Salt opinion

[jpontier212]

I recently acquired an rodi system fir super cheap. I lucked out and want to begin mixing my own saltwater. I know reef crystals, instant ocean, aquaforest, red sea are amongst the best i believe but i have heard about horror stories of super high alkalinity and low nutrients. I need the experienced aquarist to chime in. What's the recommendation for a newbie?#reefsquad#

 

[Anthony Wood]

I use the blue bucket Red Sea it has lower alk,calc and mag like I know the alk mixes comsistantly the same from the top of the bucket to the very bottom to around 8.5 dkh at 1.026 salinity. Other then that it's the exact same as the black bucket Red Sea coral pro which has 12dkh+ at 1.026.

I've always best luck with Red Sea personally so found no need to switch and try anything else. Although I started the hobby using reef crystals.

I like the fact that it has the trace elements also that it is actual real salt from the Red Sea. One of the maybe two companies that their salt is actually from the ocean. All the other manufacturers get there salt from salt quarries and add everything themselves. Look at all the other salts websites or labels and try to find where they get their salt from. Your not going to find that out because they don't want to advertise it.

Use what works best for you and stick with it, don't go changing a bunch of times. Consistency is key.

 

[cmcoker]

What does your lfs carry? Id pick from something easy to get. My lfs carries tropic marin, aqua vitro, and red sea. I prefer red sea Blue bucket, lower alkalinity (around 8dkh) and mixes clean and easily.
Do you know when new filters were put in that rodi? First step is get a handheld TDS meter, and make sure you are putting out 0 TDS water. I would recommend to test your source water, after membrane, and after di resin.

 

[helen ann]

Here are a couple threads ...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-kind-of-salt-does-everyone.261727/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/best-salt-mixes.260739/

 

[skim]

I have used many salts over the years and the one I have found to be my favorite would be Aquavitro Salinity. It does cost more but it also makes more and I have yet to find it not being bang on or very close to what is stated on the bucket.

 

[Jahalu]

I use reef crystals and am happy with it. I just add Mg to mixed water and otherwise it is good to go. And I can occasionally find big pet retailers selling the big 5g buckets of reef crystals for under $30. The savings do add up. Whatever mix you choose, just be aware of what parameters your freshly mixed water starts at. If your mix starts with a high alk, just be aware that a big water change may swing your tank. Frequent testing is key.

 

[Nibejeebies]

Here is what I use.... And I prefer it to others mainly cause I use less salt to get 1.026, 6.5 cups for 15gallons verses a Reef crystals' 8 to 9 cups.

Also for the batch guarantee right on the bucket.

I have tested freshly mixed water against that that sticker with the batch analysis and it's been spot on every time.

You have to mix it very slowly into the water and it does have a kind of weird smell but my corals seem to love the stuff

 

[MaddyP]

I use the blue bucket Red Sea it has lower alk,calc and mag like I know the alk mixes comsistantly the same from the top of the bucket to the very bottom to around 8.5 dkh at 1.026 salinity. Other then that it's the exact same as the black bucket Red Sea coral pro which has 12dkh+ at 1.026.

I've always best luck with Red Sea personally so found no need to switch and try anything else. Although I started the hobby using reef crystals.

I like the fact that it has the trace elements also that it is actual real salt from the Red Sea. One of the maybe two companies that their salt is actually from the ocean. All the other manufacturers get there salt from salt quarries and add everything themselves. Look at all the other salts websites or labels and try to find where they get their salt from. Your not going to find that out because they don't want to advertise it.

Use what works best for you and stick with it, don't go changing a bunch of times. Consistency is key.

+1

Same reason I use the Red Sea Blue bucket...

 

[skim]

Here is what I use.... And I prefer it to others mainly cause I use less salt to get 1.026, 6.5 cups for 15gallons verses a Reef crystals' 8 to 9 cups.

Also for the batch guarantee right on the bucket.

I have tested freshly mixed water against that that sticker with the batch analysis and it's been spot on every time.

You have to mix it very slowly into the water and it does have a kind of weird smell but my corals seem to love the stuff

I guess it's not just me! I love the stuff, only salt I have used that had only positive results. A short time ago I ran out of Salinity and had to go to some back up salt I saved for emergency, Red Sea , I don't know why but everytime I have used Red Sea I seem to get a outbreak of Cyno within 1 to 2 days and it stays around for like 2 weeks before I see it slowly disappear. The only thing I don't like about Salinity is the price as it cost $145.00 for large bucket up here in Canada.

