Best salt to use?

joem1cha3l · 09/18/2008, 07:03 PM

Well guys last time I had a tank setup I had calcium issues when using IO. Whats the best salt to use with the best consistency? Help me out here, ordering a whole bunch of new stuff for the new setup.

jdmcivicek9 · 09/18/2008, 07:07 PM

youll get quite alot of opinions with this question...i think the general census will be Tropic Marin Reef Salt, Reef Crystals, Coralife's salt or Red Sea's Salt...there all pretty good i personally use Tropic Marins Reef salt...a little more expensive but very good and full of benificial supplements for a SPS tank!good luck

spw4949 · 09/18/2008, 07:40 PM

Instant Ocean here

SaltyDr · 09/18/2008, 07:45 PM

IO. Just need to add some Ca

joem1cha3l · 09/18/2008, 07:48 PM

how much CA and how often do you dose?

tmz · 09/18/2008, 10:13 PM

I use coralife. Check out the salt mix thread at the top of the reef chemistry forum. It will give you a breakdown of the major components in the various salts.

crvz · 09/19/2008, 11:36 AM

I just use IO's reefcrystals stuff. It's a bit better balanced, but I have a calcium reactor and don't worry much about the calcium content in the salt.

Michael · 09/19/2008, 12:24 PM

TM Pro Reef for me

n.son29 · 09/19/2008, 12:30 PM

I have been using Marine Tropic with much success

rogergolf66 · 09/19/2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Michael
TM Pro Reef for me

this is the best to answer your question but I use reafcristals it is cheeper and still a good product

Tswifty · 09/19/2008, 12:47 PM

You tell me

It all depends what you're shooting for...

Quote:

Originally posted by Billybeau1
Here is a list of what I measured for the big three in a number of the salt mixes we use today. This is intended as a guideline and I, in no way, guarantee these figures. All I can say is they were all tested under the same conditions, with a number of different brand test kits, using the same methods for each test. I believe these numbers are reasonably what you can expect from these salts mixed at 35 ppt or 1.0264

A special thanks to Bertoni for putting it in nice form.

Calcium &nbsp&nbsp
Alkalinity&nbsp &nbsp
Magnesium

Aquatic Gardens
&nbsp&nbsp 430
&nbsp&nbsp 8
&nbsp&nbsp 1240

CoraLife
&nbsp&nbsp 560
&nbsp&nbsp 9
&nbsp&nbsp 1380

Crystal Sea Marinemix&nbsp &nbsp
&nbsp&nbsp 340
&nbsp&nbsp 9
&nbsp&nbsp 1050

Crystal Sea Marinemix Bio-Assay&nbsp &nbsp
&nbsp&nbsp 340
&nbsp&nbsp 9
&nbsp&nbsp 1050

Instant Ocean&nbsp &nbsp
&nbsp&nbsp 350
&nbsp&nbsp 12
&nbsp&nbsp 1070

Kent&nbsp &nbsp
&nbsp&nbsp 540
&nbsp&nbsp 11
&nbsp&nbsp 1200

Marine Environment
&nbsp&nbsp 480
&nbsp&nbsp 7.5
&nbsp&nbsp 1450

Oceanic
&nbsp&nbsp 580
&nbsp&nbsp 8.5
&nbsp&nbsp 1650

OceanPure
&nbsp&nbsp 510
&nbsp&nbsp 10
&nbsp&nbsp 1320

Red Sea
&nbsp&nbsp 400
&nbsp&nbsp 8
&nbsp&nbsp 1300

Red Sea Coral Pro
&nbsp&nbsp 490
&nbsp&nbsp 7
&nbsp&nbsp 1300

Reef Crystals
&nbsp&nbsp 420
&nbsp&nbsp 12
&nbsp&nbsp 1260

SeaChem Marine Salt
&nbsp&nbsp 500
&nbsp&nbsp 10
&nbsp&nbsp 1400

SeaChem Reef Salt
&nbsp&nbsp 540
&nbsp&nbsp 10
&nbsp&nbsp 1450

Tropic Marin
&nbsp&nbsp 375
&nbsp&nbsp 10
&nbsp&nbsp 1230

Tropic Marin Pro Reef
&nbsp&nbsp 450
&nbsp&nbsp 8.5
&nbsp&nbsp 1380
Tunze Reef Salt
&nbsp&nbsp 420
&nbsp&nbsp 9.5
&nbsp&nbsp 1350

mg426 · 09/19/2008, 01:08 PM

Instant Ocean here.

