Salt mixes/brands: What is everyone currently using?

[vetteguy53081]

As this subject came up today, In an ever changing industry, What salt brand are you using currently and what brand were you using previously if this applies?
Did you find better results with the current salt and which was better?

If your favorite brand was no longer available and out of stock, what brand would be your next choice and why?

I have been using and currently use Tropic Marin Actif, and previously used the pro version until the issue with Turkey had occurred. I have a few buckets of Reef Crystals salt now on hand as I stocked up before the price increase in February but I do have a small bucket of AquaForest salt to use first.

If I did not have the extra salt on hand, I would seek Seachem Salinity salt as it is my all-time favorite mix.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Red Sea Blue because it's the cheapest at the moment.

I go purely on price as all reputable brands are pretty much the same with only slight variations in major parameters.

 

[Waters]

Currently using Red Sea Blue due to the ALK number it mixes to.

 

[RoanokeReef]

NYOS, was using Tropic Marin Reef

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I use Red Sea Blue!

 

[Gill the 3rd]

I originally used tropic marin on my 180 gallon mixed reef, then I switched to instant ocean becase I had issues getting tropic marin consistently. I didn't notice any differences.

When I upgraded to my 300 gallon system I wanted to try out fritz blue box. I really liked it. It mixed quickly and cleanly in my 77 gallon mixing Barrell. I had trouble finding it after a while, so I switched back to instant ocean. Its $42 for the 200 gallon box at my LFS, kinda hard to beat the price. I now go back and forth between instant ocean purple and reef crystals. Again I don't notice any differences in the tank. I tend to do large 75 gallon water changes on the system about once every 6 weeks.

 

[KStatefan]

Instant Ocean

 

[eliaslikesfish]

tbh I haven’t a clue. I get it pre-mixed from my LFS. Never had any issue and I always check the parameters before a water change, they’re always the same.

 

[t5Nitro]

I set my tank up with Instant Ocean salt. I have a box of Aqua Forest sitting on the floor for the past several years. I keep meaning to do a water change some day. The old IO salt is still going strong without water changes. =)

 

[X-37B]

Currently blue bucket as I dont need to adjust alk.
Salinity was prior.
Esv for a few years.
Instant Ocean regular forever from the late 80's until 2017 when I got a wacked out bucket of parameters.
I would have no issues using IO again though.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I'll be using NYOS when the time comes.

 

[mfinn]

Currently using Reef Crystals, for the last 14-15 years.
Used Instant Ocean for 25 years before RC.

 

[Tamberav]

Instant ocean because I got it super cheap from Petco stacking a sale + the auto ship discount (30 or 35%?) that seems to reset once a year and I bought a lot of it.

I have used some more premium expensive brands on nano's and pico's but I mostly just buy whatever is cheapest at the time as it never seemed to make any notable difference in the tank but mix time and clarity sometimes varied.

I haven't had to buy salt since the price hike so not sure what is cheapest right now

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Did Fritz fall out of fashion?

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Did Fritz fall out of fashion?

I'm wondering the same thing. I was using it for a while and now I cant find it at any of my LFS. I went back to IO, but I really liked the fritz salt. It mixed quick and clean.

 

[InvaderJim]

I had my most success with red sea blue bucket which I will likely be going back to once I run out of my surplus of IO.

 

[Dburr1014]

Instant ocean, mostly IO and occasional RC.
I used to love Oceanic but no longer available.

 

[slingfox]

I was using Nyos but for the last 4+ months it seems to be out of stock everywhere so have switched back to Tropic Marine Pro. I was using Red Sea Coral Pro but didn't like the brown residue it left behind in my mixing containers.

I am thinking a oth switching to Two Little Fishies since they are reputable and I like the idea of using 50 gallon small bags. That would save time spend on measuring. I don't know if it will will the same brown residue issues as the lower priced salts.

 

[SimbaAnto]

I have used Instant Ocean for about 4 years and now i have moved on to Fritz Blue Box. Qucikly dissolves and clean and didnt see any issue in changing to this salt. Especially its at the level of what my water parameters are.

 

[drolmaeye]

I've used Red Sea Blue, Fritz RPM (Blue), and Tropic Marin Pro during my relatively short tenure in the hobby. Right now I use Tropic Marin Pro. It is a fairly decent match to the parameters I want to keep, it is the salt sold by the LFS I support, and the cost is not a huge issue as I go through approx. 10 gallons a week doing WC for two tanks.