Salt Mix Recommendations

[Cblair]

Been using red sea blue bucket for daily water changes, everything seems happy

 

[a4edwin]

I used IO at first switched to fritz rpm. I just did it to try something new no other reason but I stuck to it

 

[Deezill]

So I'm new to making saltwater, been using LFS water and they use Fritz salt.
Finally ordering an RODI system and going to be making my own saltwater and all.
I know it's ideal to use to same salt you've been using with your system, but Fritz salt is like 2-3x's more expensive than some of the other brands out there.

Is there an alternate a bit cheaper I can use for making my own?

I know there's a lot of differing opinions on the "best salt mix", but really I'm just looking to match actual sea water levels.

Man, you are starting a question that is everlasting. However many brands of salt there are in the US
someone will recommend it at least twice. Me personally I use Instant ocean purple box and adjust my parameters to how I like them and I suggest you do the same.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I use regular Instant Ocean Salt in my fish only. I buy it in boxes sufficient to mix 200 gallons @1.022. Mixes fast.

 

[stephj03]

I/O purple box, 200g for $35 on Amazon prime.

IMO most of us are still mastering underlying challenges in husbandry and maintenence that negate the small benefit achieved through salt choice.

If you have high end corals and they are pink instead of the magenta TSA/RR/JF advertises maybe red sea blue bucket vs TMP could change that.

For the rest of us that are somewhere between brown and pink on the same coral, keep getting better at other stuff first.

 

[HumboldtReefer85]

What are the I/O purple box parameters?

 

[Deezill]

I find the parameters below to be very close if not accurate for IO Purple box. I can't speak for the others because I only know what I use.

 

[HumboldtReefer85]

Thank you!

 

[dieselkeeper]

Aqua forest mixes up to preferred parameters.

 

[dieselkeeper]

This is on BRS website

Reef Salt Mix

Reef Salt has been specifically designed for demanding LPS and SPS tanks that do not use the probiotic method but require a high-quality salt with balanced parameters required for reef tanks. Three Sizes Available: 10 kg Bucket - Makes up to 70 gallons* 22 kg Bucket - Makes up to 155 gallons*...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Long Island Reefer]

Tropic marin, I switch from red sea to Tropic marin and never looked back.

 

[sreefs]

normal IO works fine for me!

 

[jstephens24]

People who are saying regular IO salt, do y’all have coral? Do you adjust in mix station and then do water change? I’m assuming that and then just up keep the DT.

 

[sreefs]

220 full of Acro's avatar is a picture of my tank, all grown from frags, I add mag after I mix up a bag of IO at a time, then change 2 to 3 gallons a day

 

[Keithb22]

If you’re a control freak then esv is perfect

 

[Duncan Tse]

Regular IO for me too in a mixed reef tank

Grows my acros, chalices, favias, torches, zoas etc. just fine

I try to keep my parameters the same as IO which is in reasonable range except alk

Since it mixes at around 11 and I keep my system at 8 it will raises the alk a tiny bit after a 10% wc but nothing to worry about. Maybe about 0.1-0.2

I compensate this by dosing a little less on my alk and cal daily and it will even out after the water change

 

[m_t_r_86]

A year and a half of using reef crystals with zero problems. On the plus side, Amazon sales make this an even bigger "no brainer"

 

[JCTReefer]

So I'm new to making saltwater, been using LFS water and they use Fritz salt.
Finally ordering an RODI system and going to be making my own saltwater and all.
I know it's ideal to use to same salt you've been using with your system, but Fritz salt is like 2-3x's more expensive than some of the other brands out there.

Is there an alternate a bit cheaper I can use for making my own?

I know there's a lot of differing opinions on the "best salt mix", but really I'm just looking to match actual sea water levels.

Here’s a good comparison “cost per gallon” on some of the popular salt mixes.

 

[Salps]

Stability is key. Find one closest to the parameters you want. All salts will work.

 

[ReefStable]

The best way to decide which salt to use is to pick a salt with the alkalinity and calcium closest to that of your tank. Additionally low nitrates and phosphates are something to consider. The lower nutrients/better mixing salts tend to be the more expensive ones. If you're looking for the alkalinity and calcium in each salt brand, I have a table you can reference here:

Reef Salt Mix - Aquarium Salt Mix Parameters

Picking the best reef salt mix depends on much more than brand. It can affect all parameters in your reef and is an important decisions for existing reef tanks.

reefstable.com