Need your opinion on switching salt to save $

[sneekapeek]

I’ve been deciding on switching from tmpr salt to something cheaper, but I do have a few characteristics I look for in a salt.

First, I like my salt to be lower dkh so that when I do large water changes my levels don’t swing all over the place. I use water changes to refresh system and I generally like to do a lot!
Second, I’m looking for clean salt that won’t foul my mixing pump over time! Generally speaking if the bins clean, the pumps clean too! I understand the cost savings will add up to, I can buy a new pump, switch it out and still have residual funds to see savings.
Third, I don’t want to doctor any of it up, if alk too high add acid, etc. I just don’t want to deal with any of the headaches of changing anything and the human error that may be involved with the process. This implies I don’t want to change mixing pump out also if it fails.
There is so much in this hobby I have to have my mind on and one less thing makes tmpr sound so appealing, other than my pocketbook.

I mix up 110gallons worth and change all 110 gallons a week. So roughly 25% or more a week.

Does anyone have any ideas what salt other than TMPR that has these qualities?
I was shooting for Fritz or live aquaria, but I’d rather hear y’all’s thoughts before I go and buy $4-500 worth of material.

 

[mtraylor]

This is as good as place to start as any. Check out the parms and reviews, and you will see allot of opinions on salt. Find a few that meet your needs and do a deep dive on them.

Search results for: '' - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Look at reviews and such. I switched to red sea salt a few years ago from oceanic. I really like the red sea salt. No issues so far.

 

[Nick Steele]

I love brightwells neomarine. It’s $80 on BRS and such but can get a 150g box for $60 on Amazon. It’s what I use and matches everything you want.

7ish dkh
420 calc
1400 mag

 

[JCM]

I dont have any input on options for you but 110g a week water changes seems crazy.

 

[Reefbuds]

I've always heard changing salt in an established system can mess with things. Not sure how true this is but if you do just do it slowly as to not shock anything

 

[Nonya]

I've always heard changing salt in an established system can mess with things. Not sure how true this is but if you do just do it slowly as to not shock anything

There's a lot of truth to that, depending on the salt mix. I'd introduce the new salt very slowly with small water changes.

 

[Nonya]

I’ve been deciding on switching from tmpr salt to something cheaper, but I do have a few characteristics I look for in a salt.

What size tank? What are you keeping in it?

First, I like my salt to be lower dkh so that when I do large water changes my levels don’t swing all over the place. I use water changes to refresh system and I generally like to do a lot!

If you're changing water that often, your parameters should be stable.

I mix up 110gallons worth and change all 110 gallons a week. So roughly 25% or more a week.

Why are you doing such large water changes???

 

[EricR]

Ideally, pick the salt that best matches what you think you want your parameters to be close to. (Pretty sure most would agree with this).

You said, "low dKH" but maybe be more specific.

Personally:
- I think the regular Red Sea salt (not Pro) is closest to my ideal but I don't use it anymore.
- I switched to Instant Ocean regular (not Reef Crystals) just because it's magnitudes cheaper and I haven't had any problems with horrid alkalinity increase (yet) ... but if you're switching do it slowly -- more frequent and smaller water changes.

*I agree with others that your water changes are really aggressive -- My norm is more like 20% every 2-3 weeks but maybe 10% per week if changing to a different mix.

 

[vic5hands]

Hope this helps

 

[Miami Reef]

Is your tank 440 gallons?

110 gallons a week does sound crazy. I’m positive you can get away with 25% a month!

If I were in your shoes I’d keep the Tropic Marin and save money by doing less water changes. It’s really not needed. Finding a clean salt with low alkalinity that doesn’t as much as tropic Marin is going to be a difficult feat. To really reap in the money saving cost, you will probably need to doctor up the salt.

 

[Nick Steele]

Hope this helps

Those numbers seem way off. Brightwells definitely mix at a much lower alk that the chart says.

 

[sneekapeek]

This is as good as place to start as any. Check out the parms and reviews, and you will see allot of opinions on salt. Find a few that meet your needs and do a deep dive on them.

Search results for: '' - Bulk Reef Supply

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Look at reviews and such. I switched to red sea salt a few years ago from oceanic. I really like the red sea salt. No issues so far.

Thanks for the info! I’ve used Red Sea in the past noticed it’s not as clean of a salt, however it is relatively decent. As a dehydrated raw it’s a pretty good option. Just not as clean as a full synthetic and the cleaner the better. The parameters are spot on regardless and very consistent!

