Salt mixes/brands: What is everyone currently using?

[NonstopSoda]

Currently using Red sea coral pro salt, black bucket. but now my alk is skyrocketing and Im probably going to switch to red sea blue when this bucket runs out, i get it from my LFS

 

[B&CinB.C.]

Petco and chewy ship free as far as i know, everywhere if you meet minimum purchase

Thanks for the reply. I checked their Canadian sites and don't seem to have salt. The US sites don't ship to Canada as far as I can tell. Shipping in Canada can be really expensive if you can't find free shipping.

 

[littlefoxx]

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.

Reef crystals! Used to use red sea coral pro. My corals hated it. They seem to like this salt!

 

[Dune74]

Currently use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. Before, I used purple (Regular) Instant Ocean. I haven't tried an other brands yet in my reefing journey but may be open to do so in the future. Currently like IO Reef Crystals for product mix quality, mix parameters, price and availability.

 

[addictswife]

Exactly what I found - which is why I just buy the cheapest and have no issue changing each time I buy.

Makes no difference to the tank or the animals inside.

I do keep a logbook

Do you dose? If so what?

 

[DanATL]

I was using tropic Marin Pro but switched to Tropic Marin Classic because the ALK is where I want to be.

 

[tigre44]

Aquaforest but I have a couple of buckets of instant ocean that were given to me

 

[skey44]

I was using tropic Marin Pro but switched to Tropic Marin Classic because the ALK is where I want to be.

I am considering this as well. It’s what I used 15 years ago before pro came out. I like the idea of bumping my alk up a notch with a wc not pulling it down. What does the alk run on that salt? My current alk goal is 8.

 

[Mike565]

I get HW-Marinemix Reefer salt from BRS when it’s on sale - get 4-5 boxes

 

[Flame2hawk]

I've used Reef Crystals for years, and to be honest it has done pretty well for me. No real problems to speak of.

However, more recently I've been having a little more trouble finding the 200 gal box (I like it better than the bucket) with it being frequently on backorder.

I ordered some of the blue box Fritz to give it a try.

Are Aquacraft salts a thing anymore (Bio-Sea, Marine Enviroment, etc)? I used to use Bio-Sea years ago before I switched to Reef Crystals. I didn't have a problem with it, but it cost much more than Reef Crystals and didn't seem to be much benefit.

I too have found it more difficult finding 200g box for IO. I think they are phasing this size out.

 

[Gill the 3rd]

I too have found it more difficult finding 200g box for IO. I think they are phasing this size out.

I thought that's all they sell now. They are getting rid of the buckets. My LFS brings in pallets of the boxes. I actually prefer the boxes over the buckets myself.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

I've settled on aquaforest reef.
It mixes right around the levels I want cleanly & is consistent, reasonably priced.

Was a fan of aquavitro salinity previously but I was running higher kh then.
The cloudiness & strong sulphur odour troubled me slightly.

I'm intrigued by the korralen zucht reefers best but for an extra £25 per bucket I don't think I'd see any major benefits.

 

[dangros]

whatever is cheapest …

I/O orange and purple buckets
Fritz Blue
Red Sea
HW (whatever that is, All I know is I got 3 boxes)

I’m not sure making a 10% water change using any brand makes a hill of difference

Added: BTW does anyone actually have conclusive data? or has anyone even kept a log?or are we going by “my corals looked better”
At least tell us what you are basing your opinion on …

…3 decades reefing and I’ve yet to notice one dang difference in salt brands other than mixing clear or not

I also have 3 decades with a 90g tank. I've used IO, RC, Fritz, TM, TM-Pro, etc. I've noticed minor differences when I wasnt doing automatic water changes. I would get more brown algae with the pro salts likely due to the extra trace elements. The benefit has been the ease of mixing with the TM salts. However, the last few years, I've done 1.5 - 2 gallon/day automatic water changes and havent noticed much difference in the salts with one exception. With IO, I get more crud at the bottom of the mixing container and hence, it tends to clog up my salt water line for the AWC pumps (DoS) faster. For that reason and for the sake of being able to mix it quicker, I tend to like the TM when they are on sale but the cost always brings me back to IO at some point