Instant Ocean Vs IO Reef Crystals- actual differences?

[LesPoissons]

Hey guys, does anyone know the differences between the 2?
I know the last 4 bags of my regular IO bag mixed with 50gal average out to 1.026 sal, 9.3 alk, 405 ca, and 1250 mag
I dose ALK and Ca (havent needed mag yet) and just wondering where the Reef Crystals hit?
Thanks.

 

[BranchingHammer]

I use reef crystals, and the alk mixes to around 12. Thinking of switching to plain IO.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My main problem with Reef Crystals is vitamins and a metal neutralizer (likely a metal chelator) in it. I do not want those in a salt mix.

A technical IO rep I’ve talked to suggested he thinks there is no advantage, but marketing folks think it sells.

I prefer normal IO. It is easy to add things, hard to remove them.

 

[muzikalmatt]

Interesting. I was unaware of these additional items in Reef Crystals. I've been using it since I started my reef tank (a little over 17 months old) and was considering switching salts mainly due to the residue RC leaves in my mixing bucket.

Any recommendations on how to switch salts and if it would have an adverse affect on my tank if I did?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Interesting. I was unaware of these additional items in Reef Crystals. I've been using it since I started my reef tank (a little over 17 months old) and was considering switching salts mainly due to the residue RC leaves in my mixing bucket.

Any recommendations on how to switch salts and if it would have an adverse affect on my tank if I did?

The only concern in switching is to note what impact it might have on the needed alkalinity and calcium dosing amounts if the levels are significantly different. .

 

[Cre8or30]

I switched from Oceanic to RC and didn’t notice a difference. It does make since what Randy said about marketing.... may have to give IO a try

 

[Devaji]

My main problem with Reef Crystals is vitamins and a metal neutralizer (likely a metal chelator) in it. I do not want those in a salt mix.

A technical IO rep I’ve talked to suggested he thinks there is no advantage, but marketing folks think it sells.

I prefer normal IO. It is easy to add things, hard to remove them.

Randy I normally run RC and with a new tank coming in a few months I was thinking of what salt to use.
I belive RC -ca mixes around 450 correct me if I am wrong. what do you use to get it up to say 450ish? and any effect of using that in 50+ gallons for mixing stations?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy I normally run RC and with a new tank coming in a few months I was thinking of what salt to use.
I belive RC -ca mixes around 450 correct me if I am wrong. what do you use to get it up to say 450ish? and any effect of using that in 50+ gallons for mixing stations?

There’s no reason that calcium needs to be that high, but calcium chloride would be the thing to use to boost calcium.

I used limewater (kalkwasser) for all alkalinity additions, and long term that tends to boost calcium a bit. Using normal IO with 1% changed daily, that stabilized at about 472 ppm calcium.

 

[xtian]

Randy I normally run RC and with a new tank coming in a few months I was thinking of what salt to use.
I belive RC -ca mixes around 450 correct me if I am wrong. what do you use to get it up to say 450ish? and any effect of using that in 50+ gallons for mixing stations?

All buckets of RC I've had always mix 500+ cal with salt 1.024-.1026

 

[Hugh Mann]

I went from Reef Crystals to Regular with zero issues.
Mind you I only run a FOwLR.

 

[LesPoissons]

Thanks all, I’ll just stick with the IO

 

[Devaji]

There’s no reason that calcium needs to be that high, but calcium chloride would be the thing to use to boost calcium.

I used limewater (kalkwasser) for all alkalinity additions, and long term that tends to boost calcium a bit. Using normal IO with 1% changed daily, that stabilized at about 472 ppm calcium.

Randy I know you have been running reg IO for years. one reason why I am thinking about it. is 472 your target Ca or that what it stablized to and its working for you?
my tank will be mostly LPS with a few SPS and softies in the mix.