Anyone switch away from Reef Crystals?

[t5Nitro]

I'd like to do more water changes but literally the salt prevents me from doing so. The alkalinity tests ~13 dKh in each bucket I've gotten.

I don't keep my alkalinity in the tank that high and as you all know this large spike (with a water change) can't be all that great.

Right now when I mix the water I know to add some calcium as it usually falls short of 400 ppm and don't do anything with the alk as it is too high already.

Is there something better on the market?

 

[Jeff]

Is there something better on the market?

Just about every other brand in my opinion. I used RC years ago and back then I found it to be very inconsistent. I have tried a lot of other brands and found Tropic Marin to be the best fit for me. My corals love it.

 

[t5Nitro]

Are you using the regular or the pro version? What is the ~values of calcium and alkalinity when mixed to around 1.025sg?

Thanks.

 

[Mrbeachbum2]

Yikes, I just ordered 2 200g boxes. Never used RC before, switching over from IO

 

[con999]

ya i HATED them. they costed to much around here everything and all the levels so low.
i switched over to ocianic salt. and i relly like it. all the prems are perfect.and its like dirt cheep were i live.

 

[Fish4Me2]

I got a couple of bad batches of Reef Crystals. The retailer credited my account for them, but it was a pain having to ship salt samples back. I switched to Oceanic, and was happier with consistency. Recently I've been using DD, and I like how quickly it mixes.

 

[bigworm175]

I switched back to IO from RC due to cost and inconsistencies w/RC. I now they're the same company but IO is more consistent from my experience. I do large water changes weekly and it was an issue. I just dose to keep my parameters (CA, ALK, Mag...) where I want them now. Works better for me. HTH

 

[redfishblewfish]

The alkalinity tests ~13 dKh in each bucket I've gotten.

How old is your bucket of salt. They reformulated a couple months ago and they dropped the alkalinity considerably (along with the Ca). The trick to knowing if you have a reformulated bucket is that you no longer get that deposit on the mixing chamber walls (as well as giving you a dKh of 7 - 8).

 

[byrdman81]

I switched from rc also for high alk everytime I bought a bucket. It was always 10-12 but I also hated the calcium buildup it left on my container powerhead and heater. Now I'm using that tropic marine bio actif. Levels are great mag is a lilttle low but thats easy to raise.

 

[deezmarine]

i been using salinity by seachem for the past mounth and it has been great, my my ph never drop blow 8.3 my alk. stay at 3.5 meq/l and calcium is 422. My sps love the stuff, my color has never been better.

 

[Logzor]

Very happy with my switch to Seachem reef salt. I've been trying to use up all of my old RC and IO buckets...

I too was sick of the brown buildup in my containers, I don't really care if it was harmful or not but it was simply annoying.

 

[t5Nitro]

Thanks for the responses. Oceanic, Tropic Marin, and Seachem salts came up more than once here. I'll look into each of these. Looks like either one I choose will be a great alternative (so maybe the more cost efficient is the way to go).

Redfishblewfish, I bought a brand new 200g box of RC in the summer. At the very most it is probably 2-3 months old.

 

[t5Nitro]

Looks like I will try Seachem Reef Salt next. From the websites I looked at there were no negative reviews on it.

I read that switching salts can have negative effects on the tank? Since it is new corals don't like it (or fish even)? How slowly do you make the transition? Maybe do 1 gallon water changes every other day for a while?

 

[con999]

i did 25% new 75%old then next week 50/50 then 75/25 i now its probaly and overkill but i would reather be safe then sorry.

 

[InLimbo87]

Yes, I switched from RC to Coralife. I got tired of the inconsistent results and the salt that would never dissolved. I've been happy so far.

 

[syrinx]

I use RC in 80% of my tanks- tropic marin in the rest. Remember that the tropic marin reef does not have boosted calcium- it is assumed its users have a calcium reactor. Over the years I have used all of the salts listed in this thread 9and any other thread for that matter ) and have always gravitated back to RC and IO. I have just had less issues with it than the other brands I guess.

 

[scubasteve06]

I am tired of my alk being so high like others in this thread from using RC. I have had the same problems with alk with IO and RC both. I am thinking of trying either Coralife or Red Sea Coral Pro, maybe Salinity by Seachem.

 

[dancewithethan]

I too went from RC to Tropic Marine Pro, and love it. all levels are right on and the salt mixed well and have no dirty stuff like RC.

 

[level65druid]

Switch to oceanic salt mix, very high calcium close to 500 range and low alk 8-9 dkh. I switched from instant ocean and it definitely helps with calcium.

 

[saltwater4life1]

Good info here. I'm almost out of RC salt and i'd like to try something else. I'm thinking of ether ordering Oceanic natural, Seachem or RedSea coral Pro.