Switching salt brands

[Matt L]

Oh boy…

 

[Elira_6301]

Hello,

I have a question about changing my current salt brand to Aquaforest, for example. My LFS (Local Fish Store) is telling me that Tropic Marin salt is better than the Aquaforest one. I'm a bit stubborn and want to see for myself. What's the best way to handle this? Like doing small water changes every week with the new salt, or doing a 50% change all at once? I don't have any experience with this, so I'd like to hear the options. Also, what's your opinion on Aquaforest?

Kind Regards,

Mitch

Im still using Instant Ocean. Its by far my favorite. Tried expensive brands, didn't see any changes for the better.

 

[Justdrew]

BRS has run AF Reef Salt on sale the last 2 springs. I've been on that for over a year. I probably would buy something else if not on sale, but at the sale price it works out great. Mixes clean like TM, slightly higher dKh out of the box. Otherwise I saw no difference with TM.

 

[Jimbo]

Curious about the “Turkish blend” issue can you educate me lol

Yeah, let’s not rehash that

 

[X-37B]

I have used many. I currently use blue bucket.
Pic one close to your parameters as they all work.

 

[Featherweight]

I’ve switched salts a few times without any issue. I changed over quickly too. Unless there’s a huge Alkalinity difference between the old and new I’m not sure why people are suggesting this takes months to do??

This, it hardly matters. Maybe on a nano w 60 percent water changes, maybe. But for a normal functioning reef, should hardly notice it. The percentage difference is minimal. Every time you mix your salt it's a bit different from last time

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

Yeah, let’s not rehash that

I was able to do my own research I got it no worries

 

[SPS2020]

I was able to do my own research I got it no worries

A sigh of relief from other forum members who have been around for a while. LOL

 

[kfries]

I have been buying the Aqua Forest in the box when it goes on sale at the online shops. The only issue I have had with it is removing the bag from the box. I usually dump it into a sealed bucket so that I can keep it from getting all clumpy. The AF has one large bag in the box. I tried to pull it out, and it ripped a hole and spilled all over my floor. I have have used there bucket versions and the plastic is kind of crap as well and cracks easily.
I do have good luck with the salt mixing overall. I have been mixing it in the same mixing container for the last 5 months and only recently cleaned it out. There was hardly any leftover residue in the bin. I have probably run at least 250 gallons of salt mix through that thing. I have used the Waterbox salt before, and it mixed up very clean as well. I was told by my LFS that it was a rebranded Fritz Salt. I can't recall how the parameters worked out, as I was using it early on in my tank before I had much livestock and coral.

 

[Uncle99]

What claims do they make?

The same claims your LFS made to you in your first post.

The company itself makes a number of claims about their salt like “all natural “ and “pharmaceutical grade” as well as a number of others.

All marketing. Salt is salt. Mix contributions different, sure.

This is standard for every manufacturer.

I don’t buy into that thinking but if you feel it’s better, heh, by all means, they will be pleased you purchased their products.

Every time I up sell this salt, I feel bad but the owner feels great.

Kinda strange that not one of our 16 LFS stores uses TMP in their systems.

Only you can judge it’s performance.

 

[rtparty]

The same claims your LFS made to you in your first post.

The company itself makes a number of claims about their salt like “all natural “ and “pharmaceutical grade” as well as a number of others.

All marketing. Salt is salt. Mix contributions different, sure.

This is standard for every manufacturer.

I don’t buy into that thinking but if you feel it’s better, heh, by all means, they will be pleased you purchased their products.

Every time I up sell this salt, I feel bad but the owner feels great.

Kinda strange that not one of our 16 LFS stores uses TMP in their systems.

Only you can judge it’s performance.

I’m not the OP and thanks for the politician answer: lots of talking but no substance.

I just looked at TM salt and saw no claims of “all natural” maybe I missed it though. I only know a few salts that try to play the “natural” card and TM isn’t one. I can’t imagine Hans Werner would try to claim it as all natural. There are no natural salt mixes.

