Salt uestion for Tomoko

[jhowerton]

Tomoko, I spoke to you when you joined us for the CARC meeting at Saris Underwater near Birmingham. You mentioned the type of salt mix you use and I can't remember what it was. I've got a new 20 Gal SPS going and I want to switch away fro IO before the Chattanooga frag swap.

Thanks
...JIM...

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Hi Jim,

I am using Seachem Reef Salt. I have had very good results with this salt. The drawback is that it's more expensive than IO.

I used to use IO for many years. I think IO is a good salt. I just had a bad batch and I switched to Seachem. I like what Seachem Reef Salt did for my SPS's and I am staying with it. However, other people use IO for SPS's without any issue. Some people mix a few different salt mixes to their liking.

I wonder what other people on this forum are doing...

Tomoko

 

[dave3112]

Just to chime in.... I used to use corallife scientific grade but nobody local carried it so I switched to reef crystals and will NEVER use anything else.

Dave

 

[Bignasty1]

I usually buy seachem reef salt, but I am using some IO that I got a bucket of real cheap...

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Have any of you had a problem with old salt?
I found old partially solidified salt to mix poorly regardless of brands (it tends to precipitate and causes low alk and Ca levels.)

Tomoko

 

[kiran523]

Ca ... alk.. What are those? jk

Seachem's reef is know to have very good mag and Ca levels. In fact I came across a thread in which multiple readers were getting Ca levels more that the specified. Not a bad thing at if you have a high Ca demand but, it could a little toward the other side if you don't have a lot of SPS.

If you do like RC or IO, now is a good time to get it. Foster & Smith has a nice sale on them.

 

[hla]

I use Reef crystals and have never had a problem. I order it from Drs Foster Smith. They always run sales on it and shipping is cheap.

 

[The0wn4g3]

I use Reef Crystal now after switching from IO a few months back. I like it, but haven't noticed any major differences in coral growth or color, which I expected. The only major drawback in IO (and possibly reef crystals) is slightly elevated phosphate levels compared to other salt brands.
I will NEVER use Oceanic again. Very bad experiences with that salt.

 

[jhowerton]

Thanks everybody.

...JIM...

 

[stolaas]

I have been using Red Sea Reef Salt, and have really liked it. they market the regular salt directly from the Red Sea and the Reef Salt (upgrade) has a lot of extra stuff added to is since we use RO/DI water in out tanks that take out a lot of the important stuff.