What salt is everyone using?

[MC Blowfish]

I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. All of my corals look great. I have a torch, hammers, mushrooms, xenia, and zoas. Everything right now is popping.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

Well I guess I'm good then Ill keep heating and mixing

I will say if you use RedSea Coral pro, you need to heat and stir it constantly after mixing until added to your tank

 

[56longroof]

Reef Chrystals. Never any issues and Im getting great growth.

 

[slingfox]

I am pretty sure almost any major salt mix works but if you want quicker and/or cleaner mixing then you need to pay a little more for a salt like Tropic Marin, Nyos or ESV. I use Nyos Pure—I usually watch out for sales then stock up.

 

[Jasonak]

Reef Chrystals. Never any issues and Im getting great growth.

Have you ever done a ICP ? I cant say for sure but my lithium was always high when using reef crystals. So I switched and last ICP I did it had come down but I have not done a ICP in awhile. But it was the only thing I could come up with that might be raising it.

 

[winxp_man]

Some interesting findings for me between the salts. I even use TM for QT now because it mixes clean and all my mixing equipment stays clean. No thanks to the dirty IO. And with RS salt you have to have a certain temp to mix correctly (68-69* from my experience). And while not at dirty as IO it’s still a salt that causes accumulation of sorts on the equipment.


RS Pro Black Bucket .331 lbs per 1/2 cup. Box 48.5/.331 = 146.53 gallons at 1.0269 SG



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

 

[winxp_man]

I am pretty sure almost any major salt mix works but if you want quicker and/or cleaner mixing then you need to pay a little more for a salt like Tropic Marin, Nyos or ESV. I use Nyos Pure—I usually watch out for sales then stock up.

Agreed. But many chase cost, which makes no sense for me once you look at what you get out of all salts. Check out my numbers when it comes to the differences.

 

[Largeangels]

I always have a mixed 55 gallon of saltwater ready to go, with pump and heater. As soon as it’s used up I make another one. Never had an issue with any buildup.

 

[winxp_man]

I always have a mixed 55 gallon of saltwater ready to go, with pump and heater. As soon as it’s used up I make another one. Never had an issue with any buildup.

IO salt? Give the barrel and whip down with a clean rag and see what comes off of a barrel if it’s IO you’re using. I would store it and the bottom of the barrels would turn brown. Wish I took pics when used to use it. Again IO that is. And I want to know why many still use it? Cost?

Cost almost makes no diff if you ask me. Because others the mix cleaner also mix higher SG per scoop vs IO. So cost is almost not even a thing at this point.

 

[IceNein]

And I want to know why many still use it? Cost?

Cost and the convenience of never having to order it online. Just go to the store and get it when you need it. Thousands of people successfully use IO salts. If you feel that other salts suit your needs better, then great! Go use those salts. Seems almost insulting the way you're questioning other people's choices.

I'm not questioning why you're using whatever salt you're using.

 

[mcarroll]

The brown crud is NOT trace elements.

Hm.

CLAY
The brown (or black) "crud" is not "crud".

It is clay.

Over-mixing (and time) seems to churn out the clay particles.

Google why clay has trace elements. (It's an interesting topic!) Clay is basically used as a carrier. Saltwater apparently makes most trace elements dissociate from the clay – very convenient for us!

Tropic Marine yields black and IO/RC yield brown, BTW. (Not sure on other brands....these are what I'm familiar with over-mixing.)

I've never seen either a brown or back residue when saltwater is NOT over-mixed, for what it's worth. (I am also familiar with *not* over-mixing TM, IO and RC. )

CRUD
The crud people are talking about is (mostly) calcium carbonate precipitate. This is coincidental (and mostly unrelated) to the brown/black clay buildup some people see when over-mixing.

Instead, crud is related to the supersaturation of seawater and the limitations it has.

I think Randy's already linked his article on "what's that precipitate?" which, if memory serves, addresses this pretty well! :) But in summary (from memory), excess agitation and heating presses on the limits of a supersaturated solution like seawater.

 

[Skippy The Meh]

And each batch is ATI tested and posted on the lid.

Well that isn't confidence inspiring These are two ATI ICP result from RODI pulled from the same container at the same time but sent in separately with two display water samples.

What the heck thats crazy, ive been thinking of switching to the moonshiners tests anyway so maybe ill do one comparing the 2. I havnt ever had anything come out of my ATI tests that is outside of a range i would consider questioning test accuracy.

 

[exnisstech]

What the heck thats crazy, ive been thinking of switching to the moonshiners tests anyway so maybe ill do one comparing the 2. I havnt ever had anything come out of my ATI tests that is outside of a range i would consider questioning test accuracy.

Its my one and only ICP. Funny thing is if I had done a single test I wouldn't have given it second thought. Probably a one off thing I'm sure.

 

[gabesreef]

I target alk 8-9 dkH and calcium I don't actually target but mine always runs 425 - 450. I have no idea about mag because I've never tested it. I've run IO for 10 years and have never supplemented with anything but AFR, 2 part or kalk over the years. I store my mixed saltwater for a week at a time sometimes longer.

IO and kalk

IO and ESV 2 part

IO and AFR

I O does leave a brown residue that builds up over time but I mix in a brute in my basement so the residue doesn't bother me. I put the lid on the brute and walk up stairs and look at the tanks and those are what I use to make my decision not a dirty brute container. The fact it's affordable and readily available anywhere without having to order is a plus. I often leave a powerhead running non stop in the brute and have not had any issues.

dang those results are quite convincing. I’ve seen so many people have success with IO. Maybe I’ll just go that route

 

[PharmrJohn]

Fritz RPM is what I'll be using when I get going. I want higher levels of ALK, Ca and Mg in the mix.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I started my tank with Fritz because it came free from saltwateraquarium lol but then I had some left over Red Sea blue bucket so I’m trying to burn through that one. During this process I realized I really don’t like Red Sea it leaves behind a nasty brown film. Sooo I’m tempted to just go back to Fritz but I’ve heard some not so great things about them and that they are inconsistent.

