Best Salt Mix For Ro/di Unit?

vickreyreef · 05/27/2007, 09:39 PM

Hi there

We just bought a RO/DI unit and are wondering what the best salt mix is to use for a reef tank. I was leaning towards the coralife scientific grade mix. Does anyone have any opinions or preferences or are they all basically the same anyhow?

Thanks!

Reefugee · 05/27/2007, 09:52 PM

I don't think there is a "best" salt. With that said - I prefer Reef Crystal. The salt is higher in calcium, magnesium, and other supplements than some other salts (such as Instant Ocean). Also - reef crystal are readily available at most LFS in my area. Although I purchased my salt from DrFosterSmith - where they are having a sale on Reef Crystal salts.

Minh

120reeferman · 05/27/2007, 10:08 PM

i also use reef crystalls, it is better IMO then any other mix just cause of th eextra supplements

Tony44 · 05/27/2007, 10:46 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Reef-Crystals-16...QQcmdZViewItem

You really cannot beat that, only $35 with $10 shipping, that thing costs much more than $10 to ship.

celano · 05/27/2007, 11:27 PM

I've used Instant Ocean for the past year with no problems yet.
If you go to www.petsmart.com and print their online add and take it into the store you get the amazing price of $32 a bucket.
Not a bad price for a salt thats been tested worldwide for the past thirty years.

drummereef · 05/28/2007, 01:07 AM

I've used Instant Ocean for years. I do add 70ppm calcium chloride to bolster the Ca at water changes.

vickreyreef · 05/28/2007, 06:32 AM

you guys are the best! followed ebay link and price was so good and shipping cheap we bought 2 160 buckets of the reef crystals!!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

gummi · 05/28/2007, 07:05 AM

I've heard that Reef Crystals are the best but anything else is up and down.

For a long time everyone was saying that Tropic Marin was the best and worth the price...but apparently in Europe it's considered the cheap salt. It's expensive in North America because of importation...

The only consistent that I've heard from people in the industry is Instant Ocean. it's prices well, reliable, and they've been in the business for so long. Most stores around here use only Instant Ocean. I use it and it seems fine.

kevin2000 · 05/28/2007, 03:00 PM

My 02

No salt mix is perfect and they all have downsides ... often its a case of "choose your poison". Like many things in this hobby your wallet often limits your choice.

Icefire · 05/28/2007, 04:02 PM

Using Coralife here, 500+ Calcium, 1350+ MG, no dosing to do

Krazy · 05/28/2007, 04:16 PM

been using instant ocean from the start

might jump it up to reef crystals now with that ebay link

I do the petsmart thing with the instant ocean, good price !

arts007 · 05/28/2007, 04:21 PM

I was wondering if anyone has tried Marine Environment as far as the chemical analysis goes it seems the closest to NSW.. only thing is you have to mix the bottle of supplements with it.

Krazy · 05/28/2007, 04:24 PM

That marine environment scored 100 on the s-15 report

I never hear anyone talk of it though?

jthao · 05/28/2007, 04:27 PM

I use instant ocean, with no problems. I don't know much about which salt mix is best, but I buy the 5g bucket of instant ocean because it's convenient, cheaper, I get a 5g bucket, and best of all, a free t-shirt!!! hehehe.

Saltwater_Dog · 05/28/2007, 06:27 PM

Instant Ocean- Drfostersmith.com

crumbletop · 05/28/2007, 06:55 PM

fosters and smith also has the reef crystals 160 gallon pails for $34.99 + shipping. I believe the shipping is less than $10.

I use instant ocean. Works great.

Kengaroo131 · 05/28/2007, 07:10 PM

i also use reef cristal. but with the coralife buckets you get a free shirt =D

05/27/2007, 09:39 PM	#1
vickreyreef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nova Posts: 331	Best Salt Mix For Ro/di Unit? Hi there We just bought a RO/DI unit and are wondering what the best salt mix is to use for a reef tank. I was leaning towards the coralife scientific grade mix. Does anyone have any opinions or preferences or are they all basically the same anyhow? Thanks!

05/27/2007, 11:27 PM	#5
celano Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 910	I've used Instant Ocean for the past year with no problems yet. If you go to www.petsmart.com and print their online add and take it into the store you get the amazing price of $32 a bucket. Not a bad price for a salt thats been tested worldwide for the past thirty years. __________________ To many men work on parts of things. Doing a job to completion satifies me. Current tank info: The space between what's wrong and right.

