Reef Crystals vs. Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

[greeneyesmiami]

I've used Reef Crystals for a long time and Calc, ALK and Mg always seem pretty good. Wondering what ppl. think of Red Sea Coral Pro salt vs Reef Crystals. they say RS has a little higher Calc (450), Alk around 9 and MG 1350

Anybody ever compare them? It's for my 90g SPS tank as well as my 55g soft tank.

 

[canesfan44]

I'd like to know also? I used Reef Crystals since about it first came out. I just switched to D-D. I've been looking at some of the new two-part salts and ESV B-Ionic Seawater system, and the Seachem Salinity, there are so many salts now.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Ever since reef crystals change the formula it has become at the level of all the specialized salts like red sea, D-D, tropic marin pro. with higher Magnesium, calcium and alk levels.
I don't find much difference between them other than price, availability.
There is a new salt by Tropic Marin called Bio-actif that claims to have that and some extra stuff that makes it the "best" I have not been able to try it yet but when I do I will report my observations.

 

[greeneyesmiami]

Thanks Rogger. I found a salt comparison chart on the RC Reef Chemistry Forum which shows all the salts. Reef Crystals Alk and Mg seemed a little higher than before, but that's good because it will be depleted in the tank and I don't add salt that much. Only 10-15% when I do a water change. Salts tested last yr.

 

[nivram]

Does the new RC salt still leaves a residue when mixed?

 

[canesfan44]

Does the new RC salt still leaves a residue when mixed?

Good question. I would like to know as well.

Has anyone tried the multi-part salts like B-Ionic? I really like the idea and logic behind it.

 

[Rogger Castells]

Yes it does, in fact when I tested it it did not completely clear in 24 hours of mixing

 

[tozzi]

RC is ok for one of the cheaper salts.

 

[AquamanE]

Reef Crystals Alk and Mg seemed a little higher than before, but that's good because it will be depleted in the tank and I don't add salt that much. Only 10-15% when I do a water change. Salts tested last yr.

Mitch- If your intension is to keep up with your depletion with WC's, it wont happen, especially with SPS. I can guide you to an article if you need it that documents this.

I used RC for years with OK success, my biggest issue with them was the high ALK. If that does not bother you then it is a very decent salt.

I think you should look for a salt that matches the parameters you like to keep your tank at and find a match. This will then require less/no additions when WC's occur.

 

[marke]

Salt Product Calcium Alkalinity Magnesium
Aquatic Gardens 430 8 1240
Brightwell Neomarine 370 11 1140
CoraLife 560 9 1380
Crystal Sea Marinemix 340 9 1050
Crystal Sea Marinemix Bio-Assay 340 9 1050
D-D H2Ocean 450 10 1380
Instant Ocean 400 11 1350
Kent 540 11 1200
Marine Environment 480 7.5 1450
Oceanic 580 8.5 1650
OceanPure 510 10 1320
Red Sea 400 8 1300
Red Sea Coral Pro 490 7 1300
Reef Crystals 490 13 1440
Reefer's Best 420 11 1200
SeaChem Marine Salt 500 10 1400
SeaChem Reef Salt 540 10 1450
Tropic Marin 375 10 1230
Tropic Marin Pro Reef 450 8.5 1380
Tunze Reef Salt 420 9.5 1350

Copied this off RC. Aqua---they claim alk of reefc is13? What have you tested it at? Is the difference between Instant ocean and Reef Crys only the extra Mg,Ca,Kh they add? Cant I just add it and its the same?

 

[AquamanE]

Cant I just add it and its the same?

Yes you can, but then your additions start adding up $$$$.

As far as high ALK..although when you do a small percentage/frequent WC it is no big deal, I had a hard time keeping it stable. When I found a salt that resembled what I wanted to keep levels at, although more expensive, I stuck with it because it allowed less testing (also $$) and more stable parameters.

That being said a bucket of RC used to be around $35 when one sale, now its just slightly less than some of the others making my decision to switch easier.

 

[greeneyesmiami]

So, what salt did you switch to Eddie? I've been using RC also and I still need to add ALk and Calc. because my corals suck them up.

 

[AquamanE]

So, what salt did you switch to Eddie? I've been using RC also and I still need to add ALk and Calc. because my corals suck them up.

Im currently using D-D but thats not my point. We all keep our tanks at different levels. I find that this salt allows me to keep my paarmaters more stable. I dont add anything before water cahnges BUT AGAIN water changes alone make it very difficult if not impossible to keep up with coral demmands with regards to cal and ALK unless you have a very low bioload. Dosing one way or another is almost always necessary.