i just use IO. its incredibly cheap on amazon at times. $35 for 200 gallon box, i buy like 6 at a time when its on sale like that.
I no longer why its out of stock all the time on amazon
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i just use IO. its incredibly cheap on amazon at times. $35 for 200 gallon box, i buy like 6 at a time when its on sale like that.
Agreed, its goos salt, I just noticed it would take more salt to get the same salinity .Only problem with that video, the prices are based on buying from BRS. They list the 160G bucket for $54.99(interestingly enough, they also have the 200G box for the same exact price?), but I buy the 200G for around $34 on amazon all day long.
Drops my price per gallon down to $0.15/G. Tropic Marin is $0.55 a gallon. Pretty big difference there now isn't it?
Do you really think that a company that is in business to sell you stuff will suggest the cheapest option, or make it out to be the same exact salt(not price obviously) as the most expensive brand? Ever wonder why tropic marin is at the top of their list? Just look at the price, pretty sure there is a very large profit margin in that one for them.
I'm certainly not saying any other salt is bad, but the stigma that IO is bad, or inferior to more expensive salts because it's cheap is pure hogwash.
I no longer why its out of stock all the time on amazon
I use instant Ocean and happy with it.I don't mean to offend, but I'm curious as to why anyone would use salt other than Instant Ocean. I don't know if this is only my experience, but every single other brand I've used (including reef crystals) has left my mixing station full of a brown film. I've tried many different salts and I don't see any difference in tank health when compared to IO. They all seem to perform the same, but IO is soooo cheap and mixes clear (very important to me). I get that some salts come with this additive or that additive, but does that have any impact on tank health? I've never noticed a difference in results. Sure you can find a salt that matches your tank parameters, but consistent dosing or a CaRx will get you right back to where you want to be. I just feel like there are so many other things to worry about that salt mix is pretty much a non-issue. Cheap and clear is my only requirement and IO fits the bill.
I use IO salt was using IO reef crystals just recently switched to their plain Instant Ocean salt as got tired of buying Nutriseawater at $21.99 a jug but holy smokes 48 hours in a 5 gal pail heater and two powerheads and the salt still not fully dissolved at least sure doesn't look it to me. Not sure did I get a bad batch maybe the salt was very hard bottom half anyway of box. SAw a video that not great to switch salt mixes IDK so many opinions online it's overwhelming.I don't mean to offend, but I'm curious as to why anyone would use salt other than Instant Ocean. I don't know if this is only my experience, but every single other brand I've used (including reef crystals) has left my mixing station full of a brown film. I've tried many different salts and I don't see any difference in tank health when compared to IO. They all seem to perform the same, but IO is soooo cheap and mixes clear (very important to me). I get that some salts come with this additive or that additive, but does that have any impact on tank health? I've never noticed a difference in results. Sure you can find a salt that matches your tank parameters, but consistent dosing or a CaRx will get you right back to where you want to be. I just feel like there are so many other things to worry about that salt mix is pretty much a non-issue. Cheap and clear is my only requirement and IO fits the bill.
Question, do you use acid to lower your all or just use it as is? I'm considering regular IO for my tankI use I/O in all of my systems. It seems to be working fairly well
I use it as is, and it jumps my alk up a bit, but I only;y change out 40 gallons at a time on a 250 gallon system.Question, do you use acid to lower your all or just use it as is? I'm considering regular IO for my tank
awesome! Mind me asking what your parameters are? Your corals look beautifulI use it as is, and it jumps my alk up a bit, but I only;y change out 40 gallons at a time on a 250 gallon system.
I do the same thing but with Seachem Acid Buffer instead of the muriatic acid. I was worried the stuff they sell at Lowe’s might have had other impurities in it.
I don't use IO because reef crystals is always cheaper lol and as you've noted IF there was a difference in reef health I wouldn't mind paying more for other brands. I realize other brands may use purer grade ingredients, mix faster, have more precise...Technically "better" BUT anecdotally been keeping saltwater fish since 1995, reefs since 2006 and IO/Reef Crystals has NEVER given me a reason to spend double for a bucket of salt. RC bucket is $36 shipped on Amazon and IO is $41 bucket locally. Does it mix fast: I don't care, I mix days to weeks before use. Does it leave residue on my bin: RC does and I don't care doesn't show in my display. Are the parameters the same as my reef: pretty much mixed at 1.026, 10dKH and 450ca but at the percentage rate of water changes and tank uptake virtually irrelevant.
It varies. I have seen it both ways. On sale, RC can be a little cheaper than IO. Right now, Chewy.com has RC cheaper for the 160 gallon buckets but more expensive for the 200 gallon boxes. I often see this.I have never seen RC less expensive the IO. Why would it when RC has elevated parameter which means it costs more to produce?
I buy 200G box of IO for about 35$ a box(you can often find it on sale twice a year and I buy a couple boxes at that price).
Right now on amazon a 200G box of RC is $67.60(lowest price with free shipping, not counting prime here as not everyone has prime), and a 200G box of regular purple box IO is $64.30(again free shipping and no prime). So it's $3.30 more a box.
Not trying to be argumentative, just have never seen RC cheaper then IO.
I did the same thing. What you are paying for with Tropic Marin is the shipping from Germany. After trying different salts, went back to instant ocean. Under lockdown conditions in the future, it will still be readily available.Switched to io from tropic Marin pro reef. Didn’t make sense to pay 3x when it’s not 3x better