The Ultimate Salt Test

[rtparty]

Resurrecting this thread, I really appreciate the work. Based on the few that made the cut, in my opinion, I've started testing some of these and a couple others using ICP-MS from Oceamo to get a more accurate measure of some of the minute trace elements that won't show up on ICP-OES testing. I'm also incorporating test results from others that have sent samples in to Oceamo, as well. So far, I have two tests for Tropic Marin Pro Reef, one for Nyos, and one for Red Sea Blue Bucket. On the wish list are Aqua Forest Hybrid Pro and Fauna Marin but any are welcome.

I would have liked to run ICP-MS but it was far less popular and MUCH more expenisve. On the super low end levels, I highly doubt any company is "controlling" them in any manner. The majority are coming in as "impurities" with other source materials.

 

[Grumpyfish75]

I would have liked to run ICP-MS but it was far less popular and MUCH more expenisve. On the super low end levels, I highly doubt any company is "controlling" them in any manner. The majority are coming in as "impurities" with other source materials.

Totally get that. I omitted quite a few from further examination based on some undesirable results in your test, so that's cut down the expense to just a handful, so I don't think this ICP-MS test would be feasible without your data set. I've asked others to chip in their results to spread the cost or get more samples of the same salts and different batches but have had lackluster responses to date. I'm pushing forward in my favorite candidates, though. Some manufacturers have a fairly wide target range in their specs for some elements, so I wanted to confirm what they were actually generating and, if possible with more samples, see how consistent that is.

 

[rtparty]

Totally get that. I omitted quite a few from further examination based on some undesirable results in your test, so that's cut down the expense to just a handful, so I don't think this ICP-MS test would be feasible without your data set. I've asked others to chip in their results to spread the cost or get more samples of the same salts and different batches but have had lackluster responses to date. I'm pushing forward in my favorite candidates, though. Some manufacturers have a fairly wide target range in their specs for some elements, so I wanted to confirm what they were actually generating and, if possible with more samples, see how consistent that is.

I had multiple people/companies commit to sending me salts and/or ICP tests that never came through.

It was a fun test and I defintely narrowed down my own salt choice. Since then I have talked to a handful of "insiders" and confirmed my choices when it comes to salt I use.

I don't think any of them make a bad salt and all work just fine. I just prefer quality, cleanliness, and consistency when I go with a salt. I found 4 or 5 hit that and buy them when they go on sale if I need more salt. I think the next 2 boxes of salt for me are Aquaforest Reef Salt. I still have quite a bit of NYOS salt in my current bucket to get through

 

[MnFish1]

yes - it was a fun test - however, as fun as it was - it doesn't really suggest one salt is better or worse from another.

 

[Grumpyfish75]

I had multiple people/companies commit to sending me salts and/or ICP tests that never came through.

It was a fun test and I defintely narrowed down my own salt choice. Since then I have talked to a handful of "insiders" and confirmed my choices when it comes to salt I use.

I don't think any of them make a bad salt and all work just fine. I just prefer quality, cleanliness, and consistency when I go with a salt. I found 4 or 5 hit that and buy them when they go on sale if I need more salt. I think the next 2 boxes of salt for me are Aquaforest Reef Salt. I still have quite a bit of NYOS salt in my current bucket to get through

I've been on Nyos, as well, but had brief run with TMPR when Nyos had a backorder. Curious why the switch to AquaForest Reef? Also, why their Reef vs the Hybrid Pro?

 

[rtparty]

I've been on Nyos, as well, but had brief run with TMPR when Nyos had a backorder. Curious why the switch to AquaForest Reef? Also, why their Reef vs the Hybrid Pro?

The AF Reef was on sale for like $29 for the 150g box or whatever it is :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

The hybrid has probiotics in it and I don’t need that. And it wasn’t on sale like the Reef

 

[Grumpyfish75]

The AF Reef was on sale for like $29 for the 150g box or whatever it is :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

The hybrid has probiotics in it and I don’t need that. And it wasn’t on sale like the Reef

Cool. Where at?

