which salt

[natebedwell06]

have tried aquavitro salinity, liked it, although it was a p.i.t.a to get to mix clear
tried kent reef, liked it although numbers were high i.m.o
was wondering what salt most people were using in their sps dominant tanks

 

[MammothReefer]

io for me hw when i'm feeling spendy

 

[sirreal63]

Regular IO for many many years, thee is no real reason to pay more for a designer salt.

 

[Dmorty217]

I just recently purchased brightwell aquatics neomarine to give it a try. To early to let you know what I think but I have read a lot of good stuff about it

 

[AdamDeMamp]

I started with Reef Crystals, but the Ca and kH were too high. I switched to IO, and never looked back.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Old school reef crystals works great

 

[toothman]

reef crystal are good and inexpensive. I switched to Royal Nature 3 months ago and think my tank looks better. It is made from dehydrated sea water, I think it may be the only brand with that claim. I added 2 wild colonies last week and they look very happy. In the past wild colonies seemed to struggle. It may not be the salt but my tank has never looked better.

 

[greenlime100]

Ive used the coral life when my tank was FOWLR and would not recommend this salt, takes too long to dissolve and the natural salinity is low. Ive used the Red Sea salt mix and it was really good, salinity, cal, mag etc are really good.
Because that sat isnt really available to me I am switching to reef crystals, head great things about it and expecting great results.

 

[jackson6745]

Ive used the coral life when my tank was FOWLR and would not recommend this salt, takes too long to dissolve and the natural salinity is low. Ive used the Red Sea salt mix and it was really good, salinity, cal, mag etc are really good.
Because that sat isnt really available to me I am switching to reef crystals, head great things about it and expecting great results.

LOL I've used coralife for the last 8 years and had great success with my SPS tanks. IME it mixes clear quite fast. I usually mix my water overnight anyway. My latest batch mixes 10dkh, 420 cal, and 1150 mg (I raise mg to 1300)
I just don't see the benefit to paying double for a salt.

 

[Laddy]

I believe I've used all the major brand salt mixes over the years, but prefer IO. I really dont need the elevated levels that reef crystals provides, however, I'd have no problem switching over to it. I liked Seachem Reef for a few years, then I couldn't find it locally.

I mainly get IO b/c salt, and carbon are the only things I buy at the big retail chains, and its readily available and usually cheaper.

My recommendation is to buy a brand you like and stick with that one brand; remember this: its rarely your salt mixes fault when you're having problems with your tank.

Good luck.

 

[nysbadmk8]

Ive used the coral life when my tank was FOWLR and would not recommend this salt, takes too long to dissolve and the natural salinity is low. Ive used the Red Sea salt mix and it was really good, salinity, cal, mag etc are really good.
Because that sat isnt really available to me I am switching to reef crystals, head great things about it and expecting great results.

Explain how the salinity mixes low.. Id love to hear this...

 

[Lumix]

Started with RSCP but had problems getting it to mix clear and alk/Ca were too high. Then switched to Royal Nature. RN mixes clear and left no residue on the pumps and bucket but the alk and ca levels were way too low (possibly bad batch). Now I'm using regular red sea (blue bucket), liking it so far. It mixes clear and alk and ca is 7.8 and 410 respectively.

 

[krzyphsygy]

Seachem Reef Salt is the best salt I have ever used. I really like the levels it gives me at 1.024. Alk 7.0 Mag 1400 cal 450 consistently.

To me thats perfect. I usually keep alk at 7.7-8.0 so I raise alk just a tiny bit, the rest of the perams are perfect for my sps tank.

I have used IO, Reef Crystals, Tropic Marin, TM Pro Reef, and Seachem is my fav. The salt has zero rocks or hard pcs in it and mixes very well very quickly.

 

[toothman]

THOUGHT A VIDEO OF MY TANK WITH ROYAL NATURE SALT. I AM NOT REALLY SURE IS REALLY GOOD IF SALT MIXES QUICK. I USUALLY MIX UP ENOUGH FOR A WEEKS WATER CHANGE AND MAKE THREE 40 GALLON WATER CHANGES. EVEN IF IT TOOK A DAY FOR THE ULTIMATE SALT TO DISSOLVE I HAVE THE TIME. CA, KH, MG ARE EASY TO MEASURE AND THE EASIEST TO FIX SINCE WE CAN MEASURE IT. I JUST TESTED ROYAL NATURE AT .35 SALINITY AND IT TESTED WELL, IF IT IS MADE FROM DEHYDRATED SEA WATER IT MOST LIKELY WILL TEST JUST LIKE THE WATER OF THE RED SEA WHERE IT IS MADE. POSSIBLY IT MAY BE HIGHER AND LOWER THAN WE WOULD EXPECT BUT IF IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR SOHOL TANGS, PURPLE TANGS AND OTHER WONDERFUL RED SEA LIFE IT IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. IT IS HARD TO MEASURE ALL THE INGREDIENTS IN SALT, ALL THE TRACE ELEMENTS ETC. I CAN PROMISE THAT MY CORALS LOOK WONDERFUL WITH THIS SALT. ALSO KEEPING PHOS AT .01-.03, NITRATE TRACE, MG 1200, GOOD LIGHT AND WATER FLOW. LOTS OF FOOD.

THOUGHT THIS VIDEO MIGHT CONVINCE YOU OF THE RESULT, JUST MADE IT FOR THIS THREAD. NO PHOTO SHOP HERE JUST MADE ON MY I PHONE 4. UNDER 10K 250 HAMILTON, VHO ACTINIC.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BSRR6SQLupM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Moosetache]

Has anyone had any issues with a high alkalinity causing problems with their SPS? I have had conversations regarding low alk 6-7 being better for SPS.

 

[toothman]

7-8 is better in my tank. IF BY MISTAKE MY TWO PART OVERDOSES AND GOES TO 9-10 CORALS DONOT LOOK AS GOOD, AND MAY ACTUALLY STN AT THE BASE.

 

[kevensquint]

Super nice toothman. I agree, over 8DKH can cause problems if you have strong light and low nutrients. Best to play safe 7-8 dkh

 

[jackson6745]

Are you guys carbon dosing? I run my alk 10-11dkh for 10 years plus with no problems. Toothman your tank looks sweet bud!

 

[kevensquint]

No need to carbon dose to have ULNS, with a variety of efficient nutrient export methods, you can have that condition. Personally I'm trying to get some nutrients. Unfortunatly most salt mixes are above 9DKH. The sea is 7.2 DKH and the corals look good from there.

 

[MammothReefer]

I know you like your salt by why you yelling ? Nice vid!