Recommendation for salt mix

mrichardson · 08/30/2006, 08:36 AM

I'm getting ready to buy the RO/DI and some salt to get my first reef tank started. I need recommendations on which mixes to stay away from, or which are the best.

Thanks

sir_dudeguy · 08/30/2006, 08:40 AM

Well i've had bad luck w/oceanic, but lots of people have luck w/them...but lots dont. They're just not consistent i dont think.

I'm using Instant ocean right now, and its all fine. But for my next one i'm gonna get the reef crystals from drs foster and smith. Its by instant ocean, but its supposedly a really good salt, and for the 160 gallon bucket of it its only like 45 with shipping or something like that. It costed me 55 to buy 3x50 gallon bags of IO in the stores.

Then if you wanna get the expensve stuff, theres tropic marin...i think they're pretty good.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2006, 08:47 AM

Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin are the closest to natural sea water. But, most aquarists keep their tanks slightly different than natural sea water. For example, higher than normal Calcium and Alkalinity. If you are just looking for something that would be good, then I would recommend a 1:1 ratio of Oceanic and Instant Ocean. It will provide a fairly high amount of Calcium and a good range of Alkalinity at a decent price (IE (2) 150g buckets to make 300g for about $60). If you are willing to spend the money on it, then Tropic Marin is a good salt brand as well as Instant Ocean: Reef Crystals. I would stay away from 100% Oceanic though, it tends to have extremely high amounts of Calcium. Easily 500-600 ppm.

trendle · 08/30/2006, 09:39 AM

That explains my problem...

I have been using Oceanic because it mixes well and because the bag stays nice and sealed. (I have had problems with clumpy IO)

However I get Calcium tests of around 500 ppm. No mrore Oceanic for me after this bag is done.

dc · 08/30/2006, 09:41 AM

I've pretty much stuck with IO. I buy the buckets so it stays dry.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2006, 09:44 AM

Even if your salt gets clumpy, it's still okay to use. It just got a little moisture in it.

Remicade · 08/30/2006, 10:00 AM

i noticed with my IO that the 1/2 cup per gal is a little light. i did this for 50 gal and my sal was 1.018 so i actually needed to use the whole 60 bag that makes 60 gal to make 50. dont know if it was me, or i just got a weak batch. but overall i am happy with Instant Ocean. my $ 0.02

mrichardson · 08/30/2006, 10:35 AM

This may seem like a stupid question, but I want to get the IO-Reef Crystals instead of the straight IO?

Saltywater · 08/30/2006, 10:49 AM

I would recommend Tropic Marin. I have used it now for over 1 year and have not had any problems with it. They seems to be very consistent with there salt mix. It is a little pricey but well worth it.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/30/2006, 10:52 AM

It's all up to you. I prefer just straight IO. FWIW, one level 1/2 cup per gallon has always yielded 1.025 specific gravity on a calibrated refractometer for me

mrichardson · 08/30/2006, 08:27 PM

Thanks all

HighlandReef · 08/30/2006, 08:42 PM

coralife has always worked well for me

meco65 · 08/30/2006, 09:08 PM

I use RED SEA SALT works great for me.
Red Sea Salt is suitable for marine tropical fish from every ocean.
The Red Sea, as is well known, is home to many marine tropical fish and invertebrates, which are in many instances more colorful than their counterparts in other areas of the world. This is believed by marine specialists to be due to the unique properties of the salts and their balance in the world famous Red Sea.

Coral Reef Salt is made at the Red Sea with naturally made chemicals from the Red Sea and surrounding areas. The trace elements are distributed in the mixture by a new method that ensures total homogeneity, as well as an exact replication of the ocean.

All of the biologically active elements found in natural sea water are added, and tests have shown that the rarest corals not only survive in Coral Reef Salt, but actually grow.

If you want to keep reef aquaria, or just marine tropicals, then you will ensure your success by using Coral Reef Red Sea Salt.

mg426 · 08/30/2006, 09:32 PM

IO reef crystals here. You can get it everywhere.

jjmatti · 08/30/2006, 09:52 PM

Switched from Coralife salt to reef crystals and have been very happy.

