"best" sps salt ...

[Greyson]

So i'm currently using reef crystals .. and i'm not thrilled with it.
Magnesium is on the low side, so is potassium.

I'm curious as to what you successful sps keepers use for your salt mix ??
I ask this because i do not have a crazy automated system and i rely on water changes to supplement my water for the most part.

i have been trying to compare some salt brands with a salt analysis and it seemed like oceanic salt was pretty good ...these were the average readings of mixes

Potassium - 360
cal- 452
mg-1143
iodine-.045
alk-3.3/dkh-9.24

The potassium could be slightly higher and same with iodine, however i think adding a little potassium iodide would solve that issue. magnesium is also slightly lower, calcium and alk seem more or less just right.

there is a chance that these levels can be 10-20% higher but this was the average amount that this salt mix had. I'm curious if anyone that has sps dom. tanks uses this brand, and if not which brand do you use ?

 

[Reefer07]

Check out the salt mixes in the sticky under the chemistry forum.
Either of the tropic marin or red sea pro salts might have what your looking for. I used to use tropic marin on my old reef. For my current tank I was using IO because at first I was doin FOWLR. Well that changed an I will be switching to Red Sea Pro.

 

[Jim Z.]

I use Red Sea Coral Pro and I like how my SPS are doing with this brand. I still dose calcium and alk. I have a small maricultured Goniopora that was not doing well so I added 2 drops of Ferrion (iron supplement) and now have full polyp extension with a feeding response. I use certain corals like the Goniopora as indicators for trace element depletion. My water changes usually take care of most of the trace elements. The best way to get ideal numbers with your salt mix is to do weekly water changes and supplement when necessary. Alk and calcium will vary the most because these chemicals are used heavily by healthy corals. They will have high depletion rates when water quality is ideal for SPS growth. ....................Jim

 

[swk]

"best" sps salt ...

I use Red Sea regular. The one in the blue bucket. It mixes close to NSW levels and has worked great for me. I had a triton test performed on my tank water and was VERY impressed when compared to tanks that use IO products. I know husbandry plays a part in the triton results, but the salt mix does play a part imo

 

[jda]

IO for me. I like RC too. I only use the 50G bags all-at-once. Either salt needs dry mixed before use or parameters can be all over the place.

TM Pro Reef is my third choice.

 

[Robert_ellis]

Tropic marin... best numbers by far.

 

[Logzor]

Jason Fox and other top vendors use Reef Crystals with great success. I see no reason to switch to other brands.

 

[keepswimming]

Tropic marin pro gets my vote!

 

[Setragni]

The absolute best salt IMO is the ESV. But it is expensive. If your tank is only 18G I would go with that... Just make sure you learn how to properly mix all the parts to achieve your goal. I used it for a while and LOVED IT. It got expensive after a while so I went back to RC. RC is a good salt but is too inconsistent. With any salt, you gotta make sure you mix the bag before use.

 

[Greyson]

It would be cool to see some FTS shots and the brand that everyone is using .

 

[Voodoo Corals]

Jason Fox and other top vendors use Reef Crystals with great success. I see no reason to switch to other brands.

Reef crystals +1000 don't blame it on the salt if your tank do sent look good....

 

[Greyson]

Reef crystals +1000 don't blame it on the salt if your tank do sent look good....

whos said my tank doesn't look good ?

 

[buy_baff]

whos said my tank doesn't look good ?

I think he was talking in general not directed at you specifically.

 

[aquaph8]

I got tired of cleaning the brown crap out of my mixing buckets, would it kill Reef Crystals to figure that out? Been using ESV for about six months with zero complaints.

 

[itche_scratche]

I used reef crystal. My mag level is fine.

 

[Greyson]

I got tired of cleaning the brown crap out of my mixing buckets, would it kill Reef Crystals to figure that out? Been using ESV for about six months with zero complaints.

Do you have a fts of your system ?

 

[aquaph8]

Do you have a fts of your system ?

 

[Setragni]

Reef crystal is not as consistent as I would like. I always test the mixed water before WC. And every bucket is different. Greyson, try ESV.

 

[Greyson]

Reef crystal is not as consistent as I would like. I always test the mixed water before WC. And every bucket is different. Greyson, try ESV.

I was considering esv but i hear alot of people are having problems with RTN with it for some reason.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Reef crystals for many years, it's been proven over and over again that RC is perfectly fine for top notch tanks.

Some fairly recent pics from my tank... Just a calcium reactor, feeding my fish, water changes, and a little GFO and GAC every now and then

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2333156&page=5