I also store my salt in a brute trash can in my garage in Florida. So temps can get a bit higher especially in the summer months. I like to just mix up the whole container which is enough for a month of water changes. Fritz wasn’t included on the BRS video so I don’t know how the levels hold up over time. If anyone has experience with this I would appreciate the input.

I like my levels like this:

9 DKH
450 calcium
1350-1400 magnesium

Tropic Marin Actif

 

[winxp_man]

Cost and the convenience of never having to order it online. Just go to the store and get it when you need it. Thousands of people successfully use IO salts. If you feel that other salts suit your needs better, then great! Go use those salts. Seems almost insulting the way you're questioning other people's choices.

I'm not questioning why you're using whatever salt you're using.

I get my TM pro from petco. Get points while at it. Most of the buckets come out to 119 out the door. And I get at least 200 gallons mixed at 1.025 sg. Get the issues of living in a rural area. But in the cities there are always options. I hate the clay build up and not worth my time and money when I can close to the same cost with TM pro. But to each their own.

 

[winxp_man]

Hm.

CLAY
The brown (or black) "crud" is not "crud".

It is clay.

Over-mixing (and time) seems to churn out the clay particles.

Google why clay has trace elements. (It's an interesting topic!) Clay is basically used as a carrier. Saltwater apparently makes most trace elements dissociate from the clay – very convenient for us!

Tropic Marine yields black and IO/RC yield brown, BTW. (Not sure on other brands....these are what I'm familiar with over-mixing.)

I've never seen either a brown or back residue when saltwater is NOT over-mixed, for what it's worth. (I am also familiar with *not* over-mixing TM, IO and RC. )

CRUD
The crud people are talking about is (mostly) calcium carbonate precipitate. This is coincidental (and mostly unrelated) to the brown/black clay buildup some people see when over-mixing.

Instead, crud is related to the supersaturation of seawater and the limitations it has.

I think Randy's already linked his article on "what's that precipitate?" which, if memory serves, addresses this pretty well! :) But in summary (from memory), excess agitation and heating presses on the limits of a supersaturated solution like seawater.

I mix for a total of a hour or two. The salt is never clear. If I mix longer “crud” build up shows up real fast. Might do a video when I’m not lazy one of these days haha. And the fact I get less SG per 1/2 cup vs RS, TM or other high end salts gives me the reason to keep TM Pro with my tank.

 

[mcarroll]

I mix for a total of a hour or two. The salt is never clear. If I mix longer “crud” build up shows up real fast. Might do a video when I’m not lazy one of these days haha. And the fact I get less SG per 1/2 cup vs RS, TM or other high end salts gives me the reason to keep TM Pro with my tank.

I liked when my LFS sold premixed TM and IO. Makes everyone happy and grows excellent reefs across the board. Win:Win:Win

Mixing saltwater clear in 5 minutes is possible, but at least in my experience not the way most folks do it.

If you want to use a pump, it's not he best way, but after much experimentation this is the way that works works with a pump best:


Other pump placements (tested many) don't work much better than an airstone (also tested)....which is terrible.

Your hand or a mixing paddle will work *much* better than a pump, but with some obvious limitations:


I mix with a mixing paddle by preference, up to 150 gallons. (Takes more than 5 min for that volume, of course. Still works the best.)

 

[winxp_man]

I liked when my LFS sold premixed TM and IO. Makes everyone happy and grows excellent reefs across the board. Win:Win:Win

Mixing saltwater clear in 5 minutes is possible, but at least in my experience not the way most folks do it.

If you want to use a pump, it's not he best way, but after much experimentation this is the way that works works with a pump best:


Other pump placements (tested many) don't work much better than an airstone (also tested)....which is terrible.

Your hand or a mixing paddle will work *much* better than a pump, but with some obvious limitations:


I mix with a mixing paddle by preference, up to 150 gallons. (Takes more than 5 min for that volume, of course. Still works the best.)

I run a powder head system being a pump large enough to move enough water in a 55gal drum heats up the water like crazy if you’re not watching temps.

I timed my 55 drum at 78-79* mix TM Pro in 10 mintues salt dumped all at once. The PH I used is a a Hygger that moves 3900 gph. I couldn’t believe it. To get IO as clear as TM in 10 minutes, I let the 55g drum mix over night. Got it going at about 7pm, when I looked at it last it was at about 11-12 midnight, and still not cleared. Can’t say when it cleared. The next day I checked it at noon. And it was crystal clear. But the amount of whipping of brown turd I cleaned off the barrel was not even funny! Haha.

Thats when said no more for me. My 5g storing jugs even got brown all over the bottom. I had to clean 15 jugs with large grain Himalayan salt haha. Unit didn’t trick. Again didn’t think to document with video or pics at the time because I thought it was a one off thing. Nope just a common occurrence with IO. I thought the jug were growing algae at one point just from slight tank lights hitting them. Haha.

After these instances I then did the salt test to see how much I get at 1.025 in each salt. And that was to the point that it made no sense for me to use IO because you end up at almost the same cost. Yet another factor why I ended up going with TM pro. Love the salt period. To each their own. Yes in the end they all work!!!!!!! That is not my argument. It’s why deal with dirty equipment and get less technically? You likely use more IO to mix it at 1.025 vs TM Pro and RS Pro.