What salt do you use and why?

[X-37B]

Blue bucket for the last 2 years.
Local stores carry it and it mixes clean and close to my parameters.
I only do 5% a month WC so a bucket last awhile with around 350g's between systems.

 

[Nordy]

I have an awesome lfs, I try to support them in any way I can. They only carry Fritz RMS so I only buy it from them. I want them to make money and stick around.

I used Fritz’s when I started 10 years ago, and it was great! Maybe that’s why I did so well. Two small water changes weekly kept things going great. Haven’t since I moved to this house. Tried most, stuck with Brightwell for a long period. Not a fan of there’s. NYOS or AF, or Julian’s Accurasea. I like Seachem reef salt also. I change them up, doesn’t matter, make a batch of one of a brand, maybe a different one the next time to suit my water change habits. Brightwell had me all over the place, and I always needed to supplement Magnesium to get somewhere in the 1300’s.

 

[Nordy]

I like Red Sea everything, but neither of there salts.

 

[Baldyreef]

red sea blue bucket for me, my lfs only has it and the coral pro salt and I wanna help keep my lfs up their great guys and a small store and the salt works great for my reef

 

[UABsleeper]

I use Aquaforest reef salt! Clean consistent mixing and Most importantly IMO it consistently it matches my tank parameters dkh/ca/mg at 35ppt and is consistent from box to box in my experience and I like that they icp 3 times every 600kg batch they run and you can find the results! Plus my skimmer only goes crazy for a couple hrs after a water change!

 

[Morelia]

Using Accuasea - it mixes extremely clean, and is VERY consistent. Mixes a little lower on the ALK side (7.8 at 1.025), but again - it's all about consistency!

 

[BigKid4788]

Tropic Marin Pro- matches the alk I keep my tank at. Mixes clean. Used for 8 yrs now

 

[Nordy]

My Goni’s and Bernadopora’s love this!

 

[winxp_man]

TM Pro, I get it for $120 in the 200 bucket. And after some petco points get accumulated even cheaper.

It mixed clean! Just cleaned out my 55g mixing bin and Almost nothing on the rag. This is after mixing 20 mix sessions. Had it been IO I would have had to whip down everything and the rag would have been a super dark brown. The clay additive gets on everything.

Here are my findings between the two.

TM Pro .317 LBS per 1/2 cup. Box 55lbs/.317 = 173.50 gallons at 1.0269 SG

IO Reef .334 lbs per 1/2 cup. box 56lbs/.334 = 167.67 gallons at 1.0246 SG

Can these numbers change a bit batch to batch possibly. I will be doing another test soon.

And I had to mix IO for a solid 24 hours at least to get it to clear up real goood. TM I’m done mixing in 20 mintues in the new mixing station I built.

 

[Flame2hawk]

IO for my FOWLER’s. It’s readily available at a reasonable price from Petsmart with 20% off.

 

[Jimbo327]

TM Pro. Yes, it's expensive, especially when you have a big tank.

Stable, mixes fast and clean. Has the numbers that I like for the major elements. Not as worried to have a bad batch as others.

 

[fish_collector]

Instant Ocean, it's inexpensive and grows acropora just fine.

 

[NickInMiami]

Perfect Corals salt. Based out of Miami so its local, inexpensive and great.

 

[drdavethedude]

To all the peeps using Instant Ocean, dont you find the parameters are unpredictable between buckets? That was my experience when i tried it. I dont like have to play chemist and adjust levels in my mixing bin every time I do a water change. Using Fauna Marin last couple yrs. Seems pretty solid tho pricy…

 

[LeftyReefer]

Been using Fritz RPM for the last 6+ years. no issues.

 

[BeanAnimal]

+1 Instant ocean. It's always worked and the price is right. The only complaint I can think of is that if I don't rinse out my mixing reservoir out once in awhile, a brown buildup will eventually form. However this is a non issue and the only nit-picky thing I can come up with.

I have never had that issue, but other people like you do report it. See @Reefer Matt's photos... yuk.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

To all the peeps using Instant Ocean, dont you find the parameters are unpredictable between buckets? That was my experience when i tried it. I dont like have to play chemist and adjust levels in my mixing bin every time I do a water change. Using Fauna Marin last couple yrs. Seems pretty solid tho pricy…

I don’t find any variability, perhaps because I never, ever measure anything on new salt water except salinity.lol

Since I change 1% daily by AWC, and make up about 80 gallons at a time, any drift is very slow and when I have measured the tank by Oceamo ICP, all the major and minor ions were fine.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I don’t find any variability, perhaps because I never, ever measure anything on new salt water except salinity.lol

Same. In my entire reef historyI have never tested freshly mixed SW for anything but salinity. It never crossed my mind as a need, and maybe I have had my share of "bad" batches. I wouldn't know.

I will also add that I am always open to taking the rock hard box of salt that can't be sold, for a discount of course. So I assume that some ions have precipitated anyway. I also tend to be rather impatient and dump the entire required volume of salt in as the bin is mixing, causing even more precipitate. I have also never given that a second thought.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I use IO Reef Crystals. It has always worked just fine for me.

 

[13rodo]

IO purple has been rock solid for me. I do get the gunk build up in my mixing station (I read it’s an anti-clumping agent). But you just clean it and it’s fine.

I did get some discounted ESV B-Ionic (the 4 part mix) that I’ve been trying on a new tank. It’s ok, but not sure I’ve noticed anything that’ll make me switch permanently. Very consistent since every ingredient is individually weighed, but not convinced that justifies it.