Let's debate Regular IO for coral reef tanks

[ZoWhat]

I've read many many posts where people are in two "debate camps" over using regular IO for a coral reef tank.

Some say they've used it for decades with success.

Some say you definitely need to use a different salt other than regular IO, developed especially for corals.

So...... I read some history on IO website. In this history recap the major theme is regular IO was and is developed for large public aquariums. Possibly meaning Fish Only tanks (?)

Read:
http://www.instantocean.com/science-and-heritage/history-of-innovation.aspx



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[nautical_nathaniel]

I've personally found the stuff to lack the consistency of more premium salt brands. My LFS got in a pallet of IO one time when I needed a new bag, and it was all completely solid. I had to break it up before I could measure out an amount for a water change, and even then there was a lot of residue left over. The next bag was perfect and mixed clean and clear every time. This doesn't even account for the parameter variability I have experienced with IO.

My biggest thing in reefkeeping is maintaining consistency, and IO just doesn't do that in my experience.

 

[ca1ore]

Some say they've used it for decades with success.

Not only do I say I have used it for decades ..... I actually have used it for decades. There are successful tanks that use IO and unsuccessful tanks that use IO. There are successful tanks that use <insert favored salt mix here> and unsuccessful tanks that use <insert favored salt mix here>. Certainly suggests to me that the choice of salt mix is not a key driver of success. I'd further argue that if one is dosing and/or using a CaRx to maintain levels, the mix really doesn't matter. If it doesn't matter, then I go with the most economical choice - and across a system of 700 gallons, it makes a difference.

 

[mfinn]

I used it on my softy reef tanks for 20+ years.

 

[DarkSky]

I switched to it for my 220g SPS system. I'd rather buffer levels to match my tank water than try and reduce high alk from a buffered salt mix.

It's cheaper when you're changing out 100s of gallons a month.

 

[shred5]

I just switched back to IO because it is so stable. I have had so much trouble with these new amped up salt and them being so inconsistent. I just had two different salt brands way off.
I do not know why I keep trying these new salt, I always end up back at IO. It might have less calcium and alk than these amped up salts but in a mainly hard coral tank you need to add anyway and with small water change a salt is not doing much anyway and when you dose consistency is the best. Not only that it is cheap.

I keep my parameters closer to natural seawater anyway.

The only other salt that i have used that is consistent is Tropic Marin

 

[ZachH455]

I've been using RC since I've started in the hobby and have no complaints, though I clean the reservoir before/after each w/c so I don't have experience with the residue some people dislike. I like the higher alk/calc, and prefer it to dosing regular IO up to those levels.

 

[ca1ore]

Meant to add a picture. All the corals in this tank have been grown from pinkie-sized frags in IO and only IO.

 

[Reefahholic]

I’ve used it for years due to the price point. Here recently it seems like it’s low in Calcium. I want a consistent mix that mixes close to normal sea water. As stated above, I’d rather dose my levels to > them where I want as opposed to trying to < them to my desired range. So all those mixes that run ALK at 11 or mag at 1500....I’ll pass.


With that said, I’m switching over to Red Sea.

 

[RobertP]

Does anyone have hard data on the levels for IO and/or Reef Crystals? I cannot even find it on their website. RC box does say the level for Ca and Mg but not Alk which is more important to me.

I've been using Red Sea blue bucket but the IO box is $20 cheaper each and mixes more water. Since I will be going with close to 500 gal system I am considering a switch if I dont have to tweek the salt mix each time....really hate doing that. With Red Sea blue bucket I just mix it, set the salinity, and everything was perfectly matched to my tank....every time.

 

[Mark]

I've used IO for 23 years. I never corrected the Ca, and I actually prefer my alk on the lower end(7-8dkh). Never had problems with sps or any corals for that matter.

 

[acro-ed]

I use I/O for my tanks, including a 300g Acro-only tank. I've tried a dozen different types of salt over the years and I'm back to using I/O. Several other brands have been mixing way too high on alk and its better for me to have to adjust up rather than down. Works well and it's cheap.... don't overthink it.

-Ed

 

[Livinlocal]

I've personally found the stuff to lack the consistency of more premium salt brands. My LFS got in a pallet of IO one time when I needed a new bag, and it was all completely solid. I had to break it up before I could measure out an amount for a water change, and even then there was a lot of residue left over. The next bag was perfect and mixed clean and clear every time. This doesn't even account for the parameter variability I have experienced with IO.

My biggest thing in reefkeeping is maintaining consistency, and IO just doesn't do that in my experience.

I have the complete experience. i have been using IO for about 7 years and have never had a bad batch.

I took a break from IO a couple times to try new salts, and was always VERY disappointed. Some salts would take forever to mix clear, some would precipitate if you didn’t add the salt extremely slow, and some would be super inconsistent with the parameters after being mixed, some you couldn’t let the water sit after mixing for more then a couple days... There is one salt in particular that made me stop buying all of their products in general because it had all of these bad traits in one box of salt, and half the time it would have softball size clumps in the salt that were harder then concrete, and I was paying over $100 for a bucket/box.


I like IO because of the close to natural saltwater parameters, it mixes clear, I can add the salt much faster without it precipitating, I can hold it in my mixing tank for up to 2 weeks without precipitation or discoloring, and it’s cheap.

You can’t beat $28 for a 160 gallon bucket of salt,
Compared to $70-120 for the competition.

In the end, if you run a calcium reactor or dose, you are just wasting your money by buying anything besides IO, In my opinion.

It’s your husbandry that makes your tank great, not a miracle salt that some companies claim.



All these were grown from frags using IO.

 

[ca1ore]

VERY NICE!!!!!!

 

[Livinlocal]

VERY NICE!!!!!!

If this was directed towards me, thank you.

 

[ca1ore]

If this was directed towards me, thank you.

It was .....

 

[Livinlocal]

Thank you, and these pictures are fairly old. Everything is easily twice the size now

 

[ca1ore]

Too bad you're on the other coast ..... otherwise we could have done some trading .....

 

[gcarroll]

All of the major name brand salt works! Find one that you like and stick with it. If you can't be successful with certain brands, it's not the fault of the salt.

So as not to tick anyone off I won't say, "It's user error!"

 

[Retro Reefer]

With under gravel filter, no live rock and no real specialized lighting I’m not sure I would call it a reef tank but I set this one up in the early 80’s with IO salt mix and have been using it every since, I do tend to switch to RC on heavily stock tanks because I don’t dose or test for depleted elements but honestly I’m not sure there are any major benefits..