 

[Velcro]

I recently switched to the blue Red Sea bucket because the IO and RC salt high alkalinity annoys me. You have to look at the salt comparisons and match your salt to the numbers you want to run, unless you don't mid adjusting things.

 

[that Reef Guy]

I have tried many Salts and will only use Tropic Marin Pro.

You can't trust Salts like Reef Crystals and Instant Ocean as Parameters are All Over the Place.

I used to Test Reef Crystals at 14 !

That is Insane.

I keep my Alkalinity Stable at 8.5 and that is What Tropic Marin Pro Gives me.

It Mixes Up Super Clean and is Made in Germany what else can you ask for?

 

[that Reef Guy]

I guess it's not just me! I love the stuff, only salt I have used that had only positive results. A short time ago I ran out of Salinity and had to go to some back up salt I saved for emergency, Red Sea , I don't know why but everytime I have used Red Sea I seem to get a outbreak of Cyno within 1 to 2 days and it stays around for like 2 weeks before I see it slowly disappear. The only thing I don't like about Salinity is the price as it cost $145.00 for large bucket up here in Canada.

145.00 a Bucket.

That is Crazy.

My LFS has the Big Bucket (225 Gallons) for 69.99

 

[that Reef Guy]

I use the blue bucket Red Sea it has lower alk,calc and mag like I know the alk mixes comsistantly the same from the top of the bucket to the very bottom to around 8.5 dkh at 1.026 salinity. Other then that it's the exact same as the black bucket Red Sea coral pro which has 12dkh+ at 1.026.

I've always best luck with Red Sea personally so found no need to switch and try anything else. Although I started the hobby using reef crystals.

I like the fact that it has the trace elements also that it is actual real salt from the Red Sea. One of the maybe two companies that their salt is actually from the ocean. All the other manufacturers get there salt from salt quarries and add everything themselves. Look at all the other salts websites or labels and try to find where they get their salt from. Your not going to find that out because they don't want to advertise it.

Use what works best for you and stick with it, don't go changing a bunch of times. Consistency is key.

Its funny that it seems all the Reefers that use Red Sea use the Blue Bucket that is made for Fish Only Tanks and Not the Black Bucket made for Reefs.

You would think they would change the Formula by now?

 

[Velcro]

It's also made for ULNS SPS tanks. It's right on the bucket and in the Red Sea coral care documentation.

 

[skim]

145.00 a Bucket.

That is Crazy.

My LFS has the Big Bucket (225 Gallons) for 69.99

Ya well with the Canadian dollar being low and the cost of shipping it all adds up. IO for 200 gal box is like $70 Tropic Marin starts at like $120 and I believe Pro is $145. Sometimes you can get them at better prices but that is one of the reasons I went with Salinity, if I am paying that much for lower quality salts. But I did use IO for a while but it is not the same as it use to be, I was getting 14 to 16 dkh it was crazy, a friend of my was getting the same with RC.

 

[Velcro]

It's easy enough to drop the alk with muriatic acid and scrub out the co2 to get the ph enough, but if you're already paying that much for salt you may as well be getting something that you don't have to mess with.

 

[Nibejeebies]

145.00 a Bucket.

That is Crazy.

My LFS has the Big Bucket (225 Gallons) for 69.99

I pay 99.99 for the 225 bucket... wheres your lfs I'll make a drive with a big box truck and stock up lol

 

[Velcro]

Has to be a mistake.

 

[BoneXriffic]

I reccomend IO over tgwir reef crystals. When you see the actual stats the reef crystals are a bit of a rip off

 

[Jahalu]

Fwiw, I've never had a problem maintaining alk steady at 8.0 with reef crystals. My mixes have usually tested at 10-11dkh. I do a 10% wc weekly and actually like the little alk boost I get with RC. I think I would have to crank up my 2 part without it. The only time I run into problems is when I need to do a large wc for whatever reason. Then I run high for a few days. Not a huge deal. I just stop dosing for a few days until it's normal again. I think when choosing a salt mix, you really have to consider your own husbandry schedule.