Best salt?

[ktownhero]

I like good old fashioned original IO. It's been around forever and doesn't try to be or do anything fancy. It's a stable base upon which you can build around. I would venture to guess that the number of tanks worldwide and throughout history that used IO vs anything else is not even close. It's used for everything from nano tanks in a home office to multi thousand gallon public displays. From fish only to wall-to-wall SPS tanks.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[billdogg]

I use both IO & RC in fairly equal amounts.

 

[Capsle]

been using for 8 years
red sea coral pro 175 bucket for $55

Wow i pay 80$ here and thats the cheapest i could find, some other lFS's charge 104.95.

 

[madweazl]

Throw a dart and pick one; they'll all work. Instant Ocean for me.

 

[Johnseye]

I had been using Red Sea Pro for years. It provided a little extra alk which helped me reduce supplementing. For my new tank I seeded with IO then switched to Tropic Marin regular. My calcium has remained stable but I'm adding a lot more alk and mag. My phosphates are a lot lower as well. This could have nothing to do with the difference in salts and just the difference in tanks. I also no longer get that brown residue. Tropic Marin mixes very clean. I do use regular Instant Ocean for my QT and TTM mixes. That salt consistently has a lot of junk floating at the top.

My biggest question is whether there is a difference between natural salt like Red Sea and synthetics like ESV or Tropic Marin.

 

[texdoc77]

I'm going to be ordering my first salt. I was told reef crystals are great but I know I will want coral when the time comes. Should I buy a salt that specifically says it's better for the corals now or just wait?

Ah salt, what a divisive topic. Salt is important. The problem is that everyone has a "favorite" and it is difficult to prove one is better than another. It is relatively easy to look and see what the actual contents are, but another to know if differing amounts of this or that make a difference. I think they do and I think it is impossible to test my theory. The reason it is impossible to test this theory is that each tank is different in so many ways that you cannot reliably isolate salt as a differentiating entity. So we are back to square one. I think it goes back to tank planning. What do you want in your tank. If a fowlr, then most salts will do. If adding softies, LPS and/or SPS are in your future then take a moment to look at the requirements of your favorite corals and then judge that against the contents of the salts you are considering. Of course you will need to dose, but trace elements are important as well. It also depends on how you do water changes. If you make a batch and add the next day, most salts will do. If you use an AWC system and your salt will sit for a while consider a synthetic salt. Personally I'm not a fan of changing salts, so I would recommend picking one and staying with it unless you see significant issues caused by your salt choice.

They're all pretty much same to me, especially when you have to dose because the salt won't keep up with the demand. Those regular water changes just aren't cutting it anymore.

They may be the same to you, but they are definitely not the same. Everyone with corals will need to supplement, that doesn't mean the salt does not matter.

I don't believe in a best salt. There are salts less or more ideal for what your maintenence methods or goals are and what your tank demands are.

So, its good to understand what you could expect from each brand.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554264

This

 

[Bent]

I use reef crystals.

 

[Timfish]

Instant Ocean. It doesn't matter what salt you use you will need to monitor alkalinity, calcium and magnesium and be ready to dose one or more as needed as your animals use it up. Here's a video of a couple systems kept with Instant Ocean:

http://youtu.be/_Uf5IyXvajg

http://youtu.be/-eCQSVdqBQA

 

[BruceWayne]

I have used reef crystals when I didn't have sps it has a very high alk so I chose not to use it anymore I also don't use Red Sea pro it has high alk.. Red Sea blue bucket but only if you run low alk.

 

[schnebbles]

Thank you!

TimFish - beautiful tanks!!

 

[biecacka]

I use IO, as stated once a tank matures we end up dosing anyway so no salt can keep up with our demands on water changes only. Hat being said why not use what you can afford and dose accordingly

Corey

 

[Timfish]

Thank you!

TimFish - beautiful tanks!!

Thank You!

 

[Bishopsnet]

Has anyone tried or heard about Aquaforest Probiotic Reef Salt?

 

[jason2459]

Has anyone tried or heard about Aquaforest Probiotic Reef Salt?

Yes.

It also has organics in it which if you store the saltmix for any amount of time I would keep it aerated. I am still awaiting some test results back on it to form a conclusion.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554264

 

[Bishopsnet]

Yes.

It also has organics in it which if you store the saltmix for any amount of time I would keep it aerated. I am still awaiting some test results back on it to form a conclusion.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2554264

I ordered it for my first tank setup. Jbj 28g. How do you keep it aerated?

 

[jason2459]

I ordered it for my first tank setup. Jbj 28g. How do you keep it aerated?

Airstone or mixing pump