Instant Ocean salt...which one?

[allendehl]

Did a bit of a research and many here recommend the "regular " IO salt for mixing. I found the 2 options below at Amazon but can't tell which one is "regular" and why.
Help!

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[billdogg]

The top one (purple box, less expensive) is "regular" instant ocean (IO). The orange box is IO reef crystals (IORC). I use both, depending on just where my parameters are at the time.

Starting out with a newish tank and few if any corals, IO will be more than enough. Down the road, if you get a heavy coral load (LPS/SPS) and start using more calcium and alkalinity, then you might switch to IORC.

 

[allendehl]

The top one (purple box, less expensive) is "regular" instant ocean (IO). The orange box is IO reef crystals (IORC). I use both, depending on just where my parameters are at the time.

Starting out with a newish tank and few if any corals, IO will be more than enough. Down the road, if you get a heavy coral load (LPS/SPS) and start using more calcium and alkalinity, then you might switch to IORC.

Thanks a lot bill! In your experience is this a good price or should I continue to shop around?

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[billdogg]

I buy mine from Foster and Smith when they have a sale, and then I buy as much as I can. Usually 6-8 boxes. The FedEx guy hates me! My LFS will have it on sale about once a year as well. I'll buy as much as he'll sell me.

 

[ROlympia]

I used IO and got good results. Couldn't really tell any difference between it and Reef Crystals. I'm trying Tropic Marin Pro Reef this water change because I'm tired of the fluctuation in alk every water change. Rather add 20 ml soda ash to raise it than several ml's muriatic acid to bring it down.

 

[homer1475]

I use regular IO(the purple box). Over the course of 5 200G boxes(what I've used since switching from RC), the parameters mix up almost exactly the same everytime.

I add a tiny bit of muratic acid to bring the ALK down to 8.5, and a small amount of calcium to bring that up.

The small amount of dosing needed doesn't negate the cheaper price then RC, and I can dose it to match my tank so doing WC's doesn't throw anything off.