The best saltmix you are using
- Thread starter shenyong
- Start date
Lyscer
New member
I think it all depends on what type of corals you are trying to sustain. In my tank I loved Oceanic because it has higher traces of Magnesium and calcium which SPS like. My brother-in-law used oceanic and it pushed his calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity through the roof and things started to die off. He has since switched over to Instant Ocean and his parameters stay fairly stable with no other dosing.
well, i have a 180g mostly sps, and i never mixed salt by myself. I've been buying salt water from my LFS since i 1st have my tank started. Since most of the reefers mix their own saltwater, i feel like i wanna do it myself too.
Anyone out there can teach me how to mix it? I'd be appreciate
reefworm
New member
Crystal Sea/Forty Fathoms for bioassay research.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/729/Crystal-Sea-Forty-Fathoms
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/729/Crystal-Sea-Forty-Fathoms
cbusreefer
In Memoriam
I myself see no reason to buy anything but instant ocean. It's cheaper than most of the other brands and contains no additives. If you're going to be dosing/ run a CA reactor, why would you want to use a brand that throws your parameters off when you do a water change?
With that being said, if you don't plan on dosing, i myself would probably go with Reef Crystals or the like and you'd probably be fine with most softies.
My $.02
With that being said, if you don't plan on dosing, i myself would probably go with Reef Crystals or the like and you'd probably be fine with most softies.
My $.02
I use Instant Ocean and boost it with magnesium via MAG flake and calcium via Dowflake. That method is cheaper than most any other salt mix (cheaper than IO alone) and gives exactly what I want in a salt mix.
fshaqrmman
New member
I have also always used IO and Kent Marine.
Recently just started a tank with Seachem SeaSalt....anyone have any experience with it?
Recently just started a tank with Seachem SeaSalt....anyone have any experience with it?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13600056#post13600056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shenyong
well, i have a 180g mostly sps, and i never mixed salt by myself. I've been buying salt water from my LFS since i 1st have my tank started. Since most of the reefers mix their own saltwater, i feel like i wanna do it myself too.
Anyone out there can teach me how to mix it? I'd be appreciate
mixing your own saltwater is very easy ( and probably cheaper)
you just need a container to hold the water. rubbermaid brute garbage cans are cost effective.
a heater, powerhead and refractometer to check the SG of the mixed water
i have found approx 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water is close.
combine the salt and water in the container with heater and powerhead. let it circulate for about 24 hours. check your SG. add salt to raise the SG and RO water to lower as needed.
steve
DheereCrossing
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13603563#post13603563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
I use Instant Ocean and boost it with magnesium via MAG flake and calcium via Dowflake. That method is cheaper than most any other salt mix (cheaper than IO alone) and gives exactly what I want in a salt mix.
I don't get it Randy - how can IO+Dowflake+Magflake be cheaper than IO?
ReefEnabler
Premium Member
I use Coralife salt.
I used
Coralife - Ca, Mg, alk were high but something wasn't quite right and I never got the colors in SPS
Seachem - Ca, alk high but Mg deficient Better colors but bulk magnesium is probably needed. I needed 2 kg of Seachem mag to boost one bucket's worth or salt.
I agree with cbusreefer about throwing your parameters of in a water change. If you are going to the trouble of maintaining Ca and alk with daily doing to minimize the swing of ions in your tank, then why would you want to deal with a spike from a necessary water change.
It might be possible though, to use the water change to have the same Ca, and alk boost to your system as one day's worth of dosing (two-part), and then skip the dosing that day.
Coralife - Ca, Mg, alk were high but something wasn't quite right and I never got the colors in SPS
Seachem - Ca, alk high but Mg deficient Better colors but bulk magnesium is probably needed. I needed 2 kg of Seachem mag to boost one bucket's worth or salt.
I agree with cbusreefer about throwing your parameters of in a water change. If you are going to the trouble of maintaining Ca and alk with daily doing to minimize the swing of ions in your tank, then why would you want to deal with a spike from a necessary water change.
It might be possible though, to use the water change to have the same Ca, and alk boost to your system as one day's worth of dosing (two-part), and then skip the dosing that day.
tkeracer619
New member
I use whatever I have. I buy whatever I can get cheapest.
Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean is probably my favorite so far and they are cheap. Get salt through dr foster and smith. The flat rate shipping is sweet. Get a couple locals to order 2 buckets each and you can get the salt for ~$32 landed per bucket
Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean is probably my favorite so far and they are cheap. Get salt through dr foster and smith. The flat rate shipping is sweet. Get a couple locals to order 2 buckets each and you can get the salt for ~$32 landed per bucket