 

[sneekapeek]

Those numbers seem way off. Brightwells definitely mix at a much lower alk that the chart says.

Brightwell is good, I’ve just noticed it leaves particulates in mixing bin previously, so I was looking elsewhere. The alk at 7 is spot on!

 

[Spare time]

Red Sea Salt or Instant Ocean would be my choice. Red sea is better if you want to mix the salt more rapidly. The brown crud found in some salt storage bins is harmless precipitation, so any salt can get that. I think the reason you see less of that in tropic marin salts is because their salt is either at the lowest recommended value for alk or just barely above that depending on which salt you get (the one with slightly higher alk has lower calcium though, which probably counters this). But because of their fantastic marketing, everyone things this has to do with cleanliness of the salt and impurities.

 

[sneekapeek]

Is your tank 440 gallons?

110 gallons a week does sound crazy. I’m positive you can get away with 25% a month!

If I were in your shoes I’d keep the Tropic Marin and save money by doing less water changes. It’s really not needed. Finding a clean salt with low alkalinity that doesn’t as much as tropic Marin is going to be a difficult feat. To really reap in the money saving cost, you will probably need to doctor up the salt.

Yea 450 gallon 2 tanks on 1 sump. I like to change lots of water, always have and always will. I’ve found the Benefits far outweigh the negatives. I run my systems generally what my salt parameters are, it’s much easier to do water changes to bring any of my parameters in check. I usually change 30-40g every other day. It’s just so easy when I make 110gallons and turn a couple ball valves to drain and fill.

 

[Miami Reef]

Yea 450 gallon 2 tanks on 1 sump. I like to change lots of water, always have and always will. I’ve found the Benefits far outweigh the negatives. I run my systems generally what my salt parameters are, it’s much easier to do water changes to bring any of my parameters in check. I usually change 30-40g every other day. It’s just so easy when I make 110gallons and turn a couple ball valves to drain and fill.

Water changes are great to do, but doing more than what is recommended doesn’t necessarily reap additional benefits, but will only cost more.

Why do you like to change a lot of water? If it is to lower organics, there are much more cost effective ways to do so.

I think downgrading the salt is a bad way to save money. Just do less water changes IMO.

 

[sneekapeek]

Ideally, pick the salt that best matches what you think you want your parameters to be close to. (Pretty sure most would agree with this).

You said, "low dKH" but maybe be more specific.

Personally:
- I think the regular Red Sea salt (not Pro) is closest to my ideal but I don't use it anymore.
- I switched to Instant Ocean regular (not Reef Crystals) just because it's magnitudes cheaper and I haven't had any problems with horrid alkalinity increase (yet) ... but if you're switching do it slowly -- more frequent and smaller water changes.

*I agree with others that your water changes are really aggressive -- My norm is more like 20% every 2-3 weeks but maybe 10% per week if changing to a different mix.

I’ve always considered IO but the high alk has always been off putting. I keep my alk at 7dkh generally what tmpr produces. And aggressive water changes would make it jump.

 

[Reef.]

If a suitable alternative was out there you would probably be already using it.

You are going to have to compromise on one of your requirements.

I moved from TMP to IO and very pleased with it, lowing the alk is extremely simple, I mix only 25 litres at a time, 5g of Seachem acid buffer drops the alk to just above 7, simply weigh out 5g and drop it in the bucket, not experienced any crud in my bucket either.

 

[sneekapeek]

Water changes are great to do, but doing more than what is recommended doesn’t necessarily reap additional benefits, but will only cost more.

Why do you like to change a lot of water? If it is to lower organics, there are much more cost effective ways to do so.

I think downgrading the salt is a bad way to save money. Just do less water changes IMO.

It’s just how I’ve always done things especially how easy I’ve made water changes to be. Do I miss weeks. Sure. Am I always on target, never close. Life gets in the way bud and I do understand what you mean, however I’ve always found water changes to keep my reef going!

 

[sneekapeek]

If a suitable alternative was out there you would probably be already using it.

You are going to have to compromise on one of your requirements.

I moved from TMP to IO and very pleased with it, lowing the alk is extremely simple, I mix only 25 litres at a time, 5g of Seachem acid buffer drops the alk to just above 7, simply weigh out 5g and drop it in the bucket, not experienced any crud in my bucket either.

I was figuring if I wanna save money I’m gonna have to do some extra steps. I just figured I’d ask before I go ahead and make my choice, maybe there was something new out there! Sometimes I don’t stay on top of new new!