What salt do you use and why?

[rockdiver]

I use IO and never had any issues i found out about a year ago that after I buy it I roll the bucket all around on its side for like 10 minutes mixing it around in the bucket and before each use i do this. It might just be me but it does mix/dissolve better and the Alk did measure slightly higher if i remember right. Had 1 guy at petco that was good and he told me this, since who knows how long it has been sitting. Wish he still worked there tanks there looked great now not so good lol. Really matters who you hire !
Plus price and availability i can get it for 60.00 or less this time of year with my membership

 

[jackson6745]

Aquaforest Sea Salt is a good mix of quality and value. It’s low in flouride and a few minor trace, but mixes clean and consistent. If cost was not a factor, NYOS is the best salt that I’ve used. Great element concentrations and mixes clear in minutes.

 

[Reef Jedi]

IO does this in just a bit over 24 if even that. 0 tds water from the rodi container. And sucks because it gets like this on all my water mixing equip. TM Pro nothing but clean water. Also mixes within 30-1 hour into clear SW.

I think this is due to the clay/caking agent used in the salt. I’ve also seen this covering literally everything in the mixing bin. It’s very annoying.

 

[nickng]

Another thing to consider is that based on the investigation made a while back.
A $60 bucket of IO crystals make 120ish gallons of 35pt saltwater
While a $100 bucket of TM pro makes 180ish gallons of 35 pt saltwater.

In the end it’s only marginally more expensive with the TM pro

 

[winxp_man]

I think this is due to the clay/caking agent used in the salt. I’ve also seen this covering literally everything in the mixing bin. It’s very annoying.

I can see that being the issue. And whatever else it can be who knows, but fact still remains the bins I store the water in the mixing bin all get this at the bottom. Might end up using TM classic for my QT being as stated above when you consider what it takes to make a certain SG or PT you end up right there. So why even deal with it. I only use max of 1.024 for QT. Mostly in at 1.022-23. Then as QT ends its final days up the dose so I can just dump the fish into the DT without the acclimation headaches.

 

[winxp_man]

Another thing to consider is that based on the investigation made a while back.
A $60 bucket of IO crystals make 120ish gallons of 35pt saltwater
While a $100 bucket of TM pro makes 180ish gallons of 35 pt saltwater.

In the end it’s only marginally more expensive with the TM pro

After reading your post in prior pages, I about to switch to TM classic for QT! Hahaha! I never thought to check this fact with IO vs TM. I was wondering why I would go through a box of IO in two weeks with WC every two days. And keeping SG at 1.024-25 during the last week of QT.

Thank you for your input!

 

[Reef Jedi]

After reading your post in prior pages, I about to switch to TM classic for QT! Hahaha! I never thought to check this fact with IO vs TM. I was wondering why I would go through a box of IO in two weeks with WC every two days. And keeping SG at 1.024-25 during the last week of QT.

Thank you for your input!

This also has me thinking cost per dollar may be more worth it and also keeping the mixing bin clean has a lot of merit behind it!

 

[skey44]

I’ve pretty much settled on trying NYOS next bucket. From a loyal TMPR user. I like that they have an analysis on each bucket!

 

[TheNative192]

Got a great deal on Aquaforest Reef Salt. I think it was even less than IO salt. $0.36 per gallon.

 

[marcsupial]

Got a great deal on Aquaforest Reef Salt. I think it was even less than IO salt. $0.36 per gallon.

Local or online?

 

[Jasonak]

Normally Red sea pro, but they were out so Im using Instant ocean purple. I used to use the IO reef crystals but they raised my lithium. Ive also used tropic marin pro which was good but pricey.

 

[TheNative192]

Local or online?

Online they have one left on deal with BRS. 160 gallons for like $55 dollars including free shipping.

 

[Wu Wei Reefing]

The best salt is the one you’re already using. I find that people think of they switch salt they will have a magic potion. in reality switching salts just forces instability, albeit temporary.

 

[TheNative192]

The best salt is the one you’re already using. I find that people think of they switch salt they will have a magic potion. in reality switching salts just forces instability, albeit temporary.

While I do agree with this to some extent. Every time I mixed Instant ocean my parameters would be widely different from one mix to the next. I felt like my Alk would be 11 one time and then 8 another time even with the same salinity readings & using multiple different test kits as well. I am not sure if others have experienced this as well but sometimes if I need to do an emergency large water change that would frighten me if the parameters were that off.

 

[marcsupial]

Online they have one left on deal with BRS. 160 gallons for like $55 dollars including free shipping.

Good deal. That's about what I get IO at from Chewy. The brown residue in my mixing bucket makes me look at switching. I drop a BRS reactor with a 5-micron sediment filter in the bucket after its mixed overnight and I see the sediment filter collecting some, but I guess it doesn't get everything. Going to switch to carbon on my next batch after reading this thread

 

[TheNative192]

Good deal. That's about what I get IO at from Chewy. The brown residue in my mixing bucket makes me look at switching. I drop a BRS reactor with a 5-micron sediment filter in the bucket after its mixed overnight and I see the sediment filter collecting some, but I guess it doesn't get everything. Going to switch to carbon on my next batch after reading this thread

Aqua forest mixes quickly although it does have a lower starting alk of around 8 at 35ppt. That being said, every time I have tested it after mixing it is identical which is what I could never get with IO and made me switch. I was going to go to TM Pro but the price difference made me go with Aqua Forest

 

[marcsupial]

Looks like they have the 200 gallon box for $60 for even a bit more savings.

 

[rtparty]

Normally Red sea pro, but they were out so Im using Instant ocean purple. I used to use the IO reef crystals but they raised my lithium. Ive also used tropic marin pro which was good but pricey.

Both IO salts have high lithium as an FYI

I don’t think it’s an issue though

 

[rtparty]

I’m currently using up my boxes of Aqua Forest salt but not sure I’ll open the last box. Might sell it locally for cheap. I am starting to believe it’s most of the issue with my cyano problems. I saw this same issues years ago with Reef Crystals and have never touched it since.

I have a brand new box of ESV salt I am going to crack open and see if I notice anything after a few water changes

 

[Uncle99]

I buy Red Sea becuase in my area, it’s always easily available.

I never found any benefit in changing salt once locked in and change I like to stay away from.

Had Tropic Marin but got really hard to find, and rose 65% in price.