can we discuss the salt

[Zane]

Tell me what salt you use, and why. I want to know from people that use expensive salt, why you spend that kind of money on salt. I use reef crystals because its cheap, and I've always done fine with it, but I think sometimes about using something better, and usually end up spending the money on something else. Change my mind. Post your tank, so we can see the magic it works for you.

 

[Waters]

Your best bet is to use salt that mixes up as close as possible to the water parameters that you are trying to keep....any brand will work. I use Reef Crystals and add Mg before using.

 

[Reefchris28]

I use esv salt. I really like how you can dial it in while mixing it up to what your tank Params currently are. Mixes clean and is ready for use almost instantly after mixing. There are 4 parts to this salt mix so some people complain about the extra steps, but I like how I can be dead accurate with every batch I mix up.

 

[reefwiser]

This is an old topic with tons of post's and it always breaks down to my salt is better than yours postings. Just use what you want to use and lets just realise that there are many reasons for picking a salt for your aquarium. I like a Salt that mixes up easy and is clean. It must also must mix up to have NSW parameters.

 

[Anthony Wood]

I personally use red sea salts because its the exact same thing as the coral pro just without the raised levels of the big 3 so it matched my tank parameters better. Red Sea is transparent on just about every process and content of whats in their salts and are privately owned thats why I like them. Plus just about every if not every other natural salt on the market is in some way contracting through red sea. BRS is doing as has done a very comprehensive video on this subject within the next couple weeks or has already done it within the past couple weeks I haven't checked to see if they have posted it yet.

 

[Wiz]

I use red sea pro. Because its what came with the setup and I didn't see a need to switch. No other reason.

 

[Taservices]

I use reef crystals but that is simply because it is my only option without a 15 hour drive...

Following for curiosity

 

[Anthony Wood]

I use reef crystals but that is simply because it is my only option without a 15 hour drive...

Following for curiosity

Mine is an hour drive to the nearest place with red sea. But if I'm too lazy to drive I just order it through BRS and get the flat rate $4.99 3 day shipping through their preferred reefer program. I mean if I really wanted I could have it shipped free but the $4.99 i see as tax I would pay otherwise at the store also a lot less then fuel for a total of 2 hours driving. Salt is the same price at BRS as all the brick and motor stores but not having to drive saves me the gas money.

 

[smh254]

I have been using reef crystals for about 2 years now with no problems. This is the only salt that I've used.

 

[dewboy1127]

I use seachem salinity because when i got just into this hobby thats what my buddy was using and having great results and said was ine of higher end salts..always believe get what younpay for...i like salt though never had any problems out of it except one bucket would never mix clear but that bucket was swapped out no problem...other than that i pay around $75 for 225 gal bucket not to mention salinity buckets are sturdy and awesome use them for ro and wc's.

 

[saltyhog]

I started with RC and then switched to HW Reefer due to the crazy high Alk in RC (I keep my alk around 9.0 dKh). Several months ago I bought regular Instant Ocean for $26 a 160 gallon bucket on Amazon prime. It mixes much closer to my desired parameters. Haven't had any problems with the switch.

If you watch you can periodically get really good prices on IO and sometimes RC. Don't think I'll be switching again.

 

[AcroNem]

This is always debated topic and usually doesn't need to be. There's no magic salt mix, but everyone will use something different. Personally I've used reef crystals for quite some time now. Before that it was the regular instant ocean. I like that it mixes relatively clean and has slightly higher Cal and Alk numbers. I haven't had bad experiences with others, it's just what I like to use. If you want to pay money for a "better" salt then buy it. If you don't then don't, simple as that

 

[Jeffys]

Been using this stuff!

 

[Anthony Wood]

^hahahahahahahahahahahaha ROFL

 

[Lowstorm]

I used the seachem salinity for my last few tanks. Water clarity was excellent with it, and I didn't have any issues with straight-mixed water being dumped in in an emergency situation. This time around I'm starting out with IO reef crystals. May 'upgrade' back to seachem after the initial cycle. But I'll just see how it goes. (those buckets are almost worth the extra cost!!!)

 

[cmcoker]

I use Red Sea blue bucket. Fine parameters for my tank, mixes easily.
But biggest reason is I only buy a 55g bucket at a time, I usually mix around 20g at a time so the fact it is in a small bucket (not a box) makes it easier for me to carry (back problem), store, and close back up.

 

[Latino277]

I've used RC for about 10 years with very little issues. The only issue I've had is the brown sludge that settles out. I just recently found out most likely what it might be. Its a precipitation of a GFO type product they mix with the salt. The reason, as I understand it and can be completely wrong here, is that when they add things like Magnesium/Calcium chloride and other things to the salt it may contain some amount of Phosphate. This GFO type product deals with the phosphate that is mixed in with the additions and precipitates out of the solution when it's mixed. Is this a reason to change salts? not for me.

As I understand it, all the salt manufacture do this to some extent.

 

[cmcoker]

I've used RC for about 10 years with very little issues. The only issue I've had is the brown sludge that settles out. I just recently found out most likely what it might be. Its a precipitation of a GFO type product they mix with the salt. The reason, as I understand it and can be completely wrong here, is that when they add things like Magnesium/Calcium chloride and other things to the salt it may contain some amount of Phosphate. This GFO type product deals with the phosphate that is mixed in with the additions and precipitates out of the solution when it's mixed. Is this a reason to change salts? not for me.

As I understand it, all the salt manufacture do this to some extent.

Where did you find this out from? I would he interested in reading about it.

 

[Sabellafella]

Started with io. But wanted to upgrade , went to rc and didnt like the brown sludge itll leave at the bottom of my container and it was a pain to clean so went to rscp with rscp alk was real high and i use it on a nano and for weekly waterchanges(if im not lazy). Esv on my 2 othertanks i do a 30 40% change once a month ot 2 because it matches my parameters(if you tweak part b you can get it to 9.0 for alk) now i use regular io and rscp mixed for changes weekly biweekly and esv for monthly

 

[Sabellafella]

Where did you find this out from? I would he interested in reading about it.

Im not sure if theirs an article but it supposedly has added organics/vitamins that leaves the brown behind after a while