Salt Mixes

hawkfish21 · #1 09/16/2007, 04:56 PM

I would like to know if anyone here uses Reef Crystals? If so, what are your likes & dislikes? I will be switching salt brands from Red Sea Pro Coral soon. I really liked Tropic Marin, but I'm cheap and would like to find something less expensive. Thanks.

tazdvl100 · #2 09/16/2007, 06:12 PM

personally I like the oceanic salt. It seems to dissolve alot faster than most the other salts I have used

takayan · #3 09/16/2007, 07:27 PM

Could you tell me why you wanted to change from RedSea Pro to another? Im using RedSea Pro, so I want to know the reason.
From my experience, RedSea Pro is hard to dissolve to compare with Instant Ocean I used to use.

918ReefCpl · #4 09/16/2007, 07:35 PM

We're finding that I/O or RC is a bit low on Calcium. What we've been doing in mixing 1/2cup IO/RC & 1/2cup Oceanic (higher Ca/Mag) as a blend = 1cup salt per gal as a starting point and then adjusting the salinity from there by adding equal amount of both salt brands. Its a bit more work, but once your dialed in, it's simple...Mix up a batch of IO, RC and Oceanic using RO/Di water and test to see what chemistry you come up with...

hawkfish21 · #5 09/16/2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by takayan
Could you tell me why you wanted to change from RedSea Pro to another? Im using RedSea Pro, so I want to know the reason.
From my experience, RedSea Pro is hard to dissolve to compare with Instant Ocean I used to use.

My corals look faded, especially my monti's.

mdrumm · #6 09/16/2007, 07:47 PM

hawkfish,

someone may have hacked your account and put a jayhawk in your avatar. You better fix it!

GO TIGERS!!!!!

bigsittingrock · #7 09/16/2007, 10:23 PM

What do you all think of Kent? I just started making my own water and its the first bucket I bought. I seen Premier had all their salt $20 less then where I got mine for the 200 gallon buckets.

hawkfish21 · #8 09/16/2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdrumm
hawkfish,

someone may have hacked your account and put a jayhawk in your avatar. You better fix it!

GO TIGERS!!!!!

What? I thought you were a Longhorn Fan. Basketball season is just around the corner.

mdrumm · #9 09/17/2007, 10:11 AM

Undergrad was Mizzou, law school Texas.

bmb527 · #10 09/17/2007, 10:21 AM

Entered in error!

bmb527 · #11 09/17/2007, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdrumm
hawkfish,

someone may have hacked your account and put a jayhawk in your avatar. You better fix it!

GO TIGERS!!!!!

I use Oceanic salt... just to keep it on topic.
If you are referring to the LSU Tigers, I was lucky enough to go to most of the home games last year. One word to describe it-AWESOME!!!

hawkfish21 · #12 09/17/2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mdrumm
Undergrad was Mizzou, law school Texas.

I'm Sorry.

porthios · #13 09/17/2007, 09:47 PM

oceanic for me atm. cheapest i've found is todd's for $60. anyone seen cheaper?

mbunakeith · #14 09/17/2007, 10:07 PM

when i had my reef setup last year, i used IO and swithed to reef crystals and really liked it. RC was a bit harder to find, but could usually find it cheap. after mixing up a batch of sw with RC, my calcium was around 380,with IO it was usually down around 350. i didnt notice any fading or color shifts with either. i had excellent color, but i blame that on my light bulbs.
is there any truth to the myth that MOST salt companies buy in bulk from one company and pretty much redistibute the same salt?
you also have to take into account that not all salt is mixed up evenly. every batch will be slightly different from the next. i have heard gnarly stories about mixing up new salt and next thing you know, everything is dead. i have always let my salt mix/cure for at least 24 hours before putting it in my tank.
when i get my 180 going, i will be using RC again.

darkangler · #15 09/20/2007, 11:05 AM

I've been using Red Sea Coral Pro for about a year on my tank and all of my clients and have seen amazing growth, insane coraline algae, and great color. Love the calcium levels!

hawkfish21 · #16 09/20/2007, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by darkangler
I've been using Red Sea Coral Pro for about a year on my tank and all of my clients and have seen amazing growth, insane coraline algae, and great color. Love the calcium levels!

