LFS. I am also probably going to try a Tropic Marine since my local LFS swear by it and I don’t mind trying something new. I am dosing a two part reef fusion by seachem but looking at the bottle it does say dose every 1-2 days. Reading comprehension isn’t forte. I’ll look into that dosing pump as well.

 

[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?

Have you looked at Chewy or Amazon repeat delivery? Its cheaper this way.

A big bucket like that takes me 3 months to use so I wouldn’t need it that often. I also don’t love shopping online if I can help it

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am dosing a two part reef fusion by seachem but looking at the bottle it does say dose every 1-2 days. Reading comprehension isn’t forte. I’ll look into that dosing pump as well.

I'm not a fan of the Seachem product as it is not designed properly for 1:1 dosing despite it's claim to be (based, incredibly, on their own published potency data). That, and a generally low regard for Seachem based on other faulty products makes me not assume they know how to design a two part properly.

 

[kitti-fish]

I am dosing a two part reef fusion by seachem but looking at the bottle it does say dose every 1-2 days. Reading comprehension isn’t forte. I’ll look into that dosing pump as well.

I'm not a fan of the Seachem product as it is not designed properly for 1:1 dosing despite it's claim to be (based, incredibly, on their own published potency data). That, and a generally low regard for Seachem based on other faulty products makes me not assume they know how to design a two part properly.

Ah I did not know that. I got an unopened bottle when I purchased my tank so that’s why I use it as of now. I think it does help my tank but I’m probably not dosing it enough.

 

[The_DuckTank]

I personally use Red Sea blue bucket, mixes fast and clear

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

There are many good salts in the hobby and I have used a few. So many I have NOT used though that I'm sure would be great. I've always had good results with Tropic Marin salt.

 

[kitti-fish]

There are many good salts in the hobby and I have used a few. So many I have NOT used though that I'm sure would be great. I've always had good results with Tropic Marin salt.

That is what my LFS recommends so I’ll give it a shot. I think my main issue I’m not dosing enough at this point since coral are growing but stagnating as well. I don’t have any true love for IO and I can afford something a little pricier since my tank isn’t large where I’m doing large water changes. I’ll give it a shot and see how I fare in 3 months. If my LFS swears by it it must be decent