Whether pharma grade is real or not is irrelevant to me. I’ve seen the most respected chemists in the hobby use the term numerous times so it must hold merit. There is no doubt TM salt is a cleaner salt than other salts. The raw materials are clearly more pure and cleaner. That’s indisputable.

Whether it’s “better” is completely subjective and all personal preference.

What a LFS uses is irrelevant. In my area, there’s maybe one I would ever want to replicate. They are literally some of the worst people to follow for advice.

 

[Dom]

Hello,

I have a question about changing my current salt brand to Aquaforest, for example. My LFS (Local Fish Store) is telling me that Tropic Marin salt is better than the Aquaforest one. I'm a bit stubborn and want to see for myself. What's the best way to handle this? Like doing small water changes every week with the new salt, or doing a 50% change all at once? I don't have any experience with this, so I'd like to hear the options. Also, what's your opinion on Aquaforest?

Kind Regards,

Mitch

Unless you are unhappy with your current salt for legitimate reasons (think not mixing to the levels stated on the bucket), don't fix what isn't broken.

If you're happy, let it be.

That the LFS is steering you toward something else is likely due to a greater profit margin on the Aquaforest.

 

[Uncle99]

I’m not the OP and thanks for the politician answer: lots of talking but no substance.

I just looked at TM salt and saw no claims of “all natural” maybe I missed it though. I only know a few salts that try to play the “natural” card and TM isn’t one. I can’t imagine Hans Werner would try to claim it as all natural. There are no natural salt mixes.

Whether pharma grade is real or not is irrelevant to me. I’ve seen the most respected chemists in the hobby use the term numerous times so it must hold merit. There is no doubt TM salt is a cleaner salt than other salts. The raw materials are clearly more pure and cleaner. That’s indisputable.

Whether it’s “better” is completely subjective and all personal preference.

What a LFS uses is irrelevant. In my area, there’s maybe one I would ever want to replicate. They are literally some of the worst people to follow for advice.

“As pure as nature”
Right on their site, so they do play the natural card.

But your right, your not the OP.

 

[rtparty]

“As pure as nature”
Right on their site, so they do play the natural card.

But your right, your not the OP.

Yeah, that doesn’t state it’s an “all natural” or “naturally” derived salt

It literally states in the next line it’s pharmaceutically pure

Odd choice of words? Yes

 

[Uncle99]

Yeah, that doesn’t state it’s an “all natural” or “naturally” derived salt

It literally states in the next line it’s pharmaceutically pure

Odd choice of words? Yes

We just see things different ways.
And that’s OK.
It just salt.

 

[Ufuk's reef]

I have used both brands of salt at different times. Aquaforest Hybrid Pro is definitely better quality. The color and development of the corals are very good.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Tm is great clean salt when not from turkey I used it for years, but it was never readily available locally, at times low availability for the big bucket and sometimes I forget to reorder and the stack dwindles ….i switched to the cheapest instant ocean and see no difference than the parameters
Never going back now that I can stop literally anywheres and buy a box

 

[Ufuk's reef]

Tm is great clean salt when not from turkey I used it for years, but it was never readily available locally, at times low availability for the big bucket and sometimes I forget to reorder and the stack dwindles ….i switched to the cheapest instant ocean and see no difference than the parameters
Never going back now that I can stop literally anywheres and buy a box

I used German made Tropin Marin salt.:grinning-face-with-sweat: In my opinion, Aquaforest Hybrid Pro salt has better parameters and stability. Even the color of the corals and polyp expansions are better.

 

[BriDroid]

I switched from TM to Red Sea blue and back to TM. No issues at all. dKH is pretty close, and 10% water changes no one noticed.

 

[GrimReefer51]

"I'm not trying to solve something. I want to try something different, especially since someone told me it's not going to be better. It's good to hear you've tried both or are using both.

'I want to try something different' for no particular reason mentality does not do well in this hobby.