Do we foresee Instant Ocean supply chain issues?

[Fish Fan]

Good thread for sure, thanks everyone!

I used Instant Ocean for years. I had an Instant Ocean pamphlet that got me started keeping saltwater tanks sometime about 1982 or so.

Amazon product ASIN B0006XL320
I believe the only real problem with Instant Ocean - that has not been mentioned before in this thread - is that it definitely does leave lots of crud in your mixing bucket. There's no doubt there. If that's something that doesn't bother you, than Instant Ocean would be a fine choice.

Lately, I have been using Aqua Forrest sea salt. This is like Instant Ocean sea salt, a basic mix that is fine for fish, but may need supplementing for coral care.

I find the AquaForrest Sea Salt to mix much like Instant Ocean sea salt, but with less crud in my bucket.

I recently ordered three boxes of the Aqua Forrest Reef Salt that is supposed to mix to higher levels; we'll see, I haven't gotten into them yet.

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Did you see any plastic residue in your salt? I’d you are using brightwell. My buckets the lid/rim were shaving off leaving microplastics in the mix.

I've only bought one or 2 buckets, I usually do boxes. My LFS is usually out of boxes so if I forget to order one, I'll go grab a bucket. I havent noticed an issue with plastics but I alsk wasn't really looking. My new saltwater goes into the sump upstream, goes through my filter socks, then after my water change I swap out the sucks. So theoretically any bigger peices would be removed, smaller stuff, I dunno. 'Bout 'imagine I'm getting just as much micro plastics from pump parts, plastic brackets etc wearing out over the years but idk.

 

[BryanM]

Considering recent reporting is that there's a lot of supply ships sitting in China, I think it is pretty safe to say we're in for a rough ride in the next 6 months+.

 

[BZOFIQ]

If Aqua Forest (insert any company) walked in and offered them the same quality/parameters for less, they’d switch

Not seeing the point....

I didnt state that the public aquariums use it specifically because its cheap. I'm simply implying that if it works for public aquaria I dont see the reason it shouldn't work for you.

 

[BZOFIQ]

My experience is large commercial facilities tend to use what ever is cheapest and consistently available. I don’t think anyone is discussing “best” :)

Yes, but we can't afford ESV in large quantifies and yet we want to stay in the hobby.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Yes, but we can't afford ESV in large quantifies and yet we want to stay in the hobby.

I’d recommend IO to anyone looking to save money. It's highly unlikely that the choice of salt will make or break a tank. I was simply pointing out why commercial facilities and public aquariums tend to use it. Often, this is mistaken for it being the "best" option. In my conversations with those running these facilities, very few think it is the best option, the reason they choose it is the same as many home tank owners— The price is right :)

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Considering recent reporting is that there's a lot of supply ships sitting in China, I think it is pretty safe to say we're in for a rough ride in the next 6 months+.

Some of the vendors I spoke to at RAP told me they stoped containers until this gets figured out. Can't blame them, it's a big hit. I didn't hear anything directly about salt though.