Poll: What is Your Preferred Salt Brand?

BigJohnny · Dec 2, 2017

d2mini said:
Sorry, it may not have been HW. It was a few years ago. Whichever one that comes in like 3 or 4 separate components that have to be measure out and mixed.

Ah gotcha, believe that's ESV.

Salty1962 · Dec 2, 2017

BigJohnny said:
You've never dealt with the high calc/mag issues others have complained about, inconsistencies from batch to batch, not matching the params on the label etc?

All of my batches have been within the specs.

Sea MunnKey · Dec 3, 2017

Syed123 said:
No problem. Yeah I'm the same guy from gta aquaria.

Yo thanks dude!!

Polyp_Addict · Dec 3, 2017

Reef crystals for me only downside is having to clean mixing barrel every now and again.

GoVols · Dec 3, 2017

I've been using the Red Sea "Blue Bucket" and see no need to make a change.
Very stable mix from batch to batch and my new saltwater mixing has been coming into the Red Sea "My Batch" reports.

Idoc · Dec 3, 2017

I'm so surprised on how few are using the HW Marinemix salt. I researched quite a bit and it was liked by so many...so I started using it. I have had many batches made and zero residual left over in my Brute can! I mixed up one 25g batch of Reef Crystals Instant Ocean and my Brute can, heater, powerhead, etc... were coated in a terrible brown residue! I can't believe anyone would use that stuff when there is so much cleaner stuff out there!

Instigate · Dec 3, 2017

Idoc said:
I'm so surprised on how few are using the HW Marinemix salt. I researched quite a bit and it was liked by so many...so I started using it. I have had many batches made and zero residual left over in my Brute can! I mixed up one 25g batch of Reef Crystals Instant Ocean and my Brute can, heater, powerhead, etc... were coated in a terrible brown residue! I can't believe anyone would use that stuff when there is so much cleaner stuff out there!

Because it's more expensive and the residue from IO doesn't really bother me.

Idoc · Dec 3, 2017

Instigate said:
Because it's more expensive and the residue from IO doesn't really bother me.

Have you noticed if it coats your equipment in the tank and sump? Or is it only with the mixing?

HW Marinemix is more expensive, but I just try to buy what i will need for the year from BRS during black Friday and its almost $20/box less than normal... which brings it in line with the other brands. They've had it on sale now during the last 2 years.

Instigate · Dec 3, 2017

Idoc said:
Have you noticed if it coats your equipment in the tank and sump? Or is it only with the mixing?

HW Marinemix is more expensive, but I just try to buy what i will need for the year from BRS during black Friday and its almost $20/box less than normal... which brings it in line with the other brands. They've had it on sale now during the last 2 years.

I've only been running my system for about 6 months now so I don't have a ton of experience but as far as I can tell I'm only seeing that residue on the mixing container and equipment in it. I need to plan for the black Friday sale next year! I was not prepared. lol

And I'm using regular IO not RC. May switch to RC or some other salt at some point but with the small amount of little frags I have currently I'm maintaining levels of the big 3 with just WC's. No dosing, no need to start at higher levels with my freshly mixed salt water.

BigJohnny · Dec 3, 2017

Idoc said:
Have you noticed if it coats your equipment in the tank and sump? Or is it only with the mixing?

HW Marinemix is more expensive, but I just try to buy what i will need for the year from BRS during black Friday and its almost $20/box less than normal... which brings it in line with the other brands. They've had it on sale now during the last 2 years.

Same here, always stock up on black friday, $50 for the 160g box

Luna · Dec 21, 2017

SDReefer said:
I use Coralife Marine Salt since it was on sale at my LFS. So far I've had good results. I still have enough to make around 100 gallons of water, so I'll be sticking with it for some time.

How long do you mix it for? recently purchased some.