 

[rtparty]

Cool. Where at?

BRS. It was a while ago they had the crazy sale and I picked it up

 

[ryshark]

Resurrecting this thread, I really appreciate the work. Based on the few that made the cut, in my opinion, I've started testing some of these and a couple others using ICP-MS from Oceamo to get a more accurate measure of some of the minute trace elements that won't show up on ICP-OES testing. I'm also incorporating test results from others that have sent samples in to Oceamo, as well. So far, I have two tests for Tropic Marin Pro Reef, one for Nyos, and one for Red Sea Blue Bucket. On the wish list are Aqua Forest Hybrid Pro and Fauna Marin but any are welcome.

Did you post the Nyos results somewhere? I’m interested to see their ICP-MS. Thanks.

 

[Grumpyfish75]

Did you post the Nyos results somewhere? I’m interested to see their ICP-MS. Thanks.

It's still a work in progress. Also, I don't believe the iodine data. On both the Nyos and Tropic Marin samples I sent in, my iodine was way below published but I simply entered it as the test showed. Addition samples would be helpful to discount outliers.

 

[Anxur]

There is somebody with the ICP test on the Korallen-Zucht Salt?

 

[Anxur]

I had multiple people/companies commit to sending me salts and/or ICP tests that never came through.

It was a fun test and I defintely narrowed down my own salt choice. Since then I have talked to a handful of "insiders" and confirmed my choices when it comes to salt I use.

I don't think any of them make a bad salt and all work just fine. I just prefer quality, cleanliness, and consistency when I go with a salt. I found 4 or 5 hit that and buy them when they go on sale if I need more salt. I think the next 2 boxes of salt for me are Aquaforest Reef Salt. I still have quite a bit of NYOS salt in my current bucket to get through

Aquaforest doesn't seem to be the best from your tests though...

 

[rtparty]

Aquaforest doesn't seem to be the best from your tests though...

What parameter sticks out as “not the best?”

I looked at my notes for the 2 AF salts I tested and they both said clean, quick mixing….numbers seem to have come back right in line with what they advertise.

There is no best salt. It simply doesn’t exist. There is just what’s best for you as we all have different criteria.

My criteria is clean, consistent, reliable, high quality. There are multiple salts that fit that and I’ll gladly use any of them when I can get them on sale. AF salts can be found for like $35-40 with the good sales. I will choose that every time instead of using Instant Ocean

 

[Anxur]

Quale parametro risulta "non il migliore"?

Ho esaminato i miei appunti per i 2 sali AF che ho testato ed entrambi dicevano pulito, miscelazione rapida... i numeri sembrano essere tornati esattamente in linea con quanto pubblicizzato.

Non esiste un sale migliore. Semplicemente non esiste. Esiste solo ciò che è meglio per te, perché abbiamo tutti criteri diversi.

I miei criteri sono pulito, coerente, affidabile, di alta qualità. Ci sono diversi sali che si adattano a questo e ne userò volentieri uno qualsiasi quando potrò trovarli in saldo. I sali AF si possono trovare a circa $ 35-40 con le buone vendite. Sceglierò sempre quello invece di usare Instant Ocean

Per una vasca di alta qualità, con molti coralli colorati, servono tutti gli elementi. Serve un sale che aggiunge quegli elementi durante il cambio dell'acqua, tutto... Per ripristinare, oltre al Balling o al reattore di calcio, serve cambi d'acqua con un sale carico... Altrimenti si rischia solo di peggiorare.. .

Build Thread - An Italian reef..

Buongiorno a tutti.. Vi presento il mio Reef https://www.instagram.com/frank88_reef/profilecard/?igsh=NDh0cmRpcTdkbWNy Here my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XjpbY7Hm3/ - 60x20x20 - Skimmer Redsea 600 sk - Pompa Jebao 9000 l/h - 2 x Jebao Gyre 150 - Filtro biologico con...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[rtparty]

Per una vasca di alta qualità, con molti coralli colorati, servono tutti gli elementi. Serve un sale che aggiunge quegli elementi durante il cambio dell'acqua, tutto... Per ripristinare, oltre al Balling o al reattore di calcio, serve cambi d'acqua con un sale carico... Altrimenti si rischia solo di peggiorare.. .

