Question for expert/long time reefer: Is there really a different between salt mix?

[WatDatThing]

Is there really a different between salt mix for reef tank? Instant Ocean Salt Mix, Instant Ocean Reef Crystal and RS Coral Pro?
Edit: what do you use?

 

[heathlindner25]

What defines " expert or long time"?

 

[Sk8r]

Read their content labels.
Oceanic is high in magnesium: can help a very established reef stay up with it.
Instant Ocean is lower: good for starting out
Some salts are for fish-only: they are lower in calcium and other minerals and cheaper than reef salts.

 

[rtparty]

Finding a salt mix that stays consistent over time is tough to do in my experience.

I wouldn't touch Reef Crystals after all the issues I had with their salt. Salt can make a big difference

 

[ericarenee]

Read their content labels.
Oceanic is high in magnesium: can help a very established reef stay up with it.
Instant Ocean is lower: good for starting out
Some salts are for fish-only: they are lower in calcium and other minerals and cheaper than reef salts.

I agree with this but will add you need to consider how often you mix salt water, Store and keep it.. Some mixes say to use it right after you mix it some say you can store for x hours.. temp of your water source and where you store it can also play in...

instant ocean seems to be the best for longer mixed shelf life..

I use Kent marine...... It stores fine mixes very clear and does not Leave residue in my mixing/ storage tank as bad as IO ..

..
I do not like the mixes that have higher and unequal amounts of elements you need to mix them right before use and i would rather have a base then add what my tanks need.

My NON EXPERT Opinion... I have only been into marine Aquariums for 20 years I am a newbie in my opinion..

 

[WatDatThing]

What defines " expert or long time"?

If you think you have experience, chime in.

 

[billdogg]

I'm a relative newbie too! (this would be year 30 with marine tanks)

What I have found is that even if you stick to the same brand there will be differences between batches. I test new batches to see where they are at and adjust from there.

I use primarily Instant Ocean and/or Reef Crystals but have, at one time or another, used pretty much every brand on the market and IME, they all have the same issues and should be checked after mixing.

To help with consistency I order 5 or 6 200g boxes at a time so that (hopefully) they come from the same batch and should therefore be similar in make up.

 

[Sk8r]

You may also have issues with 'settling' in the barrel. With Oceanic, I used to dip out a bit and then roll and tumble the barrel to try to solve that.

I like Instant Ocean's habit of packing 4 plastic bags in the same volume as the barrel. I'm more confident that at least what I dip up is not just the finest grained mineral in the lot, but likely the salt as it was mixed at the factory.

 

[ericarenee]

I'm a relative newbie too! (this would be year 30 with marine tanks)

What I have found is that even if you stick to the same brand there will be differences between batches. I test new batches to see where they are at and adjust from there.

I use primarily Instant Ocean and/or Reef Crystals but have, at one time or another, used pretty much every brand on the market and IME, they all have the same issues and should be checked after mixing.

To help with consistency I order 5 or 6 200g boxes at a time so that (hopefully) they come from the same batch and should therefore be similar in make up.

Same here. I have had big consistence issues with bucket salt . I mix a whole bag at once every time.. you cant do that when you buy buckets. unless you have a huge mixing tank

 

[WatDatThing]

I like Instant Ocean's habit of packing 4 plastic bags in the same volume as the barrel. I'm more confident that at least what I dip up is not just the finest grained mineral in the lot, but likely the salt as it was mixed at the factory.

Does the bucket also have 4 bags? I bought a box that has 4 bags.

 

[Desert Sea]

The bigger issue is not so much what salt is better than the other but rather picking one and sticking with it. Consistency is the name of the game. Switching back and forth among brands can lead to problems.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Salt mixes not just got a lot more, but also a lot better in the last years.

Some years ago several products had non optimum Ca /Alk but especially often too low Mg Levels.
Manufacturers improved here. As one reason I see the much better knowledge level of many reefers and also that we can and do much better measure the big three (Ca, Alk Mg) and thus identify suboptimal salts.

Besides this the probably biggest difference, besides quality issues/impurities, is the type and amount of trace Elements included in the mixtures. As we can't really measure this by our own, we have to rely on our manufacturers here.
luckily what we see is from good ... very good here

Buckets: if you own a bigger tank you will shorter or longer buy buckets.
Yes there is sometimes "not perfect mixed" salts within one bucket. I see the reason in separation of the crystals by steadily shaking in transport.
When I get a new bucket and open for the first time, I take a spoon and mix it within the bucket. At your home there will be no more unmixing as during transport before


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[Sk8r]

I can't speak for all brands. IO is the only one I know that gives you separate packets in the large volume purchase.

 

[ericarenee]

I can't speak for all brands. IO is the only one I know that gives you separate packets in the large volume purchase.

Reef Crystals do as well of course

Kent marine what i like do the same

If you like IO Salt try Kent marine..My opinion you will not go back to IO its similar in price the crystals are almost powder like

from my experience

 

[Sk8r]

I went to IO because of low mg demand in my tank: Oceanic was running my mg (unconsumed) absolutely sky high. IO is lower in a lot of things and now I have to watch my alk much more closely---Oceanic maintained it really well, with that high mg.
How's Kent in that regard?

 

[davocean]

Totally agree w/ Billdogg's comment, so I buy the 200g box and test that, and I've been using reefcrystals for many years, it's worked well for me.

 

[anthonys51]

i use reef Crystal because its cheap plus i like the bucket better than the box, i once had the bags turn yellowish, maybe i didn't store probably, but haven't had this issue with the bucket (yet)

i also only do 8-10 percent water changes, and i dont really feel what salt mix you use matters too much. i feel they all work well enough.