08/30/2006, 08:36 AM	#1
mrichardson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 64	Recommendation for salt mix I'm getting ready to buy the RO/DI and some salt to get my first reef tank started. I need recommendations on which mixes to stay away from, or which are the best. Thanks

08/30/2006, 08:40 AM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	Well i've had bad luck w/oceanic, but lots of people have luck w/them...but lots dont. They're just not consistent i dont think. I'm using Instant ocean right now, and its all fine. But for my next one i'm gonna get the reef crystals from drs foster and smith. Its by instant ocean, but its supposedly a really good salt, and for the 160 gallon bucket of it its only like 45 with shipping or something like that. It costed me 55 to buy 3x50 gallon bags of IO in the stores. Then if you wanna get the expensve stuff, theres tropic marin...i think they're pretty good. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

08/30/2006, 08:47 AM	#3
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Instant Ocean and Tropic Marin are the closest to natural sea water. But, most aquarists keep their tanks slightly different than natural sea water. For example, higher than normal Calcium and Alkalinity. If you are just looking for something that would be good, then I would recommend a 1:1 ratio of Oceanic and Instant Ocean. It will provide a fairly high amount of Calcium and a good range of Alkalinity at a decent price (IE (2) 150g buckets to make 300g for about $60). If you are willing to spend the money on it, then Tropic Marin is a good salt brand as well as Instant Ocean: Reef Crystals. I would stay away from 100% Oceanic though, it tends to have extremely high amounts of Calcium. Easily 500-600 ppm. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/30/2006, 09:41 AM	#5
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	I've pretty much stuck with IO. I buy the buckets so it stays dry. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

08/30/2006, 09:44 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Even if your salt gets clumpy, it's still okay to use. It just got a little moisture in it. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/30/2006, 09:39 AM	#4
trendle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Peoria County, IL Posts: 125	That explains my problem... I have been using Oceanic because it mixes well and because the bag stays nice and sealed. (I have had problems with clumpy IO) However I get Calcium tests of around 500 ppm. No mrore Oceanic for me after this bag is done.

08/30/2006, 10:00 AM	#7
Remicade Moved On Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Downingtown/Eagle, Pa Posts: 145	i noticed with my IO that the 1/2 cup per gal is a little light. i did this for 50 gal and my sal was 1.018 so i actually needed to use the whole 60 bag that makes 60 gal to make 50. dont know if it was me, or i just got a weak batch. but overall i am happy with Instant Ocean. my $ 0.02

08/30/2006, 10:35 AM	#8
mrichardson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 64	This may seem like a stupid question, but I want to get the IO-Reef Crystals instead of the straight IO?

08/30/2006, 10:49 AM	#9
Saltywater Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clearwater,FL Posts: 458	I would recommend Tropic Marin. I have used it now for over 1 year and have not had any problems with it. They seems to be very consistent with there salt mix. It is a little pricey but well worth it. __________________ "To the World you may be one person...But to one person "You" may be the World." Current Tank Info: 450 Gallon RR Custome 96" x 36" x 30",Euroreef CS 8-3+rc Skimmer & Deltec APF600,63g sump, 55g Refugium & 39g rock Refugium,2 Tunze 6000 Streams & 2 Tunze 6100 Streams,Lighting: 3 250 watt MH HQI & 4 39 watt actinic T5'

08/30/2006, 10:52 AM	#10
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It's all up to you. I prefer just straight IO. FWIW, one level 1/2 cup per gallon has always yielded 1.025 specific gravity on a calibrated refractometer for me __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/30/2006, 08:27 PM	#11
mrichardson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 64	Thanks all

08/30/2006, 08:42 PM	#12
HighlandReef Chalice Monger Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,163	coralife has always worked well for me

08/30/2006, 09:08 PM	#13
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	I use RED SEA SALT works great for me. Red Sea Salt is suitable for marine tropical fish from every ocean. The Red Sea, as is well known, is home to many marine tropical fish and invertebrates, which are in many instances more colorful than their counterparts in other areas of the world. This is believed by marine specialists to be due to the unique properties of the salts and their balance in the world famous Red Sea. Coral Reef Salt is made at the Red Sea with naturally made chemicals from the Red Sea and surrounding areas. The trace elements are distributed in the mixture by a new method that ensures total homogeneity, as well as an exact replication of the ocean. All of the biologically active elements found in natural sea water are added, and tests have shown that the rarest corals not only survive in Coral Reef Salt, but actually grow. If you want to keep reef aquaria, or just marine tropicals, then you will ensure your success by using Coral Reef Red Sea Salt.

08/30/2006, 09:32 PM	#14
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	IO reef crystals here. You can get it everywhere. __________________ 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

08/30/2006, 09:52 PM	#15
jjmatti Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 517	Switched from Coralife salt to reef crystals and have been very happy.