Can't Decide Which Salt to Use
- Thread starter scelona
- Start date
as much as this hobby costs its surprising that some reefers skimp on salt, ime, io is cleaner than rc. always had residue with rc, cheaper salts take more salt to get to nsw lvls. ive tried salinity, mixes cloudy lots residue high alk blah. finally got smart and figured out the germans were always at the point in pretty much everything related to this. so tropic marin pro is my 2nd choice when hw isn't available. in fact I had to pestur my lfs guys to get me hw. I don't believe we should order our stuff online and cut out our lfs dudes to save a few bucks. my reason is if we do that we will be mail ordering flake food and light bulbs. so getting back to the point go big , bug your lfs to get what you want, and if it isn't hw why bother lol gl zsu
cougareyes
New member
I use HW-Marinemix Reefer Salt, the parameters are in line with what I keep my tank at; it clears instantly.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
German Salts are the Best for sure.
I know a Guy Who Uses HW and Swears by it.
Says it is the Best Salt out there and Tropic Marin Pro is Number 2 Just like you say.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
German Salts use the Highest Grade Sodium Chloride that is why they are more expensive.
American Companies use Low Grade Sodium Chloride to Keep the Price Low.
lol its me steve, .. curt, btw whatever those frags i got from you are called they are doing well, btw what species are they?
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
LOL!
Didn't Realize that was you Curt.
Jason Fox Outer Space Psammocora
Don't remember the other one you got.
Was it Orange and Encrusting?
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
That is the Jason Fox Outer Space Psammocora
What Does the Other One Look Like that you Got.
I Believe It was Solid Bright Orange Right?
Are you sure or did they just advertise this? I've never seen any documentation to support this apparent propaganda.
I think it's pretty common knowledge that the difference in price is due to the very high shipping costs. If anything, I would think the opposite is true....
Personally i think it depends on your setup and your maintenance practices, if you are planning on supplementing mineral demand via water changes then using a salt mix that tests out above NSW levels in alk, mag and cal can be a good idea however best to stick with smaller changes more often to avoid big swings.
If you are dosing 2 part or using a calcium reactor it's best to use a salt close to NSW, as if your dosing regime/pumps or reactor are dialed in to meet demand eventually your parameters will eventually become the same as the salt you use with waterchanges. For instance, I was using RSCP but as soon as I got my calcium reactor online and dialed in, my levels were creeping up after each W/C to the point where my alk was rising too high, each batch of water I made with RSCP would test out at 11-12.5 in alk. I switched to HW for a while and was very happy with the results very close to NSW, expensive though and not locally available. I needed a long term solution and even though most the products they make are pretty shoddy, Coralife actually makes a decent salt parameter wise. The LFS where I live has it super cheap. Happy with it.
While I couldn't provide proof, I wouldn't be surprised if that fish guy is right that German salts source purer ingredients than most American brands, that is just how Germans "roll" they generally don't manufactur stuff for the pure sake of profit, there is a bit more quality control there, Not to mention it's practically the birthplace of reef keeping, they make stuff to be the best using the best materials, precise engineering and product development so sure it's going to be more cashola but in the end you are getting a quality product. Too rich for my blood at the moment though, but probably worth it if you have the means.
Just my .02 on the topic.
If you are dosing 2 part or using a calcium reactor it's best to use a salt close to NSW, as if your dosing regime/pumps or reactor are dialed in to meet demand eventually your parameters will eventually become the same as the salt you use with waterchanges. For instance, I was using RSCP but as soon as I got my calcium reactor online and dialed in, my levels were creeping up after each W/C to the point where my alk was rising too high, each batch of water I made with RSCP would test out at 11-12.5 in alk. I switched to HW for a while and was very happy with the results very close to NSW, expensive though and not locally available. I needed a long term solution and even though most the products they make are pretty shoddy, Coralife actually makes a decent salt parameter wise. The LFS where I live has it super cheap. Happy with it.
While I couldn't provide proof, I wouldn't be surprised if that fish guy is right that German salts source purer ingredients than most American brands, that is just how Germans "roll" they generally don't manufactur stuff for the pure sake of profit, there is a bit more quality control there, Not to mention it's practically the birthplace of reef keeping, they make stuff to be the best using the best materials, precise engineering and product development so sure it's going to be more cashola but in the end you are getting a quality product. Too rich for my blood at the moment though, but probably worth it if you have the means.
Just my .02 on the topic.
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
Is your Test Kit Off or your Water not at 1.026
I used Reef Crystals for 5 Years (About a Box Per Month) all were Tested and none were ever anywhere near 9 Alkalinity.
Much Much Higher.
What do you Test with?
How do you Measure your Salinity?
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
that Fish Guy
Frag Swap Crusader!
+1
Well Said.
Germans make many great Reefing Products in Addition to Salt such as T5 Bulbs.
In General Germany makes Great Products outside of Reefing Like Cars.
Germany has a Higher Standard to their Products compared to other Countries such as China.
Potatohead
New member
I'm trying to do this in my head... What's the highest quality American salt? Seachem? IO/RC? Kent? Brightwell? ESV? I don't know that those are considered high end really, although they're certainly decent to good.
Tropic Marin - Germany
Red Sea - UK
D&D - Germany
KZ - Germany
HW - Germany
Aquaforest - Poland
Of course he told you, that is what company supplied propaganda is. He's a liar taking advantage of ignorant reefers. You are paying for the shipping....
Exactly !
Generally on buying any product, reefing related or not, when I see "Made in Germany" I know I am buying a high quality, well designed product.
