Salt Wars

[DmitryB]

When I had my first tank roughly 15 years ago I used Instant Ocean. It seemed to be what everyone was using. Today there are a few more options, some of which I never heard of until I just googled (who the heck is Fritz?), all increasingly more expensive than Instant Ocean. BSR is really pushing Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt. Have people used a few different brands and what did you settle on? I picked Red Sea Coral Pro - but no real reason. Just picked it because a step above Instant Ocean. I'm going to start a survey of the big names to see what everyone is using. Just wondering if this Tropic Marin is actually worth the extra money.

 

[reefmaster70]

what do you want your Alk, Calcium, and Magnesium levels at, then pick a salt that gets you close to those numbers. I started out using Red Sea Blue Bucket, and then switched to Nyos Pure to get my Mag levels up a bit higher yet, but not super happy with it, so am most likely going to switch back to Red Sea Blue Bucket, it always worked well for me.

 

[DmitryB]

This thread here is very interesting on various salts. I did not see it when I bought 2 buckets of Red Sea. I may not stick with Red Sea.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/what-salts-have-you-used-which-is-your-favourite-salt-which-least-favourite-salt-and-why.1156206/

 

[exnisstech]

I keep my alk 8 ish and calcium 400 + I don't test mag. IO purple has worked for me for 10 years including my SPS tank. It mixes dirty but I don't have a fancy mixing station and mix in a brute so i couldn't care less about that.

 

[DmitryB]

Please vote! I'm just really curious to see where the numbers land. (Did I miss any big brands?)

 

[EricR]

Please vote! I'm just really curious to see where the numbers land. (Did I miss any big brands?)

You could add an "Other" vote just to see if you get many votes for not on your list.
Also, Fritz and AquaForest have both normal alkalinity and elevated alkalinity mixes, sort of like regular IO vs Reef Crystals.

 

[DmitryB]

You could add an "Other" vote just to see if you get many votes for not on your list.
Also, Fritz and AquaForest have both normal alkalinity and elevated alkalinity mixes, sort of like regular IO vs Reef Crystals.

 

[Fish Fan]

This thread may be of some help here:

The Ultimate Salt Test

I wanted to get this thread up and going before the holidays soak up all my time. I did a live YouTube with Deven from ReefDudes going over things but it is about 1.5 hours long. I will write up a more detailed explanation here in this first post soon. I am a hobbyist first and foremost. I have...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[chip shop]

Used reef crystals for years Red Sea but been on modern reef for last few years

 

[Gman83]

AF

 

[slingfox]

Nyos Pure. Best bang for your buck amongst the German salts which mix fast and clean.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

I use I.O reef crystals , mix's up with 490 calcium and 10.0 dKH, also mix in a brute trash can, i clean it between mixes.

 

[Minifoot77]

Where is the nyos?

 

[DmitryB]

Where is the nyos?

I never even heard of Nyos salt until right now! And I think it's too late to edit.

 

[Fish Fan]

I never even heard of Nyos salt until right now! And I think it's too late to edit.

@Crabs McJones @AlyciaMarie @Gumbies R Us @revhtree

Could you please edit this member's poll to include Nyos as an option? And maybe EVS too for @rtparty

Thanks guys!

 

[DmitryB]

And please add whatever other salts I'm missing because

 

[slingfox]

And please add whatever other salts I'm missing because

Nyos = The new hype kid on the block It also happens to be cheaper than Tropic Marine, Red Sea, ESV, and Aquaforest—at least for now.

 

[JumboShrimp]

FOWLR guy here. My fish are looking forward to receiving an on-$ale 200-gallon box for $49, delivered to my door for free from Chewy. Just sayin'.

 

[RabidDragon]

Missing option:

Its already at the alk I want it at, no need to adjust when adding fresh mix to the tank. Mixes clean and leaves nearly no residue behind.