Reef Crystals v Red Sea Coral Pro?

[Mark_C]

Recently picked up a discount box of RC after years of using RSCP.
With the RSCP, I was at 1/2c of salt per gallon to get 1.025-26. A 5 gallon bucket took exactly (EDIT) 2 1/2 cups.
I seem to be using much more than that with the RC, more like 3/4-1c per gallon.
Anyone have a general ratio of RC salt to water?
Makes me wonder if the added cost of the RSCP is made up for by the lighter usage.

 

[paintman27]

Search BRS Investigates on youtube. I recall them doing some kind of cost comparison with these salts.

 

[amado]

Recently picked up a discount box of RC after years of using RSCP.
With the RSCP, I was at 1/2c of salt per gallon to get 1.025-26. A 5 gallon bucket took exactly 5 cups.
I seem to be using much more than that with the RC, more like 3/4-1c per gallon.
Anyone have a general ratio of RC salt to water?
Makes me wonder if the added cost of the RSCP is made up for by the lighter usage.

I use to use Red Sea and you can mix it at 34 in stead of 35. I also have used reef crystals and I stopped because the numbers are all over the place. At the moment I am using fritz and it mixes at my numbers every time.

 

[Jamie S]

Recently picked up a discount box of RC after years of using RSCP.
With the RSCP, I was at 1/2c of salt per gallon to get 1.025-26. A 5 gallon bucket took exactly 5 cups.
I seem to be using much more than that with the RC, more like 3/4-1c per gallon.
Anyone have a general ratio of RC salt to water?
Makes me wonder if the added cost of the RSCP is made up for by the lighter usage.

Is that 5 cups or 2 1/2 cups to make a five gallon bucket? I ask because I mix 15 cups for my 30 gallon bin to get 1.025 from the BA Neo Marine salt I use. I like that salt it mixes really clean. Not much sludge at the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Yates273]

I’m using Reef Crystals amd I add 3 cups to 5 gallons RODI and my salinity is at 1.025.

 

[DangerDave]

I recently moved from RSCP to IO. Mixes the same between those two...

 

[MadReefer]

What temp is everyone's water when mixing? I noticed I use more salt when the water is cold compared to room temp. Some heat the water to tank temp when mixing.

 

[amado]

I mix the water at 77 the same as my tank.

 

[diana a]

I heat to tank temp and then add salt

 

[Paulie 069]

Recently picked up a discount box of RC after years of using RSCP.
With the RSCP, I was at 1/2c of salt per gallon to get 1.025-26. A 5 gallon bucket took exactly (EDIT) 2 1/2 cups.
I seem to be using much more than that with the RC, more like 3/4-1c per gallon.
Anyone have a general ratio of RC salt to water?
Makes me wonder if the added cost of the RSCP is made up for by the lighter usage.

I don’t know the OCEAN makes mine, but I’ve seen it done with that brand of salt,, Morortrendz uses it.. and I remember him using a cup fir a 5 gallon bucket, least I think it was a cup he just scooped it up and poured it in then mixed it
That’s all I know hope it helped but probably didn’t lol

 

[DangerDave]

For me... Whatever room temp is. No heat, no additional agitation once mixed.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

i use one of those old school floating thermometers with the salinity guide on it. i know probably doesnt even work but theres a chart o determine ppt by use of temp and buoyancy.

just google saltwater aquarium chart and look in the pictures section. but yeah IO and IORC you have to use extra salt to get it up.

 

[Hockeynut]

I use RC and I’m thinking of changing to another salt. As Amado said it mixes to different numbers all of the time not much consistency at all.

 

[DangerDave]

It’s an interesting conversation, and I don’t actually know if it mixes the same each time. I never mix a predetermined amount and then measure the salt level.

I mix salt when the tank gets low. Sometimes there is 5 gallons left, sometimes 10 or 15. I pump in water to the salt container leaving a few gallons shy of over flowing, then set the plumbing to run in a loop in the salt container. I measure the salt level at that time, I add a quart of salt (lol my current measuring cup) for every 3 ppm needed. I do this quickly so it’s never exactly full. I let it mix for 20 minutes, then adjust to 1.025.

 

[DEL]

the only salt I've ever used is Reef crystals. never had issues. I've grown everything from lps to sps.

 

[Mark_C]

The reason I starterd this convo was to determine if there is a cost benefit between the two.
I started mixing the two during changeover.
Where I was normally 1/2c per gal of RS, using 2 1/2c for 5g, I began using 1 1/2c of RS and c of IO for the gradual switch.
First 5g batch was 1 1/2c RS and 1c of IO and ended up with 1.021, an extra 1 1/4 c of IO brought me to 1.025-6
Second batch, same temp, room, amount, was 1 1/2c RS and 1 1/4c IO, expected 1.026, got 1.024, had to add an additional 1/4 cup of IO.
Never had this with RS, was always 1/2c in 1g = 1.026
The additional salt to bring the IO up, plus the fluctuation, makes me wonder if I really want to switch to try to save a few bucks.

 

[MadReefer]

I recently heard and read that no matter what salt you use always try to mix it up before adding to water. So basically a bucket should be turned upside down and rolled, bags should be shook up as well. Reason is that contents settle as does everything we purchase that its around.

 

[DangerDave]

The reason I starterd this convo was to determine if there is a cost benefit between the two.
I started mixing the two during changeover.
Where I was normally 1/2c per gal of RS, using 2 1/2c for 5g, I began using 1 1/2c of RS and c of IO for the gradual switch.
First 5g batch was 1 1/2c RS and 1c of IO and ended up with 1.021, an extra 1 1/4 c of IO brought me to 1.025-6
Second batch, same temp, room, amount, was 1 1/2c RS and 1 1/4c IO, expected 1.026, got 1.024, had to add an additional 1/4 cup of IO.
Never had this with RS, was always 1/2c in 1g = 1.026
The additional salt to bring the IO up, plus the fluctuation, makes me wonder if I really want to switch to try to save a few bucks.

Ask BRS

 

[amado]

I have been using fritz and it’s packaged into 4 small bags that mix to my tub to make 40 gallon of salt every time. Since I only use one bag at a time
I don’t have to worry about mixing the salt in the bag. Fritz mixes the best to my numbers. 8.5 - 9 alk
400- cal 1400 mag.

I heat up the water to 77 and I dump the whole bag of Fritz that mixes perfect to 35.

I am making water now to make a water change this weekend. I let the salt mix sit in the barrel for like 24hrs

I am changing 40 gallons every 15 days. So a box
Last me 2 months.

Reefco sells fritz so I can always pick up a box.
They had the 200 gallon box for $50 for the holidays and that was great.

 

[Deleted member 27248]

Fritz reef salt is the best I have ever used.