Looking to switch salt

[Aeb1419]

Was wondering what salt you guys use. I think im looking to make the switch from instant ocean salt since im almost out. What do you recommend and have you tested a newly made saltwater batch to see what the params were?

 

[Sponge]

I started with Red Sea pro. In an 11 gallon tank. I was doing water changes with a one gallon water jug and in only a few months the jug was covered in a light brown crust. Had similar problem in a very low flow sump. I was researching different salts and came across the BRS salt mix investigates series and turns out I wasn’t crazy. So I switched to tropic Marin pro and have to say it mixes easier. Doesn’t stain or crust up and oddly enough it doesn’t make a salt dust storm in the air when I pour it from my measuring cup to my RO water. With that said, there is nothing wrong with Red Sea. in fact I started with it because it is primarily sourced from real sea water and 1000 of people use it everyday to great success. I personally felt that because I have a sand bed and not a bare bottom tank. I did not want to find out what that buildup would do over say five years. So in summery I like the near pharmaceutical grade salt from tropic Marin. But feel since virtually all of the top five salt grow coral well. You need to pick what fits your needs. Which should be pretty simple. There are more things to consider but I would say you should pick based on the items listed below that fits what your looking for.
1. Cost
2. Level of calcium mag and alk
3. Trace elements
4. Inert ingredients such as clay

 

[Trio91]

I use liveaquaria salt. It's cheap, always on sale, ships free most of the time and some times it comes with free shirts.

 

[amado]

you need to find a salt that meets your needs. I use red sea pro because its real salt not made in a lab and it matches my tanks needs.

 

[Aeb1419]

you need to find a salt that meets your needs. I use red sea pro because its real salt not made in a lab and it matches my tanks needs.

I heard good things about this salt. But I heard the alkalinity runs high for this salt. Have you ever noticed anything?

 

[Aeb1419]

I started with Red Sea pro. In an 11 gallon tank. I was doing water changes with a one gallon water jug and in only a few months the jug was covered in a light brown crust. Had similar problem in a very low flow sump. I was researching different salts and came across the BRS salt mix investigates series and turns out I wasn’t crazy. So I switched to tropic Marin pro and have to say it mixes easier. Doesn’t stain or crust up and oddly enough it doesn’t make a salt dust storm in the air when I pour it from my measuring cup to my RO water. With that said, there is nothing wrong with Red Sea. in fact I started with it because it is primarily sourced from real sea water and 1000 of people use it everyday to great success. I personally felt that because I have a sand bed and not a bare bottom tank. I did not want to find out what that buildup would do over say five years. So in summery I like the near pharmaceutical grade salt from tropic Marin. But feel since virtually all of the top five salt grow coral well. You need to pick what fits your needs. Which should be pretty simple. There are more things to consider but I would say you should pick based on the items listed below that fits what your looking for.
1. Cost
2. Level of calcium mag and alk
3. Trace elements
4. Inert ingredients such as clay

Whoa why would it matter what salt I choose when it comes to clay?

 

[Aeb1419]

I use liveaquaria salt. It's cheap, always on sale, ships free most of the time and some times it comes with free shirts.

Have you ever tested the params of this salt? Or you just dose so it doesnt matter? Id be new to dosing and I guess id only start dosing when I have a high demand of corals in the tank.

 

[Sponge]

Whoa why would it matter what salt I choose when it comes to clay?

Because you don’t want it. But nearly all naturally derived salts have things you do not want. Like clay. It’s unavoidable. However some has less than others

 

[Sponge]

I heard good things about this salt. But I heard the alkalinity runs high for this salt. Have you ever noticed anything?

Red Sea pro runs alk high deliberately between 11 and 12 DKH. It is intended primarily for SPS tanks thats why you need to determine YOUR needs before you choose a salt. There is an advantage to this. Unless you have an SPS dominant tank that is chock full of good size colonies. Use a salt that is on the edge of precipitation can maintain parameters with the need for dosing with just water changes.

 

[Sponge]

Spell check correction... with OUT the need for dosing

 

[Trio91]

Have you ever tested the params of this salt? Or you just dose so it doesnt matter? Id be new to dosing and I guess id only start dosing when I have a high demand of corals in the tank.

Nope, just mix. The one thing I do do, with any salt mix, is that I rotate the bucket to make sure its evenly mixed before each usage.

As far as actual dosing, I do use kalkwasser in my ato.

In the past in have used instant ocean, reef crystals and aquaforest and haven't seen much of a difference. Hence why I've gone towards a more economical approach with my salt mixes.

 

[amado]

I heard good things about this salt. But I heard the alkalinity runs high for this salt. Have you ever noticed anything?

I run my alk at 8-9 so high works for me