what brand of salt is best?
- Thread starter tony12
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sir_dudeguy
Active member
there is no "best." The salt itself is pretty much all the same (like motor oil...all of it comes from the same oil rig thingy...each company just adds their own detergents and stuff to the oils and claim them their own).
Same with salts for the most part...the salt is the same, its juts the additives (like calcium and stuff) that make one "better" or "worse" than another. Just depends on what you're looking to do. If you're doing fish only, i say just go for the cheap stuff. No sense buying stuff meant for a reef tank that is expensive.
All that being said, i like reef crystals the most. Its cheap and has good levels.
It is 44 SHIPPED for a whole bucket which is good for 160g of water...thats from drsfostersmith.com.
Same with salts for the most part...the salt is the same, its juts the additives (like calcium and stuff) that make one "better" or "worse" than another. Just depends on what you're looking to do. If you're doing fish only, i say just go for the cheap stuff. No sense buying stuff meant for a reef tank that is expensive.
All that being said, i like reef crystals the most. Its cheap and has good levels.
It is 44 SHIPPED for a whole bucket which is good for 160g of water...thats from drsfostersmith.com.
Billy1234
New member
You're going to get a million and one different opinions. My personal opinion on which is best is Tropic Marin. A lot of people use Instant Ocean and have good results with it. I still believe in "you get what you pay for" when it comes to this hobby, but that's just me. HTH.
clowninaround74
New member
i would say the new seachem but like stated before thats just my preference
i love reef crystals 'cause the box is pretty.....
it doesn't matter, but. I would go for something that has mad levels like reef crystals, red sea coral pro. etc. for a nano. I switched from nano to 90g. and now use IO (instant ocean) 'cause it's cheap cheap cheap.
but the box aint pretty.....
it doesn't matter, but. I would go for something that has mad levels like reef crystals, red sea coral pro. etc. for a nano. I switched from nano to 90g. and now use IO (instant ocean) 'cause it's cheap cheap cheap.
but the box aint pretty.....
kathainbowen
New member
Actually, I'm going to have to agree on this one, from personal experience.
My old manager called me into the back office one day, making me think I was about to get the talk of "you're fired" or "you royally ****ed off someone you shouldn't have." Instead, I was presented with this...
Advanced Aquarist's : Inland Reef Aquaria Study
This study had some rather interesting results to it, pointing out several elements and compounds we consider to be toxic to corals being in levels higher than concentrations found in nature. Other necessary compounds or elements were found lacking compared to natural saltwater. While other studies have indicated that the concentrations may vary from batch to batch of salt, many other studies have agreed that these are concentrations are not meeting the concentrations found in natural sea water. That being said, theoretically, there is no one, truly perfect synthetic sea salt that EXACTLY replicates nature.
Use your best judgment when selecting a sea salt if you know how to read these values or if you are familiar with their behavior. If you don't like a salt, don't use it. If you find one you like and your stock likes, stick with that one.
Now, as per my personal picks, I like Kent and Instant Ocean. I've used and enjoyed both of them. I haven't personally had the chance to try Tropic Marin, but it also scored fairly well in the study, so I would probably recommend that one, too.
G'luck and happy reefing!
Doglover_50
Premium Member
I'm glad to hear you like Kent. Picked up the 200g size from someone leaving the hobby for 10 bucks. At the time didn't know if was decent stuff or crap.
kathainbowen
New member
Oh, no, my good internet friend.... OCEANIC is crap. Out of all the commonly available synethtic sea salts (since not everyone is blessed enough to have LFSs that carry Tropic Marin or other high grade sea salts), Kent and Instant Ocean are two of the best you can find.
Oceanic mixes the best out of all the synthetic sea salts, making it nice for FOWLR.... but.... here's the rub for all you reef keepers..... every wonder WHY it mixes so fast, even in cool to cold water? Because it's loaded with Manganese (no, not Japanese comics, but all the cold medicines I've been taking is making me chuckle heartily over my mental image...), which makes the salt more soluble.
After reading the independent study from the Advanced Aquarist and my own personal experience with Kent, I've been quite pleased with it. Yeah, it doesn't mix as swiftly as other salts (although, in my experience, it is definitely more soluble than Reef Crystal), but all the corals I have ever kept with it have done very nicely, from softies to SPS and even clams and inverts. All the market research points to Kent being a pretty decent salt (although, as previously admitted, there is no perfect synthetic sea salt), fairly commonly available, and not too terribly high priced (although, certainly not as cheap as the lower grade salts like Oceanic).
If your familiar with different reef toxins and compounds, you should definitely check out the study, both the part I and part II. Very interesting stuff. Although, SeaChem salts were not a part of the study, and I don't think Red Sea was either, so the one from the Advanced Aquarist does not count those into their consideration. =/
Oceanic mixes the best out of all the synthetic sea salts, making it nice for FOWLR.... but.... here's the rub for all you reef keepers..... every wonder WHY it mixes so fast, even in cool to cold water? Because it's loaded with Manganese (no, not Japanese comics, but all the cold medicines I've been taking is making me chuckle heartily over my mental image...), which makes the salt more soluble.
After reading the independent study from the Advanced Aquarist and my own personal experience with Kent, I've been quite pleased with it. Yeah, it doesn't mix as swiftly as other salts (although, in my experience, it is definitely more soluble than Reef Crystal), but all the corals I have ever kept with it have done very nicely, from softies to SPS and even clams and inverts. All the market research points to Kent being a pretty decent salt (although, as previously admitted, there is no perfect synthetic sea salt), fairly commonly available, and not too terribly high priced (although, certainly not as cheap as the lower grade salts like Oceanic).
If your familiar with different reef toxins and compounds, you should definitely check out the study, both the part I and part II. Very interesting stuff. Although, SeaChem salts were not a part of the study, and I don't think Red Sea was either, so the one from the Advanced Aquarist does not count those into their consideration. =/
Mojo Jojo
In Memoriam
Oceanic has been doing good for me so far. IO worked great for me the first time, but not the second time I set-up my tank. That is why I switched to Oceanic.
The point is pick a salt mix ... there is no good and bad, everybody just settles for their mix and claims to be the best. The water on the area also plays a big role as not all is the same.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
i'm with bowen too...oceanic isnt very good. I always had very high calcium (over 550 usually) and pretty low pH with oceanic.
but joey joeq had a good point too...everyone settles for their own salt and claims it to be the best.
Which is why i say again what i said in the first post....there is no "BEST" salt
but joey joeq had a good point too...everyone settles for their own salt and claims it to be the best.
Which is why i say again what i said in the first post....there is no "BEST" salt
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