Love This Salt

[markaren]

Instant Ocean was recommended to me by Randy Holmes Farley back in May when I had gotten a BAD batch of Red Sea Coral Pro. (calcium precipitated Badly)

I have never looked back.

Now I am trying IO Reef Crystals. WOW, powdery sugar. Not one tiny clump. mixes in my mixing drum like liquid. I can not wait to do some tests tonight to see if my Magnesium jumps.

Others suggested I buy on line and look for free shipping. Another Yahtzee.

200 gallons at 53.00 Dollars.

 

[r-balljunkie]

RC is pretty good stuff.

 

[ptreef]

still prefer the IO,...

Usually you can find IO for sale for like $40 shipped and RC for like $45 shipped!
I stock up for a 6 mos supply when on sale

 

[markaren]

double post

 

[markaren]

I went with IO Reef Crystals this time because I needed to boost my Magnesium.

still prefer the IO,...

Usually you can find IO for sale for like $40 shipped and RC for like $45 shipped!
I stock up for a 6 mos supply when on sale

Are you talking a 200 Gallon mix size?

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i really like the brand Salinity....mixes very nice..but it is a touch expensive...for my little 5g tank it lasts a very long time though...

 

[gchaney]

+1 on the salinity. It seams expensive at first but it actually works out since the gallon ratting is at 1.026 for reefs. And it comes in really nice buckets.

 

[markaren]

I did a water change two days ago with IO.

I have results

Post IO results

and will soon have post IO RC results. , should be interesting since all testing is with in three days. (I have no corals yet, so all is good )

 

[ptreef]

I went with IO Reef Crystals this time because I needed to boost my Magnesium.



Are you talking a 200 Gallon mix size?

yes 200g boxes

 

[Greg 45]

I also have gone back to IO
U are correct the only thing I add is Mag which is low
Reef Crystals alays mixed up dirty in container and had a chemical smell
(best way for me to describe smell)
Also tryed addind to container slow

 

[markaren]

I have half filled a 50 Gallon drum and use a bottom exit and a top return through one of the drum holes with an inline BlueLine pump.. The other drum top hole I pour the salt into by cutting an index finger hole in a corner of a bag (50g bag) and let it gravity trickle till half the bag is empty. This drum is connected to second RODI drum with the same integrated pump to do the work.

I am doing a 25 Gallon mix this time because I just got this new mixing system set up and want to go slow for its second mix.

 

[JPMagyar]

Salt selection is one of the top ten most often discussed threads since the beginning of forum discussion. My only comment is that I tested numerous brands over 6 months and I change almost 100 gallons a week so I use a LOT of salt. When I did that testing I found that IO salt (not IO and RC) varied in their makeup by more than 20% with calcium running anywhere from 365 to 450 for IO. If we're plugging salt I will say that hands down the most consistent makeup I have found is ESV. Their process is tedious and expensive, but they have the salt that tests the most consistently the same and is closest to NSW in makeup when you follow the directions.

 

[EddieJ]

Salt selection is one of the top ten most often discussed threads since the beginning of forum discussion. My only comment is that I tested numerous brands over 6 months and I change almost 100 gallons a week so I use a LOT of salt. When I did that testing I found that IO salt (not IO and RC) varied in their makeup by more than 20% with calcium running anywhere from 365 to 450 for IO. If we're plugging salt I will say that hands down the most consistent makeup I have found is ESV. Their process is tedious and expensive, but they have the salt that tests the most consistently the same and is closest to NSW in makeup when you follow the directions.

+1



excellent quality, consistent from batch to batch , mixes absolutely clean.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[richiero]

I love esv also, I just got into the hobbie and my tank has been ruinning for four months using esv my numbers are always on point. I just pre portion the ammounts and the w/c go very quick 20 min and w/c is done. But what I did notice was that I was getting a 0.025ppm ammonia reading with my new 200g supply. I posted that here on reef central and they said its common in many salt mixes.

 

[L_Spec]

RC is my go-to salt. I love using Coralife salt because the super high calcium helps with my SPS and clam, but RC is probably the best balance of minerals, so I always go back to RC from time to time.

 

[rtparty]

Salt selection is one of the top ten most often discussed threads since the beginning of forum discussion. My only comment is that I tested numerous brands over 6 months and I change almost 100 gallons a week so I use a LOT of salt. When I did that testing I found that IO salt (not IO and RC) varied in their makeup by more than 20% with calcium running anywhere from 365 to 450 for IO. If we're plugging salt I will say that hands down the most consistent makeup I have found is ESV. Their process is tedious and expensive, but they have the salt that tests the most consistently the same and is closest to NSW in makeup when you follow the directions.

Enough said.

Nothing in this hobby has caused me more grief than RC salt. All 3 of my tanks struggled for over a year using it. I threw a 1/4 bucket of it away and never looked back.

I only use ESV now and won't touch anything else.

Glad to hear you like it though Mark. Find what works for you and stick with it.

 

[guy9smiley2]

Took advantage of Black Friday sale n bought 3 200g boxs of io reef crystals for $36 each. The 600g of salt should last me awhile =).

 

[markaren]

Hmmmm, darn IT!!!...Not sold yet. The Mag. came in at 1170 and no where close to the 1275 I was expecting at my 1.025 calibrated salinity. Heck!!! that is about where I am at with IO, I am trying to do water changes to go up in Magnesium "specifically" and is why I bought according to packaging information.LOLOL (laughter slowly stopping)

This seems to be IO in different packaging.

ESV huh , I have been a pretty solid member here in the category of "listen and learn" , I do not mind throwing out salt or blending it in over time. I do mind having results I have paid for. The results are my water and that is what I am schooling for.

Thanks again guys. This thread is free to drift where it wants to go regarding salt. Lets consider the title "Your Personal Love Salt" and why of course.

Just did some ESV reading. Nice , and right up my alley. I do not mind mixing especially if I get what I am paying for regardless of price. Why would I want a bargain price if the product is not as advertised in content.After all we do not buy salt for its taste...Right?
The RC mixes great and I had no precipitating problems. I just did not see the packaging number results.

ESV is coming next , thanks to the polite suggestions above.

 

[sirreal63]

Mark, that is an expensive way to raise Mag. Why not add a mag supplement from BRS or even Epsom Salt?

 

[markaren]

I am considering that, I suppose i am trying to have a balance through what i put in from the beginning. does everyone does for Mag. I thought mine was low and tested my IO mix and I got my answer. I thought if the salt I put in is low then I would have to dose up. It seemed logical to get salt with correct Mag and not dose Mag. does this make sense?