Build Thread - An Italian reef..

Buongiorno a tutti.. Vi presento il mio Reef https://www.instagram.com/frank88_reef/profilecard/?igsh=NDh0cmRpcTdkbWNy Here my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XjpbY7Hm3/ - 60x20x20 - Skimmer Redsea 600 sk - Pompa Jebao 9000 l/h - 2 x Jebao Gyre 150 - Filtro biologico con...

www.reef2reef.com

Ok?

What’s missing from AF salt that’s so important? Don’t forget, my testing was all ICP OES and super low levels of a lot of trace elements aren’t detectable with OES. You need MS for that.

Then you have to figure out which trace actually does what and good luck there. There is zero evidence that most of the trace elements do anything.

Water changes aren’t that great at replenishing elements unless you do very large amounts. Foods and dosing bring in trace elements much better than water changes.

 

[Anxur]

Ok?

What’s missing from AF salt that’s so important? Don’t forget, my testing was all ICP OES and super low levels of a lot of trace elements aren’t detectable with OES. You need MS for that.

Then you have to figure out which trace actually does what and good luck there. There is zero evidence that most of the trace elements do anything.

Water changes aren’t that great at replenishing elements unless you do very large amounts. Foods and dosing bring in trace elements much better than water changes.

Water changes carried out with a loaded salt, from a company that increases the levels of each element certainly bring something.. They represent a +.... Discharged salts certainly represent a minus... Having said that.. Trace elements are needed at the desired levels.. Try keeping the Potassium at 370 and then bring it to 400... Try keeping fluoride at 0.8 and then bring it to 1.2... Try to keep Boro at 3 and then take it to 5-6... Etc etc etc Then you tell me...

 

[rtparty]

Water changes carried out with a loaded salt, from a company that increases the levels of each element certainly bring something.. They represent a +.... Discharged salts certainly represent a minus... Having said that.. Trace elements are needed at the desired levels.. Try keeping the Potassium at 370 and then bring it to 400... Try keeping fluoride at 0.8 and then bring it to 1.2... Try to keep Boro at 3 and then take it to 5-6... Etc etc etc Then you tell me...

Ran Reef Moonshiners for close to like 3 years, maybe 30 months or so in total on 2 different systems. Then stopped and went BRS balling hybrid, kalkwasser, and weekly or sometimes every other week water changes.

Nothing changed that I could pinpoint. The tank actually took off after I ditched RM and went back to the basics. My theory is it was likely just maturation why the tank took off so well but no proof either way.

Which salt manufacturer is boosting all trace elements and to what levels?

 

[Anxur]

Ran Reef Moonshiners for close to like 3 years, maybe 30 months or so in total on 2 different systems. Then stopped and went BRS balling hybrid, kalkwasser, and weekly or sometimes every other week water changes.

Nothing changed that I could pinpoint. The tank actually took off after I ditched RM and went back to the basics. My theory is it was likely just maturation why the tank took off so well but no proof either way.

Which salt manufacturer is boosting all trace elements and to what levels?

Without doubt the best are:

Tropic Marin Pro Reef
De Jong
Korallen-Zucht
Nyos
Red Sea

IIMHO

 

[ryshark]

Without doubt the best are:

Tropic Marin Pro Reef
De Jong
Korallen-Zucht
Nyos
Red Sea

IIMHO

ESV is really good

 

[rtparty]

Without doubt the best are:

Tropic Marin Pro Reef
De Jong
Korallen-Zucht
Nyos
Red Sea

IIMHO

Which of those are adding extra traces on purpose?

I like most of those. Red Sea is pure garbage