So in the past I have always ran Reef Crystals and for the most part had good success. The one thing I have hated about that salt though it no much brown residue it leaves in my mixing containers. I am looking to switch to another salt on my new tank and wanted to see what others were using.
What salt are you using?
- Thread starter Gondore
- Start date
SneekaPeek
New member
I use red sea blue bucket, great levels except for mag, gotta boost that up with added mag cost, however I do get a slight brown in my tub. The cleanest salt I have ever used was tropic marin pro reef, but I got bad buckets of that stuff back in the day, alk was at 4.9dkh. switched to red sea and never looked back. plus my wallet has been really happy from $90 a bucket to $60 a bucket every month, which is an amazing savings.
swk
New member
I used to use Red Sea blue bucket, but switched to IO after seeing a triton test on fresh mixed salt with rodi water. Maganese was 50x nsw levels and my tank showed symptoms consistent with that result. This was before the triton text review by rich Ross, however, things improved immediately after switching salts. I know that's only anecdotal but was my experience
I use IO. No residue, but I mix it cold with a full container of water and heat later.
I mix the 50G bags and it mixed perfectly every time. No need to dry mix and hope that it did not settle. FWIW - Tropic Marin is really bad about settling IME... parms all over the place from the top of the bucket vs. the bottom.
I mix the 50G bags and it mixed perfectly every time. No need to dry mix and hope that it did not settle. FWIW - Tropic Marin is really bad about settling IME... parms all over the place from the top of the bucket vs. the bottom.
Jettareefer
New member
I use coralife salt it's cheap, dissolves well, and the parameters also match my tank nicely. I was unhappy with reef crystals after using it on and off for 2 years.
Blueline12
Member
Why does it matter about leaving a residue? As long as it has a proper levels who cares. And I use D&D H2Ocean and it leaves plenty of residue.
redwhiteandblue
New member
SeaChem reef is same price, and gives me good numbers every batch, minimal residue and mixes quickly
fishguy597
Member
Nothing scientific here but I find the residue in the bucket gets in my tank and my corals don't like it. I usually move on to the next batch of salt.
Houndsbayman
New member
reef Crystals also
spsfreak25
I'm the real joker
I use red sea coral pro. I use to use reef crystals but sense i was doing all sps i wanted the high lvls it offers. Been 3 weeks with this salt mix and im already growing coraline.
JammyBirch
Aquaria Engineering
Just switched to RC i was using Instant Ocean, saw some residue in the bucket but figured i was adding the salt too quickly. Since i have been adding it more uniformely i haven't had any issue.
What is the brown stuff anyway? It crudded up my heater big time in the bucket.
What is the brown stuff anyway? It crudded up my heater big time in the bucket.
RainbowReefer
New member
Bilk
New member
Used ESV for the last year and recently switched to regular TM. It mixes the same every time for me and clears within 10 minutes or so.
I switched from ESV because it was testing positive for PO4 on a fresh mix. Speaking to the owner, he claimed this was within tolerance and acceptable. I didn't agree. I too sent in a test to Triton. I tested my tank water and not fresh mixed water. It showed very high levels for manganese and lithium. So I bought a few buckets of TM to see how things go. So far I like it. I may get a bucket of TMP to see what that's about. Both TM products are available from Petco at a discount with free shipping and can be placed on an automatic replenishment schedule to show up at the door without having to remember to order. ESV was becoming problematic, not being available when I needed it.
I switched from ESV because it was testing positive for PO4 on a fresh mix. Speaking to the owner, he claimed this was within tolerance and acceptable. I didn't agree. I too sent in a test to Triton. I tested my tank water and not fresh mixed water. It showed very high levels for manganese and lithium. So I bought a few buckets of TM to see how things go. So far I like it. I may get a bucket of TMP to see what that's about. Both TM products are available from Petco at a discount with free shipping and can be placed on an automatic replenishment schedule to show up at the door without having to remember to order. ESV was becoming problematic, not being available when I needed it.
degibson84
New member
Recently switched back to regular instant ocean. I supplement with Dow flake during mixing to increase calcium levels to 420-440