twoodall · 09/19/2008, 03:44 PM

Just picked up a bucket of Instant Ocean. I am going to try it this time.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 09/19/2008, 03:56 PM

I use Instant Ocean that I boost the calcium and magnesium in with Dowflake and MAG flake.

savethereef · 09/19/2008, 04:01 PM

i use Kent Marine

Kent

Calcium 540

Alk 11

Mag 1200

pbradley0 · 09/19/2008, 07:07 PM

What ever is the cheapest is the best

Ronny#66 · 09/19/2008, 09:26 PM

When I mix reefcrystals My cal is never higher han 360 ppm salinity is 1.025 . Where did you get the 420 I contacted DR.Foster and Smith about this.

Ronny

Johnny C · 09/19/2008, 09:36 PM

I've always used RedSea but won't turn down a good sale on IO!

tmz · 09/19/2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ronny#66
When I mix reefcrystals My cal is never higher han 360 ppm salinity is 1.025 . Where did you get the 420 I contacted DR.Foster and Smith about this.

Ronny

Check this thread from the reef chemistry forum . It shows 420ppm calcium,12dkh and 1260 at an sg of 1.0264 for Reef Crystals.

tmz · 09/19/2008, 09:39 PM

Sorry, Here's the thread.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1287118

09/18/2008, 07:03 PM	#1
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	Best salt to use? Well guys last time I had a tank setup I had calcium issues when using IO. Whats the best salt to use with the best consistency? Help me out here, ordering a whole bunch of new stuff for the new setup.

09/18/2008, 07:40 PM	#3
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Instant Ocean here __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

09/18/2008, 07:48 PM	#5
joem1cha3l Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,158	how much CA and how often do you dose? __________________ IM10G Nano - MP10, AI Nano, RKL

09/19/2008, 11:36 AM	#7
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	I just use IO's reefcrystals stuff. It's a bit better balanced, but I have a calcium reactor and don't worry much about the calcium content in the salt. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

09/19/2008, 12:24 PM	#8
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	TM Pro Reef for me __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

09/18/2008, 07:07 PM	#2
jdmcivicek9 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 39°N, -108°W AKA Somewhere in Colorado Posts: 578	youll get quite alot of opinions with this question...i think the general census will be Tropic Marin Reef Salt, Reef Crystals, Coralife's salt or Red Sea's Salt...there all pretty good i personally use Tropic Marins Reef salt...a little more expensive but very good and full of benificial supplements for a SPS tank!good luck

09/18/2008, 07:45 PM	#4
SaltyDr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 1,191	IO. Just need to add some Ca

09/18/2008, 10:13 PM	#6
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I use coralife. Check out the salt mix thread at the top of the reef chemistry forum. It will give you a breakdown of the major components in the various salts. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

09/19/2008, 12:30 PM	#9
n.son29 Moved On Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 51	I have been using Marine Tropic with much success

09/19/2008, 01:08 PM	#12
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Instant Ocean here. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

09/19/2008, 03:44 PM	#13
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	Just picked up a bucket of Instant Ocean. I am going to try it this time. __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge

09/19/2008, 03:56 PM	#14
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I use Instant Ocean that I boost the calcium and magnesium in with Dowflake and MAG flake. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

09/19/2008, 04:01 PM	#15
savethereef SCRK Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bellflower 90706 CA (So Cal) Posts: 7,720	i use Kent Marine Kent Calcium 540 Alk 11 Mag 1200 __________________ Instead of building a reef in my home i would rather build my home in the reef. Rob aka STR SCRK & SCMAS MEMBER Current Tank Info: Leemar 450g 96L x36W x 30T 3/4 inch Starfire With 70g Sump Vertex 250 Royal Exclusive protein Skimmer Laguna 2900 Return pump 5 Aquaillumination Hydra's LED Modules. 4 Tunze Stream Bubble Magus Doser. Reef Keeper Elite

09/19/2008, 07:07 PM	#16
pbradley0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 185	What ever is the cheapest is the best

09/19/2008, 09:26 PM	#17
Ronny#66 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Twilight zone Posts: 1,839	When I mix reefcrystals My cal is never higher han 360 ppm salinity is 1.025 . Where did you get the 420 I contacted DR.Foster and Smith about this. Ronny

09/19/2008, 09:36 PM	#18
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	I've always used RedSea but won't turn down a good sale on IO! __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

09/19/2008, 09:39 PM	#20
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	Sorry, Here's the thread. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1287118 __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.