Tropic Marine Overrated

[pbukow]

Is this brand of salt really worth the extra couple of bucks? Does anybody use it? Have you seen any difference/improvement in your livestock? And where do you buy it? Any place cheaper than another?

[sditch]

I switch to TM Pro-Reef and my take looks better then ever, of course this could be do to other things. The Tank is happier so I will stick with it....

[frank2926]

The numbers on it are perfect. Mag calc and alk are all very good.
The closest salt I have found is the Seachem reef salt, it is la little low in alk though 8dkh mixed to 1.025 .

[pbukow]

I've heard good things about it from my LFS but not too many things from other reefers. Mainly because i think its too expensive for most people to use. I was considering it for my future 14 gallon nano so it should cover the costs of any two part solutions that i would need to use i'm guessing since i will be keeping some branching stonies and a crocea.

Any more thoughts?

[Jar*Head]

I have been using TM pro reef for almost 5yrs. even tho i have try different brand but always go back to TM pro...

[pbukow]

Originally posted by Jar*Head
I have been using TM pro reef for almost 5yrs. even tho i have try different brand but always go back to TM pro...

Is there any reason why you kept going back to TM pro?

[McCrary]

I have always used Instant Ocean and after seeing some of the tanks using Tropic Marin Pro and reading more about it I'm switching over when I run out of my IO.

[jjmcat]

I have used many salts in my day.Find one that suits your budget and go with it.I use bio sea salt and the only way I will use something else is if I am in a pinch then I will use IO.

[Jar*Head]

Originally posted by pbukow
Is there any reason why you kept going back to TM pro?

My corals look better in color, PE and health when i use TM pro. Even though people complain about the PO4 which i don't notice in my salt mix. I always get 420 Ca, 1296-1300 Mg, 8 DKH, 0 Nitrate, 0.02 PO4, 360-380 in Potassium.

[pbukow]

Thanks for the info guys, I figure when i setup my tank and if i can afford it i might as well use it!

[Jar*Head]

Talking about expensive salt. I used to spent $120 for 150g bucket and almost crash my tank with it. You can't go wrong with TM pro...

[pbukow]

$150!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that salt premixed itself and did the water change too for that amount of money

[madadi]

i can live with my 31bucks for 160g Reef crystals and so do my corals.

[pbukow]

Originally posted by madadi
i can live with my 31bucks for 160g Reef crystals and so do my corals.

Amen to that!

[treny]

Pro reef is all I will use now after tring it once!!

[sjm817]

Originally posted by madadi
i can live with my 31bucks for 160g Reef crystals and so do my corals.

Ditto. RC is the best salt around without spending a ridiculous amount. Ca, alk, mg all good right out of the bucket.

[fishysteve]

I use TM Pro reef, I like it a lot. I think you get what you pay for. So what if it is more expensive, no one ever said this hobby was cheap.

[Racing1]

I also use TM Pro and it has been great. I have tried IO and Coralofe salts and the TM always has better readings and I do not have to supplement as long as I do my regular water changes... My local reef store uses it exclusively and her tanks look awesome... Here is a pic of her 220 mixed reef.... she does weekly water changes and no dosing....

[Flint&Eric]

TM regular and Seachem Reef Salt are the only salts we even consider. Both mix well and readings are where we like them, closer to NSW than RC, IO, etc...

[knowcrap]

Just a little FYI for buying salt...liveaquaria.com has really good prices on salt (e.g. TM Pro is $65 for a 200G bucket - I prefer the Seachem Reef at $40 for a 160G bucket)...pricing aside the BEST thing is their shipping...$9.99 for the first bucket and $1.00 more for each additional bucket (i.e. $11.99 shipping for 3 buckets of salt).

This is one of the rare things I buy online as the prices + shipping are just impossible for any local store [in my area] to beat.

[redavdrol]

I currently use TM pro reef and the alkalinity is very low.

[burton14e7]

I always figured salt didn't matter too much as long as your dosing/additive routine keeps the salt/tank at your desired specs. Just depends on what you want to dose/buffer to the new mix if you're considering a salt change. ie. If you're switching to a salt that has more alk then make sure you lower your alk dosing. I use reefcrystals.

[MJAnderson]

Originally posted by redavdrol
I currently use TM pro reef and the alkalinity is very low.

I spoke with the guy from TM at MACNA. The TMPro was made for the European market where they run calcium reactors which tend to raise alk (not sure why I never hear US users complaining about high alk). So it's purposely low in ALK. With the decrease in ALK they were able to change around some of the other chemistry a little. But even the TM rep said if you don't run a reactor, there is no reason to use the TMPro --- there is no material difference besides the Alk.

[kdblove_99]

I like reef crystals alot

[dhnguyen]

I use Morton's myself it's cheap and tastes great