SeaSalt Mix? Your thoughts

LGB76 · 11/21/2012, 01:11 PM

What type of salt mix do you prefer, or which have you had the best luck with?

Should someone use the reef salt mix as opposed to fish salt mix? What are the pros and cons.

igot2gats · 11/21/2012, 01:17 PM

Reef Crystals, Instant Ocean, & Tropic Marin are probably the 3 most popular. It really is a coin flip, and you'll have success with any of them.

zoafarm · 11/21/2012, 01:26 PM

This subject could cause all kinds of discussion. Everyone has a favorite.

If your keeping coral -- Reef Crystals
If your keeping fish only -- Instant Ocean

I keep a mixed aquarium and have tried a few brands. I only thing I have noticed is the amount of money I spend...no changes in my tank.

For me, Reef Crystals seems to be the least expensive brand I can get.

LGB76 · 11/21/2012, 02:14 PM

Well personally I will be having live rock and fish. Corals will come way way down the road. Should I just start out with the reef crystals and continue to use it.

I was just looking for general feed back and what the pros and cons are of each type and how one benefits something over another.

swine · 11/21/2012, 03:16 PM

How do you feel about Red Sea Coral pro? Bulk reef supply has a pretty crazy deal on it now and I have to order enough stuff from there to get free shipping

hanas · 11/21/2012, 03:19 PM

It's all preference, I've used Reef Crystals since I started in the hobby.

thegrun · 11/21/2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swine

How do you feel about Red Sea Coral pro? Bulk reef supply has a pretty crazy deal on it now and I have to order enough stuff from there to get free shipping

I've been using it for a year now on my SPS dominated mixed reef and I like it. Because it is so high in calcium and alkalinity it is best mixed cold, then heated so you have less calcium precipitating out of the water column.

thegrun · 11/21/2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LGB76

Well personally I will be having live rock and fish. Corals will come way way down the road. Should I just start out with the reef crystals and continue to use it.

I was just looking for general feed back and what the pros and cons are of each type and how one benefits something over another.

For a fish only tank there is no need for the added cost of reef crystals, instant ocean is fine. When you start keeping stony corals or clams you will then need to increase your alkalinity, magnesium and calcium levels and using reef crystals would then make sense.

LGB76 · 11/21/2012, 06:44 PM

What about soft corals and sea anemones?

Wolverine · 11/21/2012, 07:03 PM

I use whichever of the major brands in cheapest at the time I'm buying; usually that ends up being IO, but not always. Years ago, I used IO, switched to RC for my reef, and found no detectable difference (objective or subjective). I switched back, and again found no difference. This has happened with several other brands since then, so I don't worry about it much anymore.

LGB76 · 11/21/2012, 07:21 PM

Thats good to know, I was just trying to prepare my tank for anything. I wasnt sure if using reef crystals the entire time might help with coral later down the road. Because if it did I would spend the extra money just to make sure I did everything I could to have success.

11/21/2012, 01:11 PM	#1
LGB76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 539	SeaSalt Mix? Your thoughts What type of salt mix do you prefer, or which have you had the best luck with? Should someone use the reef salt mix as opposed to fish salt mix? What are the pros and cons.

11/21/2012, 07:03 PM	#10
Wolverine RC Mod Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: West Bloomfield, MI Posts: 17,732	I use whichever of the major brands in cheapest at the time I'm buying; usually that ends up being IO, but not always. Years ago, I used IO, switched to RC for my reef, and found no detectable difference (objective or subjective). I switched back, and again found no difference. This has happened with several other brands since then, so I don't worry about it much anymore. __________________ Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -Douglas Adams Current Tank Info: 14g, 29g nano reefs

11/21/2012, 01:17 PM	#2
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	Reef Crystals, Instant Ocean, & Tropic Marin are probably the 3 most popular. It really is a coin flip, and you'll have success with any of them.

11/21/2012, 01:26 PM	#3
zoafarm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 306	This subject could cause all kinds of discussion. Everyone has a favorite. If your keeping coral -- Reef Crystals If your keeping fish only -- Instant Ocean I keep a mixed aquarium and have tried a few brands. I only thing I have noticed is the amount of money I spend...no changes in my tank. For me, Reef Crystals seems to be the least expensive brand I can get.

11/21/2012, 02:14 PM	#4
LGB76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 539	Well personally I will be having live rock and fish. Corals will come way way down the road. Should I just start out with the reef crystals and continue to use it. I was just looking for general feed back and what the pros and cons are of each type and how one benefits something over another.

11/21/2012, 03:16 PM	#5
swine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 52	How do you feel about Red Sea Coral pro? Bulk reef supply has a pretty crazy deal on it now and I have to order enough stuff from there to get free shipping

11/21/2012, 03:19 PM	#6
hanas Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 795	It's all preference, I've used Reef Crystals since I started in the hobby.

11/21/2012, 06:44 PM	#9
LGB76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 539	What about soft corals and sea anemones?

11/21/2012, 07:21 PM	#11
LGB76 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 539	Thats good to know, I was just trying to prepare my tank for anything. I wasnt sure if using reef crystals the entire time might help with coral later down the road. Because if it did I would spend the extra money just to make sure I did everything I could to have success.