Reef Crystals formulation salt? What's in it?

[Ashley Kekua]

This website says Reef Crystals "Reef Crystals is a specially formulated synthetic sea salt made by Instant Ocean, for use in aquaria with soft and hard corals. It has all the features and benefits of Instant Ocean with added calcium, magnesium, vitamins and trace elements. It also contains special additives to detoxify harmful heavy metals like copper. The added calcium encourages growth of large and small polyp stony corals and coralline algae. Hard corals remove calcium from the water as they grow and this calcium needs to be replaced either through supplementation with a calcium additive or by water changes. "

What's means by trace elements, vitamins, and detoxify? What specific it contains?? Is extra price worth above the purple box mark Instant Ocean?

 

[Abhishek]

I don't use RC but am sure some from the #reefsquad can help you out . Personally if it states vitamins and organics added, I would stay away from it and use Instant Ocean .
Ultimately , any salt will be fine as long it matches your existing tank parameters and the transition is slow .

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[Scotty Buttons]

I don't think it's worth the extra money, and the alk is really high.

 

[McFly]

I used regular IO for years and switched to RC just so I did not have to adjust CA/KH after a water change. I have not noticed anything extra or special about it, what you posted sounds like the marketing team got a hold of it. I am going to try to contact them for an explanation, very interested now. Thanks for pointing this out!

 

[Abhishek]

Again just to be clear - its not a matter of which salt is better . Its about what matches your tank parameters better .

Example - Adam from battlecorals uses Tropic Marin Classic salt for his 7000 gallons of awesome acros and WWC uses brightwell salt for their 900, 500 and farm while Jason Fox uses IO . Not that one is better than the other .

Just because all these salts match their desirable parameters and avoid any swings while doing water change .

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I just haven't had good luck with Reef Crystals and neither has a reefing buddy of mine. I just use regular Instant Ocean and dose/test regularly.

 

[McFly]

I received the following email response, from the contact form on their website.
(Edited to remove personal info.)


I would use Marine Conditioner to remove impurities from the tap water sir.

Thank You

Consumer Relations
Spectrum Brands – Pet, Home and Garden Division


Subject: Instant Ocean Contact US - Product Questions

Contact Us Submission
The following was submitted on 2/12/2019.

Details:

• Question Type: Product Questions

Question:
Hello Instant Ocean, Regarding Reef Crystals, what "extra vitamins" are in the salt and how does this product "Neutralizes trace heavy metals often found in tap water"? (http://www.instantocean.com/Products/Sea-Salt-Mixes/reef-crystals-sea-salt.aspx) I have used regular IO in my reef tank for years and just started using RC about 7 months ago. Thanks.


I was hoping for a little more of an answer but at least they were quick to respond.