Does salt brand matter that much???

[that Reef Guy]

What about just regular Red Sea and not Red Sea pro?? I guess the reason I started this was to see if I should switch from aquavitro or if anyone had any knowledge or experience with the aquavitro salinity brand...and would it benefit my tank more with a different salt....

The Salinity was Higher on Regular Red Sea than they Advertised.

Bucket says 7.7 and I tested it at 9.8

I was very disappointed.

I bought a Small Bucket of Red Sea Pro but I have not Tested it yet.

 

[Gwitness]

The Salinity was Higher on Regular Red Sea than they Advertised.

Bucket says 7.7 and I tested it at 9.8

I was very disappointed.

I bought a Small Bucket of Red Sea Pro but I have not Tested it yet.

Thanks for the input!

 

[pciscott]

Why didn't you like ESV

Everyone always tells me it is the best Salt out there.

And you can mix it to what you want.

You can do low or high Alk, etc.

I have never heard of any other Salt giving you this option.

I have never heard a bad thing about the Salt besides Price of course.

I used ESV for 2 years and with a scale I found it very easy to mix and it worked great in my system. The reason I changed was Marine Depot was out and I got a great deal on 4 beat up boxes of Instant Ocean that had got a little wet at the LFS. The salt was bagged so it was just cosmetic and at $30 per box it was 1/3rd the cost of what I was using. I also was fresh off a Triton Test that showed my tank having elevated Lithium so MD being out and my Triton Test pushed me to try something new. I am happy with the results and the coraline algae has improved with the change, but that could be from pulling bio-pellets offline or just my tank maturing. I am about 12 boxes in since my change from ESV and the savings just bought me a very nice frag pack from Copps

I have never been one to cut corners or go the cheap route and this is why my mind told me that a salt that cost twice as much had to be better? In my experience that is not the case and IO is now my salt of choice. I need to take some pictures to back it up, but I have been waiting for corals to grow in before I show off.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The Salinity was Higher on Regular Red Sea than they Advertised.

Bucket says 7.7 and I tested it at 9.8

I was very disappointed.

I bought a Small Bucket of Red Sea Pro but I have not Tested it yet.

You mean alkalinity?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree man...what salt do you use? What's your opinion on aquavitro salinity?

It is likely a fine salt mix, but I haven't seen a reason to want it over what I use, which is ordinary Instant Ocean.

 

[Gwitness]

It is likely a fine salt mix, but I haven't seen a reason to want it over what I use, which is ordinary Instant Ocean.

Haha got it!!! Just curious How many hours do you let it mix for?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why don't you want Vitamins?

Seems like a good thing to me?

What Vitamins does Reef Crystals have that Instant Ocean does not have?

I thought that they were pretty much the same salt just that Reef Crystals has higher Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium.

What else is Different about the Two Salts?

There's no evidence that added vitamins are beneficial, they do not tell you how much of what ones they add, they will start to break down as soon as you add water (if not before), there is potential for unaerated salt water to become anaerobic through bacterial action, and it seems to lead to brown gunk in the mixing barrel.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Reef Crystals also contains a metal chelator to "detoxify" the mix from heavy metals. That's not something I want in a mix without being in control of what it is and how much.

Most elements are quite similar between IO and RC, with very slightly more of a few things in RC.

 

[beaslbob]

I currently use aquavitro salinity and I'm just curious do salt brands matter that much? And would i get better results using another brand? I understand there are a million things that going into a successful tank, but I'm just curious about salt and how important the brand is?

maybe-- maybe not.
With a good dosing scheme like Dr Randy's diy two part, any of the commercial salt mixes are fine IMHO.
my .02

 

[that Reef Guy]

I used ESV for 2 years and with a scale I found it very easy to mix and it worked great in my system. The reason I changed was Marine Depot was out and I got a great deal on 4 beat up boxes of Instant Ocean that had got a little wet at the LFS. The salt was bagged so it was just cosmetic and at $30 per box it was 1/3rd the cost of what I was using. I also was fresh off a Triton Test that showed my tank having elevated Lithium so MD being out and my Triton Test pushed me to try something new. I am happy with the results and the coraline algae has improved with the change, but that could be from pulling bio-pellets offline or just my tank maturing. I am about 12 boxes in since my change from ESV and the savings just bought me a very nice frag pack from Copps

I have never been one to cut corners or go the cheap route and this is why my mind told me that a salt that cost twice as much had to be better? In my experience that is not the case and IO is now my salt of choice. I need to take some pictures to back it up, but I have been waiting for corals to grow in before I show off.

How did you get Lithium tested?

I have never heard of a test for that.

 

[that Reef Guy]

Thanks for the input!

Your Welcome.

 

[that Reef Guy]

You mean alkalinity?

Yes, I meant Alkalinity not Salinity.

Sorry about that.

 

[that Reef Guy]

There's no evidence that added vitamins are beneficial, they do not tell you how much of what ones they add, they will start to break down as soon as you add water (if not before), there is potential for unaerated salt water to become anaerobic through bacterial action, and it seems to lead to brown gunk in the mixing barrel.

What do you think of Seachem AquaVitro Fuel?

aquavitro . fuel

• comprehensive carbohydrate, vitamin, amino acid, and polyunsaturated fatty acid supplement for corals
• ascorbic acid in a base of chlorella
• makes a trace element supplement unnecessary

Is it "Snake Oil"

Or do you believe it to be Beneficial?

 

[that Reef Guy]

Reef Crystals also contains a metal chelator to "detoxify" the mix from heavy metals. That's not something I want in a mix without being in control of what it is and how much.

Most elements are quite similar between IO and RC, with very slightly more of a few things in RC.

So how is Detoxifying Heavy Metals a bad thing?

It sounds like a good thing to me.

 

[JimWelsh]

How did you get Lithium tested?

I have never heard of a test for that.

Triton US

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

How did you get Lithium tested?

I have never heard of a test for that.

Probably by sending a sample off to Triton Labs. Here's my results:

My Triton Testing Results: By Randy Holmes-Farley - REEFEDITION

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So how is Detoxifying Heavy Metals a bad thing?

It sounds like a good thing to me.

It potentially binds a variety metals and makes them unavailable whether you consider them desirable or undesirable. That's why I'd want to know what it is and how much. There are required metals in my tank that are not present in excess.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Yes it matters! One brand I use versus another is the difference between clear water and brown gunk all over my rock.

 

[Gwitness]

Yes it matters! One brand I use versus another is the difference between clear water and brown gunk all over my rock.

What do you use? And brown junk on rock as in what?

 

[that Reef Guy]

Probably by sending a sample off to Triton Labs. Here's my results:

My Triton Testing Results: By Randy Holmes-Farley - REEFEDITION

Awesome Article Randy.

Thanks.