Best kind of salt to use?

EvilE · 03/06/2007, 08:26 PM

The more I have been reading, the more you all have huge preferences, I have Aquatic Gardens Premium Marine Salt Mix--anyone use it? Is it ok? Thanks

reefrottie · 03/06/2007, 08:28 PM

I have always used only Instant Ocean

jpd02 · 03/06/2007, 08:30 PM

Second on the Instant Ocean - only salt I've ever used. For what its worth, I've had several experienced hobbyists tell me that they don't think it matters what type of salt you use.

zoomfish1 · 03/06/2007, 08:31 PM

Instant Ocean since day one. Good trace elements and calcium. Readily available at most LFS.

ken6217 · 03/06/2007, 08:40 PM

I have always used Reef Crystals, however most people that I know use Instant ocean and they like it.
Ken

preculafreak06 · 03/06/2007, 08:53 PM

I've always used instant ocean.

Nohatch · 03/06/2007, 08:56 PM

Instant Ocean has always been good to my tank.

EvilE · 03/06/2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zoomfish1
Instant Ocean since day one. Good trace elements and calcium. Readily available at most LFS.

Good to know!! I hope mine will be fine, and I'm sure it is. Noone else uses Aquatic Gardens huh?

Indermark · 03/06/2007, 09:28 PM

I've used Seachem now for at least a year i think, I have never heard of aquatic gardens do you get it on the net or from a LFS?

Ryan

drummereef · 03/06/2007, 09:30 PM

I use Instant Ocean. I do however bolster the calcium by 70ppm with calcium chloride at water changes.

UnderCoverDork · 03/06/2007, 09:30 PM

Instant ocean

EvilE · 03/06/2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Indermark
I've used Seachem now for at least a year i think, I have never heard of aquatic gardens do you get it on the net or from a LFS?

Ryan

Petco

GlobalEvan · 03/06/2007, 09:41 PM

there was a study recently that rated Instant Ocean as one of the worst salts on the Market, and placed Red Sea and Reef Crystals as the two best (out of 10 studied).
they measured variable like algae growth, hard coral growth, and soft coral growth.

I didn't do the study, I just read about it and talked to people who were at the MACNA where the study was presented.

GlobalEvan · 03/06/2007, 09:43 PM

Oh, and I'm currently using the new red sea coral pro. it finally got my calcium levels up.

EvilE · 03/06/2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by EvilE
Petco

Link to what it is: http://*******.com/334qkx

b0wenj · 03/06/2007, 09:43 PM

I started with instant ocean and liked it fine but ended up going to topic marine pro reef since it already had the correct chemistry for reef tanks without me having to add anything to bring all the levels up. What I like about it is if I have problems with any of my readings (calcium. alk. mag. etc.) I can do a good size water change to bring it all back in check.

hobbyboy1 · 03/06/2007, 09:58 PM

I have used Instant ocean since the beginning and no problems here,also not to mention always abetter price than all the other so called top brands.

badfish · 03/06/2007, 10:05 PM

"there was a study recently that rated Instant Ocean as one of the worst salts on the Market, and placed Red Sea and Reef Crystals as the two best (out of 10 studied)."

Reef Crystals is made by Instant Ocean.

xenon · 03/06/2007, 10:11 PM

I use Instant Ocean too but I am thinming about going with Reef Crystals.

I find the calcium too low for IO and most SPS guys use Reef Crystals.

zma21 · 03/06/2007, 10:13 PM

Yes, but instant ocean has a different chemical makeup from reef crystals, and are completely two separate salts on the market.

I use oceanic, but am switching to Red Sea coral pro. I'm not impressed by Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean.

old salty · 03/06/2007, 10:55 PM

I find salts to be like beer; we all like what we like for different reasons. Our brains wouldn't tell us to drink copious amounts of stuff we didn't like the taste of. I like heavy beer, and most people drink some sort of light beer (barf!) Nevertheless, most folks that drink light beer do so for whatever reasons they have. I don't hold it against them. Same goes with cigars.

EvilE · 03/06/2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by old salty
I find salts to be like beer; we all like what we like for different reasons. Our brains wouldn't tell us to drink copious amounts of stuff we didn't like the taste of. I like heavy beer, and most people drink some sort of light beer (barf!) Nevertheless, most folks that drink light beer do so for whatever reasons they have. I don't hold it against them. Same goes with cigars.

I dig the analogy!!!