05/28/2007, 01:07 AM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I've used Instant Ocean for years. I do add 70ppm calcium chloride to bolster the Ca at water changes. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/28/2007, 04:02 PM	#10
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	Using Coralife here, 500+ Calcium, 1350+ MG, no dosing to do __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

05/28/2007, 04:21 PM	#12
arts007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 600	I was wondering if anyone has tried Marine Environment as far as the chemical analysis goes it seems the closest to NSW.. only thing is you have to mix the bottle of supplements with it. __________________ Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99% perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad. Current Tank Info: 120g SPS reef tank. 2x 400 watt Reeflux 12k on lumenbrights

05/27/2007, 09:52 PM	#2
Reefugee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 6,105	I don't think there is a "best" salt. With that said - I prefer Reef Crystal. The salt is higher in calcium, magnesium, and other supplements than some other salts (such as Instant Ocean). Also - reef crystal are readily available at most LFS in my area. Although I purchased my salt from DrFosterSmith - where they are having a sale on Reef Crystal salts. Minh

05/27/2007, 10:08 PM	#3
120reeferman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 187	i also use reef crystalls, it is better IMO then any other mix just cause of th eextra supplements

05/27/2007, 10:46 PM	#4
Tony44 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lantana, FL Posts: 778	http://cgi.ebay.com/Reef-Crystals-16...QQcmdZViewItem You really cannot beat that, only $35 with $10 shipping, that thing costs much more than $10 to ship.

05/28/2007, 06:32 AM	#7
vickreyreef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Nova Posts: 331	you guys are the best! followed ebay link and price was so good and shipping cheap we bought 2 160 buckets of the reef crystals!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

05/28/2007, 07:05 AM	#8
gummi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 282	I've heard that Reef Crystals are the best but anything else is up and down. For a long time everyone was saying that Tropic Marin was the best and worth the price...but apparently in Europe it's considered the cheap salt. It's expensive in North America because of importation... The only consistent that I've heard from people in the industry is Instant Ocean. it's prices well, reliable, and they've been in the business for so long. Most stores around here use only Instant Ocean. I use it and it seems fine.

05/28/2007, 03:00 PM	#9
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	My 02 No salt mix is perfect and they all have downsides ... often its a case of "choose your poison". Like many things in this hobby your wallet often limits your choice.

05/28/2007, 04:16 PM	#11
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	been using instant ocean from the start might jump it up to reef crystals now with that ebay link I do the petsmart thing with the instant ocean, good price !

05/28/2007, 04:24 PM	#13
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	That marine environment scored 100 on the s-15 report I never hear anyone talk of it though?

05/28/2007, 04:27 PM	#14
jthao Super Saiyan Join Date: May 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,522	I use instant ocean, with no problems. I don't know much about which salt mix is best, but I buy the 5g bucket of instant ocean because it's convenient, cheaper, I get a 5g bucket, and best of all, a free t-shirt!!! hehehe. __________________ Elos 160xl \| Profilux 3.1Nex ultimate \| BK DC200 \| (5)Mitras 6200s \|(4) Vortech MP40QD \| 3155 ATO \| Schuran CaRx \| Carbon-Doser \| Red Dragon return \| 500G Starphire FOWLR \| BK SM200 \| (6) Tunze 6105

05/28/2007, 06:27 PM	#15
Saltwater_Dog Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Isle, Louisiana Posts: 375	Instant Ocean- Drfostersmith.com __________________ GO TIGERS!!!!! Current Tank Info: 100 gal, 160 lbs Live Rock, 120 lbs Live Sand, Octopus HOB Skimmer, PC Lighting, 2-Koralia 3's, 2-Max Jett 900's, Filter Guys Ocean Wave + RO/DI 75gpd

05/28/2007, 06:55 PM	#16
crumbletop Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4,718	fosters and smith also has the reef crystals 160 gallon pails for $34.99 + shipping. I believe the shipping is less than $10. I use instant ocean. Works great. __________________ "Misers get up early in the morning; and burglars, I am informed, get up the night before." - GK Chesterton Current Tank Info: 90 gallon AGA RR. 20 gal sump. 6x54W T5. AquaController Jr.

05/28/2007, 07:10 PM	#17
Kengaroo131 Fish Crazy Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jupiter, Florida Posts: 1,361	i also use reef cristal. but with the coralife buckets you get a free shirt =D __________________ ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef, 12 gallon bookshelf reef