Who has good results with IO salt and SPS

That can change with each batch you buy. You should really test each bag/bucket you purchase to make sure they are consistent. I used IO in the past and had much different results with each purchase.

While true that it varies from batch to batch, the numbers have been consistently higher ever since they slapped the new and improved sticker on their salt.
 
I like IO salt but recently started getting AquaVitro Salinity by SeaChem at cost and I really like it so far, and the fact that it mixes 225 gallons @ 1.026 not 1.023.

Andrew
 
Reading thru this thread I see that many people seem to not realize the IO and RC are the same company's salt. RC is actually IORC and is just the reef specific version of salt from Instant Ocean. It is kind of like buying a Lexus vs Toyota. The cars are the same with a few refinements for the Lexus over the equivilant Toyota. In this case the RC version has a consistantly higher Ca/Alk/Mag levels as well as vitamins and trace elements that may or may not even be found in the regular IO.
 
Reading thru this thread I see that many people seem to not realize the IO and RC are the same company's salt. RC is actually IORC and is just the reef specific version of salt from Instant Ocean. It is kind of like buying a Lexus vs Toyota. The cars are the same with a few refinements for the Lexus over the equivilant Toyota. In this case the RC version has a consistantly higher Ca/Alk/Mag levels as well as vitamins and trace elements that may or may not even be found in the regular IO.

I don't neccesarily think that people don't know that IO makes both, just that does the difference in price justify the use of RC over regular IO salt and it seems in most cases that regular IO is just as good as RC and therefore it's not really worth the extra $$.
 
With the frequency in which Ca/Alk/mag are used up in an sps system and the small amount of water changed at one time is it really all that important witch salt you use. Salt is really not the important factor. The higher end salts cost more cause people assume they are better because they cost more. They cost more cause suckers buy it. Buying stuff cause it cost more (it must be better) is just the american way. The coral market is the same way. Check the for sale forum and you'll notice what the trendy coral is for this month.
 
So where are the tank pics of all the IO users in this thread? I have the same mentality as Felixc. I've been using IO for three years now and my corals do not stand a chance compared to most of the corals that are supplied with more expensive salt.
 
Like I stated earlier, IO has no problem sustaining sps, it's the color factor that I am leery about and don't think using it will produce vivid colored sps. Please proof us wrong with your sps tank photos.

my tank:
100g mainly sps
25 sump
ATI BM250 skimmer
3x250 watt DE
2x6100 Tunze
2 parts dosing with magnesium
potassium strong - dose weekly
IO salt
bi-weekly water change of 15%
100gm of carbon - changed 2 weeks
3 tangs
5 other small fish
2 feedings per day with dry food - no coral food
Just started using NP biopellets - 4 weeks in, this stuff is woking, corals are looking more pastel.
 
any pics of IO tanks? I set up my 20L 8 months ago specificly for Sps corals. I have been using Tropic Marin (not the pro) but was thinking of switching to the Pro, but if I can be persuaded by awesome pics maybe I'll switch to IO!
 
I used to only use RC but after seeing some really amazing tanks that only use IO just bought 5 boxes of it.

If you want to see a very sucessful that only uses IO look at World Wide Coral's main show tank (I think they're a sponsor here). They only use IO and their tank is INSANE.
 
IO w/ a thriving SPS reef for the last 11 years - no other additives needed/required (except Ca and the occ. Mg supplementation). I've come to believe the battle of the salts is a gimmick.
 
I don't really see the need for pictures. I've had my SPS look incredible, and look like total ***. I use nothing but IO (I add ca and mg). I would love, love, LOVE to blame the salt for when things look like crap (that would make it so easy and so not my fault, right? :rolleyes: )
 
It's all about stability. IO is VERY stable. Thats why people use it. i know A few vendors that use it and the don't buy anything else. I Use RC cause it has a bit more cal/alk/mag.
this is good for me cause I do manual dosing of each.
 
Yes but I am not concerned with alk/mg/ca ... what about the other elements like iodine and potassium and other trace elements? Are IO levels lower? I just dont want to dose anything else.
 
I've used both IO & RC over the years with success. IMO/ IME salt is important, but not the most important factor in reefkeeping.

Been using RC for awhile, but I was doing a series of large WC's so I ran more tests on my fresh RC water than normal. Ca was high, Alk was way too high (IMO), so I decided to go back to IO. Easier for me to make adjustments when the Ca is a little low & Alk is a little high vs Ca being high & Alk being very high. Hasn't seemed to make much of a difference in my tank.

TIFWIW, YMMV, etc, etc...
 
I've been debating whether or not to ditch IO and go with another brand. But before doing so, maybe some of you IO users can convince me otherwise. I currently dose 2 parts automatically so low levels of ca/alk/mag is not an issue for me. The reason behind the change is to perhaps promote better growth and colors. I've been a long time IO user but lately have been pondering the idea that there must be things missing from IO formula that makes it so much cheaper than the $80-$90 brands. There has to be, it just can't be half the cost of others and be equal in perfomance. Please proof me wrong with some pictures of your sps tank using IO salt.

Brands I am considering are:
H20
Reefer's Best Salt
Reef Crys
Do you test water parameters? What are you current levels of calcium, alkalinity and magnesium?

I use IO and it's a great artificial saltmix. I don't mind posting a few pix.
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