I Love the calcium levels too, but the tank doesn't look as good with this stuff.

aquaman2000 · #17 09/20/2007, 12:34 PM

Has anyone ever done a gallon to gallon comparison on salt prices?

I did with prices from Exotic Tropicals in the springs.

Instant ocean 160 gallon bucket $40.00: so 40 divided by 160 = 0.25 cents per gallon
Instant ocean reef crystals 160 gallon bucket $65.00: so 65 divided by 160 = 0.40625 cents per gallon
Seachem reef 160 gallon bucket $ 50.00: so 52 divided by 160 = 0.3125 cent per gallon
Tropic Marin (200) gallon bucket $65.00: so 65 divided by 200 = 0.325 cents per gallon
Tropic Marin (300) gallon bag $90.00: so 90 divided by 300 = 0.30 cents per gallon
Tropic Marin pro (200) gallon bucket $70.00: so 70 divided by 200 = .035 cent per gallon

Now I have no idea what the salt prices are where you shop but as you can plainly see, Tropic Marin (the best salt out there) is in fact cheaper or similar in price per gallon to all the other brands for a better salt.

bmb527 · #18 09/20/2007, 01:25 PM

It is not that Tropic Marin is "the best salt out there". That particular salt does the best job for you in your system. I tried T.M. salt and didn't like it. I have better results in my system with Oceanic.
There has been a debate on salt mixes going on as long as there has been salt mixe choices, hell, there has even been studies done to determine which is best, ( the famous s-15 study). We even asked Anthony Calfo when he spoke at Kip Tani's house a few years ago, he said if you dose additives and have reactors and such, just use a decent, inexpensive brand like Instant Ocean. It really comes down to use what ever works best in your system. When I lived in Louisiana, I was able to use natural sea water and alot of folks down there swore by that. Some didn't like it because of the possibility of pollution in the water killing off their tank. It is a question that will never be answered as everyone has their own opinion, studies are usually funded by a company that has something to do with a salt mix in some way. If you can, do a search on RC about "salt mixes" and you will not have enough time to read all the debate on the topic.
Bill

Zooid · #19 09/20/2007, 02:36 PM

I agree.....some people don't like Instant Ocean because the calcium is lower than other brands. I contend that it shouldn't matter, because if you check your calcium and alkalinity on a consistent basis, you can just add more of one or the other.

There is a post over on MOFIB that has a recipe for homemade salt mix which is supposed to be extremely cheap and the levels of calcium, magnesium, etc. are similar to NSW. Haven't tried it myself yet but it sure would be nice.

osprey77 · #20 09/20/2007, 05:29 PM

i just got a bucket of seachem reef salt, and it disolves faster than any salt i have seen yet. So far i am really impressed.

fishfanatic06 · #21 09/20/2007, 08:59 PM

I use HW marine mix, best salt by far that I have ever used.

DrBegalke · #22 09/27/2007, 09:39 PM

Anyone interested it doing a lab-grade analysis of different salt mixes?

Here is the thread for proposed lab analysis of salt mixes

hawkfish21 · #23 09/27/2007, 09:44 PM

I decided to try Seachem Reef Salt. Hopefully, I'll like it.

DayFive · #24 09/28/2007, 07:49 AM

I have been using Kent reef salt and my tank is happy. It dissolves fast too.

Josh

JVHam · #25 09/28/2007, 09:40 AM

I used reef crystals for years then in Febuary I switched to Reefer's Best 2 part. I have noticed some better color and the numbers are better. Now they have a one part. I change 5 gal every other week so it is best used in really established systems. Its 90.00 for a 160gal bucket but this bucket is probably going to last me a year. I also keep Reef Crystals on hand for large water changes.