Easiest salt for new reefer

Ok_cowboy1 · Sep 4, 2016

So I just got my 65 gallon tank going. The first batch of water I purchased it premixed. Since I'm just getting started, I was wondering what would be the best and easiest salt to start out with?

Antics · Sep 4, 2016

Instant Ocean (purple/white bag/bucket) is the most commonly used salt and the cheapest. I don't know your local fish stores, but I'm sure there is one within driving distance that sells a 200 gallon box (four bags @ 50 gallons each) for 50-60 bucks.

Ok_cowboy1 · Sep 4, 2016

Yeah I fount it for 50.00 on. Amazon, closest LFS is 70 miles away lol!

Mike_J · Sep 4, 2016

AquaForest salt is really great and it mixes in 15 minutes and is ready to use. How awesome is that?!? You can also order it through Amazon. Good luck!

bif24701 · Sep 4, 2016

Mike_J said:
AquaForest salt is really great and it mixes in 15 minutes and is ready to use. How awesome is that?!? You can also order it through Amazon. Good luck!

Also cost X2 as much however

ZJedi945 · Sep 4, 2016

RedSea Coral Pro mixes up very quickly as well.

Ok_cowboy1 · Sep 4, 2016

So does it matter since it will be fish and coral?

acer · Sep 4, 2016

Nope - many threads discussing this subject. Don't know if there is a definitive answer as to which is the "best". Several good salt mixes .... to each their own. Some think the extra cost for certain mixes are worth it - some don't. Really, if you want to be successful - take your time. And read , read ,read. Tank crash for various reasons - usually a power outage, or a heater malfunction, poor water change or other maintenance. Always test a new box/bucket of salt so you know what the ca+, Alk, etc is for that batch. Then you can figure out what type of additives you may need.

ruha456 · Sep 4, 2016

Ok_cowboy1 said:
So does it matter since it will be fish and coral?

Yes it matters

Nick92515 · Sep 4, 2016

Yes and no. But start with IO purple, if you feel you need to dose later on then you can alter what salt you use.

Nick92515 · Sep 4, 2016

Oh yeah. The more you read. The more successful your talk will be. Also saving a few dollars now will cost you later on.

Mike_J · Sep 4, 2016

Many different brands of salt out there and one is not necessarily better than another. Lots of different things to consider such as price, mixing parameters, livestock needs, etc, etc. Read through the forums, research a few brands and go with what fits your needs. You will probably switch salts along the way too. I switched from Red Sea salt to AquaForest and my corals responded really well to AF so I've been using it for about a year. I actually pay less for AF salt than what I was paying for the Red Sea commercial packs of salt but I get it from an LFS. Research and find a brand that makes sense to you. Good luck!

LetItReef · Sep 4, 2016

Used to be Instant ocean and switched to Red Sea the blue bucket kind. I like it bec it mixes fast.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 5, 2016

I don't think it matters which salt mix you use.

You just need to understand the parameters of whatever mix you use and how that relates to your target tank parameters (which does not mean closer is best, just that you understand it).

StephO · Sep 5, 2016

Ok_cowboy1 said:
Yeah I fount it for 50.00 on. Amazon, closest LFS is 70 miles away lol!

You may want to also check Ebay. I've been buying the big box with 4 hugs bags in it for right under 50.00 and I get free shipping on there. Instant Ocean is great. Next up from that is Reef Crystals. Instant Ocean mixes easy and seemed as good as any other I tried. So I felt why spend the extra cash. Also you need a good Refractometer to get a good accurate salt reading each time.

JP79 · Sep 5, 2016

Instant ocean is awful salt. Yes the most common but if your going to have coral I wouldn't use it. But then again you shouldn't have an coral for a while once you start up. So you can use instant ocean for now. But after about 6 months or so you'll want a better salt. Red Sea/ Marin/ salinity by aquavirto which I use. Good luck and welcom to R2R and the hobby.

MT. Reefer · Sep 5, 2016

For my REEF tanks, I have been using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. I have been using this product for 4 years and have not had any problems. I have found it to be the best priced Reef Salt on the market. I buy mine at Drs Foster and Smith. They do not charge for shipping on any purchase over 50 bucks. Buy a 5 gallon bucket first and then when you need more, buy the 200 gal boxes and reuse the bucket.

BoneXriffic · Sep 5, 2016

I just use regual IO for my mixed reef. Becoming sps dominant. I find the reef crystals version was a waste of money after comparing actual numbers.

So 2part and standard io is an extremley easy route. Obviously the 2part later down the road.

Just my 2 cents

bif24701 · Sep 6, 2016

JP79 said:
Instant ocean is awful salt. Yes the most common but if your going to have coral I wouldn't use it. But then again you shouldn't have an coral for a while once you start up. So you can use instant ocean for now. But after about 6 months or so you'll want a better salt. Red Sea/ Marin/ salinity by aquavirto which I use. Good luck and welcom to R2R and the hobby.

Could you share how you arrived to this conclusion?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 6, 2016

JP79 said:
Instant ocean is awful salt. Yes the most common but if your going to have coral I wouldn't use it. But then again you shouldn't have an coral for a while once you start up. So you can use instant ocean for now. But after about 6 months or so you'll want a better salt. Red Sea/ Marin/ salinity by aquavirto which I use. Good luck and welcom to R2R and the hobby.

I used it for 20 years, and liked it. The few times I tried something else, I saw no benefit.