Best Salt Mix

[SteveOhh]

Ok, I've finally got my ro/di unit & it's up & running & has filled a 55 gallon drum w/ water. I've never mixed my own salt before, always buy it from Tongs in Whittier (I won't ever spend another dime there again, but that's another story). My question is who makes the best salt mix, hands down? I've been looking & it appears that Reef Crystals is the most expensive, but as I've learned in this hobby, that doesn't always translate into the best product. Is there any other secrets I should know before undertaking this new adventure. Thanks in advance for all your help.

I still can't believe I picked my wedding over gho's frag swap next weekend!!!!!! :eek2:

Steve

 

[ScotchMaster]

I only use Tropic Marin....After using a lot of salts on the market I find it to be the easiest to mix, and most consistant batch to batch

 

[john37]

after a while you're gonna want economical.
someone in this forum did a test and oceanpure did really well and is very cheap.

 

[pookstreet]

I agree with john37 on the Oceanpure. It also dissolves very easily. If you want higher Ca and Mg levels, you can get the Oceanpure Pro, slightly more expensive but still much cheaper than other brands.

 

[Gooli]

i have been using Instant Ocean and i'm very happy with the results.
The ALK is high and the CAL is reasonable at 370. I read a recent salt mix comparison article on advancedaquarist.com and IO did very well.

 

[bromion]

Tropic Marin reef pro. There is a two-part article in Advanced Aquarist's magazine online about trace elements in various salt mixes. Tropic Marin seemed to come out as the least-bad.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1

 

[Konadog]

Another vote for Oceanpure Pro. I don't think you can get Oceanpure any more, it's all Pro. I love the way in mixes, fast and without any undissolved leftovers. I don't test each batch, but what I have tested has been very consistent.

 

[Bebo77]

Seachem reef...

 

[DRC69]

IO for me all the way. Petsmart all day long for $10.00 a bag (50Gal).
Works for me - If its not broken, don't fix it.

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7376554#post7376554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by john37
after a while you're gonna want economical.
someone in this forum did a test and oceanpure did really well and is very cheap.

How cheap is cheap and where? So far Im using IO from Petsmart at $31.00 for 160 gal in a bucket.

 

[EmDy]

Seachem Reef.

 

[marcrothschild]

Fragfarmer sells 150g buckets of OP pro for 39 bucks, this stuff is the fastest dissolving salt I have used.....how much that matters, who knows.

 

[GTR]

I use a blend of 50% Oceanic and 50% IO. Oceanic gives me the high Ca and Mg and IO makes up the alkalinity. Just using one or the other I find I need to make unbalanced additions.
I do regular water changes (weekly) and my goal is not to change the basics such as alk, Ca, Mg and pH when doing them. Hopefully I'm replenishing whatever trace elements need replacing and reducing overall nutrient levels at the same time.

Oceanic=high CA and Mg, low alk.
IO=high alk, low Ca and Mg.

SteveU

 

[moonpod]

oceanpure here....

 

[USMCARTY42]

I gotta go w/ ScotchMaster and the others on the TM. I started with it and have had no problems with any of my trace elements/CA/ALK levels; and in combination w/ ro/di I dont know how your sps' wouldnt love it. JMO-One of many .

 

[microbubbles]

how's the seachem workin gout for your socal users?

 

[jameschho]

I was using tropic marin pro but in a 200gal bucket it was mixing inconsistently, it was high alk, low cal at the top of the bucket and low cal, high alk at the bottom. This is thoroughly annoying so I just got my first bag of seachem reef.

I know marine depot sells it and you can will call but what retail locations carry seachem reef in so cal?

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Used IO when I mixed water years ago. Now it's good old NSW for me.

 

[EmDy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7378837#post7378837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jameschho
I know marine depot sells it and you can will call but what retail locations carry seachem reef in so cal?

I dont know anywhere else. Let me know if you found one.

 

[SteveOhh]

OK peeps, thanks for the input...............

I ended up buying Oceanpure Pro.............Tong's in FV has it for 49.99 for a 150 gallon bucket...........

Konadog..........Tong's had loads of the regular Oceanpure.........but they only had the regular in 50 gallon bags & only had the Pro in 150 gallon buckets..........hmmmm

Thanks again!!!!!

Steve