Instant Ocean salt SUCKS!

[xenon]

Low in calcium, high in alk and low in magnesium.

Why is this salt brand the most used in the hobby?

I want to be able to mix my salt and do a water change without having to test the batch and dose everything to a decent level!!!

Is reef crystals at least decent? I need a good replacement ASAP!

 

[madamo]

My favorite is Oceanic because it contains the necessary calcium and trace minerals for the reef aquarium. Just my two cents.

Good Luck,
--Michael--

 

[ocnluvr]

wow!! I've been using it for years and never noticed. Always trusted the "name". I'll be watching for more comments. What do u do test the salt water your going to change?

 

[Vitaly]

These may give you some data to consider...and help you make a informed decision.

Inland Reef Aquaria Salt Study, Part I
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1

Inland Reef Aquaria Salt Study, Part II
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1

Good luck.

 

[xenon]

I pre-mix 40gallons of saltwater and always test cal, alk, mag and salinity ofcourse before I do a water change. I am tired of dosing to match my reef tank so I decided to switch salt brands.

I am not asking for much, I just want calcium at 400-450, alk at 8.0-9.0 and magnesium at 1350-1400.

Does that seem unreasonable?

We pay enough for salt we shouldint have to spend even more on supliments for water changes!

 

[PUGroyale]

I've read where a 50/50 mix of IO and Oceanic makes for a pretty balanced mixture with the levels you're looking for. Never tried it myself though...

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10061152#post10061152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vitaly
These may give you some data to consider...and help you make a informed decision.

Inland Reef Aquaria Salt Study, Part I
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1

Inland Reef Aquaria Salt Study, Part II
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1

Good luck.

WOW!!!

Instant Ocean, Crystal Sea MarineMix and Crystal Sea Bio-Assay all mix to an unnaturally high pH. A major water change followed by the addition of kalkwasser or the rapid addition of a buffer additive could create an undesirable pH peak.

Oceanic Sea Salt has abnormally high levels of Aluminum, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. It also has a Strontium deficiency, but is otherwise similar to the other salts. Some type of metal contamination seems a possibility.
Bio-Sea MarineMix has unusually high levels of Aluminum and Vanadium.

Crystal Sea MarineMix has high levels of Antimony, Boron, Lithium, Lead, Palladium, and Titanium. Like Oceanic, it is also deficient in Strontium.

AquaMedic Sea Salt has Barium levels roughly double the other salts, as well as notably high Bismuth, Cobalt, Lead, Selenium and Titanium.

Omega Sea Marine Salt has the highest levels of Copper, Chromium, and Arsenic of all the salts tested. Its Vanadium levels are similar to Bio-Sea MarineMix.

Tropic Marin Sea Salt has high Copper and ties with Omega Sea for the highest Chromium levels.
Instant Ocean has the highest Titanium level. Its Aluminum level is also high, but less than half of the highest salt mix (Oceanic).

Kent Marine Sea Salt shares the Aluminum levels of Instant Ocean and Crystal Sea Bio-Assay, it is high, but less than half of the worst level for that element. Its Antimony and Chromium levels are also high.

Crystal Sea Bio-Assay has the highest Lithium and Nickel levels of any salt tested. It shares the moderately high Aluminum levels of Instant Ocean and Kent Marine, and also matches Kent Marine in high Antimony and Chromium.

 

[tkeracer619]

I use it and like it. its very consistant.

 

[xenon]

It seems "BIO-SEA Marinemix" is the best.

VERY interesting.

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10061234#post10061234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
I use it and like it. its very consistant.

Have you even tested your pre-mixed water? If not then how do you know if its consistant? Independant studies suggest that each batch is actually quite different.

I would not be happy with low levels of calcium and magnesium. Consistancy has nothing to do with it.

 

[tkeracer619]

Really, you can tell that from all those numbers?

 

[tkeracer619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10061247#post10061247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
Have you even tested your pre-mixed water?

never once :rolleye1:

How many buckets have you tested? I have been through 15+ batches or so.....

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10061295#post10061295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
never once :rolleye1:

How many buckets have you tested? I have been through 15+ batches or so.....

What numbers are you getting?

 

[LarryW]

take a look at Seachem reef salt. it's about 50 a bucket, and they use IO as their base salt, then add stuff to it.

 

[HowardW]

xenon,

It's pretty much been common knowledge for a long time that IO is deficient in both calcium and magnesium, yet it's still an extremely popular salt mix. RC is supposed to have better levels of calcium and mag.

I've always used either Seachem Reef Salt or Red Sea, both of which are excellent IMO.

 

[marie]

I've used IO for 15 years, my tanks seem to get along fine. But I don't use water changes to maintain my calcium and alk

 

[xenon]

That would be a good test.

Seachem’s Reef Salt .VS Red Sea Pro

 

[LarryW]

here is a blurb that one of our LFS owners got from a Seachem rep....

"I spoke with the Seachem rep a few days ago, and this is what he told me. There is a lot of propaganda about salt, which one does what, which one is better and so on. After 3 years of testing every salt base in the world, Instant Ocean is the best base salt on the market period. What you add to it is what makes the difference.

Seachem, you may not know uses the IO base salt, and then mixes there own from there and has two salt mixes. The one we know about is there Reef Salt the other is there Marine Salt. The Marine salt is very easy to describe, it is comparable to Instant Ocean’s Reef Crystals and that is it, a very good salt. The Reef Salt is more comparable to Tropic Marin with these main differences, first TM does have more trace elements in the salt, they are chelated so they release over time. This is great if you can use the salt within six months from its mix date, if not they break down in the mix are rendered useless. The Seachem salt is also rich in trace elements that can be subsidized with additives. In addition it will buffer the PH to 8.4 and uses a Boron level that is three times that of natural seawater to help maintain a high KH. And no!!! There is no study or evidence in any way that has determined that this is too high of a level for anything, in fact if you look into TM you find the same thing. Also the Seachem Reef Salt has elevated levels of Calcium, Strontium and Iodide (not toxic iodine) for advanced coral propagation. So for my money, I will use the Seachem Reef Salt, with TM at an average of $70-75 a bucket and the Seachem at an average of $45-55 a bucket plus $10-15 for a 250mL bottle of Reef plus. To me it is an easy choice, and for those whom prefer the TM by all means, it is an excellent salt!!! I just can’t justify the expense when the Seachem is as good and cheaper.

Just some facts from Seachem and an independent lab study.

Scott"

 

[tkeracer619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10061324#post10061324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
What numbers are you getting?

Todays bucket tested mag at 1250 and calcium at 350.

I would have tested the alk but someone decided to create a crayola masterpiece with it last week and I havent picked up a replacement kit yet.

 

[silverwolf72]

It's a lot easier to add the extras instead of taking them away. Plus with reef keeping being like 1% or something of the market I say there catering the mix for the masses.