Ready to ditch Instant ocean!

[meromeroreefer]

Ok does anybody have this issue with instant ocean everytime i make a new batch by the next day i keep getting this white residue its getting really anniying

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I switched to tropic marin

 

[Victor_C3]

I switched to tropic marin

More than a decade ago, I used instant ocean. Upon switching to Tropic Marin, I noticed an almost immediate improvement in the way things looked immediately after a 10% water change. I have never tried another salt since.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I use TM also, but IO is a great salt. How are you mixing it? That may be it. When I mixed it the salt always mixed clear

 

[jordan10]

I use it and I mix it up with a pump and heater and I have clear water almost instantly or with in 5mins

 

[meromeroreefer]

I mix it with a pump right now im usint the jabao 20000
U cant beat 35$ for 160 gall ons 5 gallon bucket but it is really annoying

 

[Uncle99]

Yup, me too, I moved away from this salt as I have no idea, what, if any effect, this anti caking agent would have over time in my reef. I love the price though. I could skim most of it off the top.

My new salt mixes clean and accurate to specs in a couple of hours, each and every time, over 5 years now.

 

[melanotaenia]

I firmly believe that with salt, you definitely get what you pay for. That said, I have always used Tropic Marin Pro Reef for my SPS tank, and have never had any problems.

 

[emilio365]

Ok does anybody have this issue with instant ocean everytime i make a new batch by the next day i keep getting this white residue its getting really anniying

Yes, that’s has happened to me before. I never figured out what It was, I dumped out the batch of salt. I only had about 1/4 of the bucket left.
Are you adding all the salt to the RO/DI water at the same time?

 

[Fishko]

I mix tm pro with red sea coral pro 3:2 ratio and comes to an alk of 8.0. But thats cause im trying to use up all my coral pro

 

[WallyB]

Years ago, like 10+ I used nothing except Instant Ocean on a Mixed NO SPS Tank. No issues.

Then I move over to TMP for about 5 years to try SPS. Since I wanted nothing but the best for SPS.

I still killed SPS by the dozens.

I then tackled Stability of all Parameters about 5-6 months ago.
Real focus on Stability (Alk the most important to keep stable) and some salts have too high alk, or inconsistant alk between each batch of buckets.

I also Switched away from TMP and went Red Sea Blue Bucket.
A step down from TMP and a Step up from Instant Ocean.
I still wanted a lower ALK and consitancy between each bucket.

Things took off. Best Colors, Growth and PE I've ever had in SPS Corals. Zero deaths.

Salt is one piece of the puzzle.
I've seen spectacular Tanks using Instant Ocean and TMP and every other salt too.

 

[jda]

The stuff mixes clear for me. I mix the whole 50g bag, so no chance to settle. I also mix into cold water and then heat it later.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

I switched to tropic marin

Me too, switch, but I think the only issue is with the Alk being lower than most

 

[meromeroreefer]

I add it all at once but in 1 liter bucket like 7 buckets for 75 gals. Also i want to switch beacuse its alk is way too high 11 i used to run my frag tank at 8.5 but everytime i did water change 20 gals it would spike to 9.5 !!
Now i had too raise my alk in my tank to 9.5 so when i do wc it doesnt spike as bad what alk does tropic marine run??

 

[sfin52]

Mix up rc water is clear in about an hour.

 

[Idoc]

My IO mixed clear every time. It will leave a white residue on my brute mixing can if i leave it in there mixing for over 2 days, though. I mix, get it to temperature, and then put into tank... usually within 6-24 hours after mixing.

 

[ReefHomieJon]

Me too, switch, but I think the only issue is with the Alk being lower than most

Yea my only issue too but it’s a great product with 70 trace elements in it. I hate that I need to dose alk on new salt before it’s even added to the tank tho

 

[Victor_C3]

Yea my only issue too but it’s a great product with 70 trace elements in it. I hate that I need to dose alk on new salt before it’s even added to the tank tho

Look closely at the product details of the different varieties of Tropic Marin salt mixes.

The classic salt mixes to lower Ca+ and Mg+ with a higher alkalinity in the 9-10 range.

The pro salt mixes to higher Ca+ and Mg+ with a lower alkalinity in the 7-8 range.

Bio-Actif puts the alkalinity in the 8-9 range.

BRS did a great video about the differences between the varieties of TM salts.

 

[Heabel7]

Just mixed some last night. Actually the first time ever that I have gotten such a white pasty cloud for so long. Been using for years. Maybe a poor batch or modification of formula. Still debating if I’m going to use it. Maybe if it’s clear later today and the big 3 test correctly

 

[jda]

Here is my recipe for perfect acropora/SPS IO.

44 gallon brute filled with COLD RO water. Add 50g bag of IO and two TBSP of dowflake. Mix. Add 20mls of Muriatic Acid. Heat and let mix for another few days. Comes out like 1.026, 7.0 alk and 425 calcium.