Recommend Salt mix

[aydemir]

Just something to consider, but if you use a salt that has much higher parameters than your tank, it makes it much more difficult to do a large water change during an emergency because you would get large parameters swings. That's why many people say to pick a salt that matches your tanks parameters.

I'm in the same boat though since I use IORC that mixes to 13 dKh. I've considered switching, but going through a bucket every 2 months I can't justify the extra cost of a premium brand.

Yeah great point. I think I have been using it for almost like 7 years now on the same tank lol! Probably when I switched from whatever salt mix I used before (Fluval I think??) I wasn't even aware it had elevated levels of Ca, Ma, KH! I don't think I had anything other than soft corals in the tank though so IIRC everything was fine.
Also in terms of cost, BRS did a review on popular salt mixes and I remember the tropic marin only being slightly more expensive than the red sea coral pro salt in terms of $/Litre.

Most likely if I had the ability to dose and monitor levels I would just go for the cheap but tried and tested Instant Ocean salt (not the reef version), and then dose to hit whatever levels I need.

 

[rtparty]

Salt is the most argued about and overthought thing in this entire hobby. Pick one that matches your parameters and budget. Done. Even better if your LFS carries it so you can get it in a pinch and support a local.

There is no best salt. Anyone that says there is is just defending their purchase. I personally use ESV, TM Pro Reef and IO Purple currently. They all do the same thing. I send off an ICP on my tank every 6-8 weeks and dose according to that. I don't do regular water changes any longer so the salt I use is all but pointless.

 

[PristineReef]

Ty for all your responses on this topic. I appreciate it!

 

[jft]

Tropic Marin. You really don’t need to say anything more than that.

Except HW marinemix is better HAHA

 

[dmy535]

I started with tropic Marin pro reef salt, and just switched recently because the price, and its never available when I need it. I also dislike that I needed to mix, then dose the bucket before I could add to tank because parameters always mixed low.... I decided to go with IO Reef crystals because it mixes to the perimeters I want. And it’s ewsily available everywhere.

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

I was a die hard TM Pro user for years but availability has been terrible now and the price has Increased to over $100 a bucket. For a 400g system that adds up. I have since switched to Red Sea blue bucket, no complaints and it reduced my monthly expense by half.

 

[darrelh]

I know i'm a month late but I noticed no mention of Coralife or Fritz salt in the voting.

 

[Rmckoy]

I have been using aqua vitro salinity for years .
With no issues .