GlobalEvan · 03/06/2007, 11:09 PM

Quote:

[i]Reef Crystals is made by Instant Ocean. [/B]

actually they are both made by marineland. (sorry, I know it's pedantic, I don't have anything truly worthwile to say that hasn't already been said. [i.e. they are different products])

03/06/2007, 08:26 PM	#1
EvilE Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 2,944	Best kind of salt to use? The more I have been reading, the more you all have huge preferences, I have Aquatic Gardens Premium Marine Salt Mix--anyone use it? Is it ok? Thanks

03/06/2007, 08:31 PM	#4
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	Instant Ocean since day one. Good trace elements and calcium. Readily available at most LFS. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

03/06/2007, 08:53 PM	#6
preculafreak06 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: winter haven Posts: 368	I've always used instant ocean. __________________ Im a reefohaulic

03/06/2007, 08:56 PM	#7
Nohatch Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 88	Instant Ocean has always been good to my tank. __________________ Hello, I am Nohatch and im addicted to reef.....

03/06/2007, 09:30 PM	#10
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I use Instant Ocean. I do however bolster the calcium by 70ppm with calcium chloride at water changes. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

03/06/2007, 08:28 PM	#2
reefrottie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Rock Hill South Carolina Posts: 45	I have always used only Instant Ocean

03/06/2007, 08:30 PM	#3
jpd02 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Connecticut Posts: 52	Second on the Instant Ocean - only salt I've ever used. For what its worth, I've had several experienced hobbyists tell me that they don't think it matters what type of salt you use.

03/06/2007, 08:40 PM	#5
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	I have always used Reef Crystals, however most people that I know use Instant ocean and they like it. Ken

03/06/2007, 09:28 PM	#9
Indermark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Troy, Illinois Posts: 670	I've used Seachem now for at least a year i think, I have never heard of aquatic gardens do you get it on the net or from a LFS? Ryan

03/06/2007, 09:30 PM	#11
UnderCoverDork Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Detroit Posts: 429	Instant ocean

03/06/2007, 09:41 PM	#13
GlobalEvan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 105	there was a study recently that rated Instant Ocean as one of the worst salts on the Market, and placed Red Sea and Reef Crystals as the two best (out of 10 studied). they measured variable like algae growth, hard coral growth, and soft coral growth. I didn't do the study, I just read about it and talked to people who were at the MACNA where the study was presented. __________________ EvAN Current Tank Info: 40 breeder, with 20 sump, 15k MH

03/06/2007, 09:43 PM	#14
GlobalEvan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 105	Oh, and I'm currently using the new red sea coral pro. it finally got my calcium levels up. __________________ EvAN Current Tank Info: 40 breeder, with 20 sump, 15k MH

03/06/2007, 09:43 PM	#16
b0wenj Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 240	I started with instant ocean and liked it fine but ended up going to topic marine pro reef since it already had the correct chemistry for reef tanks without me having to add anything to bring all the levels up. What I like about it is if I have problems with any of my readings (calcium. alk. mag. etc.) I can do a good size water change to bring it all back in check.

03/06/2007, 09:58 PM	#17
hobbyboy1 Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: washington D.C Posts: 18	I have used Instant ocean since the beginning and no problems here,also not to mention always abetter price than all the other so called top brands.

03/06/2007, 10:05 PM	#18
badfish Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phx, AZ Posts: 1,970	"there was a study recently that rated Instant Ocean as one of the worst salts on the Market, and placed Red Sea and Reef Crystals as the two best (out of 10 studied)." Reef Crystals is made by Instant Ocean. __________________ "My second home is a third world cantina" RCPM Current Tank Info: Not big enough.

03/06/2007, 10:11 PM	#19
xenon Owner of Canada Corals Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mississauga, Canada Posts: 3,148	I use Instant Ocean too but I am thinming about going with Reef Crystals. I find the calcium too low for IO and most SPS guys use Reef Crystals.

03/06/2007, 10:13 PM	#20
zma21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NOLA Posts: 1,453	Yes, but instant ocean has a different chemical makeup from reef crystals, and are completely two separate salts on the market. I use oceanic, but am switching to Red Sea coral pro. I'm not impressed by Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean. __________________ SCA 50 Starfire: In Progress Current Tank Info: 20 High -> 40 Cube -> Nanocube 12 DX -> 25 Gallon Rimless -> 10 Gallon AGA Temporary Tank -> JBJ 24 LED -> SCA Starfire 50 Cube

03/06/2007, 10:55 PM	#21
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I find salts to be like beer; we all like what we like for different reasons. Our brains wouldn't tell us to drink copious amounts of stuff we didn't like the taste of. I like heavy beer, and most people drink some sort of light beer (barf!) Nevertheless, most folks that drink light beer do so for whatever reasons they have. I don't hold it against them. Same goes with cigars. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby