Salt For Newbie

[Arcticfirefighter]

Hi everybody, I have decided for now to stick with a softy tank until I learn more and get some experience in the hobby. My question is, even after reading a bunch of post on here, what is the best/recommended salt for a softy/maybe one or two LPS tank. It seems to be all over the place between IO Reef Crystals and Red Sea Coral Pro. Some people say the IO leaves a brown film; however, I am not sure I need the extra stuff in the RSCP. Please enlighten me, as I really dont want to screw this adventure up...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hi everybody, I have decided for now to stick with a softy tank until I learn more and get some experience in the hobby. My question is, even after reading a bunch of post on here, what is the best/recommended salt for a softy/maybe one or two LPS tank. It seems to be all over the place between IO Reef Crystals and Red Sea Coral Pro. Some people say the IO leaves a brown film; however, I am not sure I need the extra stuff in the RSCP. Please enlighten me, as I really dont want to screw this adventure up...

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals has worked great for me, it doesn't contain the super elevated levels that RSCP has so it's perfect for softy and lps tanks or mixed reefs with some sps.
I've never had it leave a brown film in any of my containers

 

[Arcticfirefighter]

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals has worked great for me, it doesn't contain the super elevated levels that RSCP has so it's perfect for softy and lps tanks or mixed reefs with some sps.
I've never had it leave a brown film in any of my containers

Thanks, I appreciate it! I am seeing that the Reef Crystals are good as long as you follow the mixing instructions. As far as the RSCP goes, those super elevated levels were my concern. I just dont think I needed anything that strong. I just wanted to make sure I got some expert advice to point me in the right direction. I think simplicity for a while is going to be our best best. Learn, learn, and learn some more before progressing too much. [emoji3]

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Plain Instant Ocean might leave a film in your mixing container, but I've yet to find a salt that doesn't truthfully. I used Red Sea blue bucket for a while and it didn't leave the same brownish film that IO did, but it also didn't leave the mixing container completely clean. Plain old Instant Ocean also has plenty of of the big three minerals. Most boxes I get test around 10 - 11 dKh alkalinity, 420 ppm calcium, and 1,400 ppm+ magnesium.

I wouldn't overlook IO just because it's the cheapest. It's used by plenty of hardcore SPS reefers (including Jason Fox), and I've used it without issue on all my tanks. I trust IO enough to use it on my octopus tank, where water quality is pretty important.

 

[PDR]

I would personally use regular IO. I don’t think you would benefit from RC and regular IO is usually cheaper and you can leave it mixed for longer.

 

[Arcticfirefighter]

Plain Instant Ocean might leave a film in your mixing container, but I've yet to find a salt that doesn't truthfully. I used Red Sea blue bucket for a while and it didn't leave the same brownish film that IO did, but it also didn't leave the mixing container completely clean. Plain old Instant Ocean also has plenty of of the big three minerals. Most boxes I get test around 10 - 11 dKh alkalinity, 420 ppm calcium, and 1,400 ppm+ magnesium.

I wouldn't overlook IO just because it's the cheapest. It's used by plenty of hardcore SPS reefers (including Jason Fox), and I've used it without issue on all my tanks. I trust IO enough to use it on my octopus tank, where water quality is pretty important.

Thanks! And those numbers are good for what I plan on doing. I will have to do some research on the difference between the Reef Crystals and the RS Blue bucket. My setup is small too, I am only running a 36 Bow.

 

[Arcticfirefighter]

I would personally use regular IO. I don’t think you would benefit from RC and regular IO is usually cheaper and you can leave it mixed for longer.

Thanks! It seems that I can definitely cross out the RSCP. IO seems to be the popular choice here.

 

[PDR]

Thanks! It seems that I can definitely cross out the RSCP. IO seems to be the popular choice here.

I should have mentioned this, but I personally just switched from IO to Live Aquaria salt. Nothing wrong with IO, but it did mix up kind of dirty (not a big deal) and I prefer the parameters of the LA salt. I also got it on sale so it was cheaper. I can't recommend it since I haven't actually used any of it yet, but it may be worth looking at.

 

[juniorrocketdad]

Different maintenance routines require different salts, the elevated level of he Red Sea can allow you not to dose or significantly decrease he amount you dose but this is determined by how big and frequent your water changes are.


In the end any salt can work fine you just have to be measuring your elements to make sure you don’t over or under dose

 

[Nick30G]

Salt is Salt. Pick one and stick with it. Your not going to have better or worse results with one salt mix compared to another necessarily. Its mostly personal preference

 

[Idoc]

I use HW MarineMix Reefer salt. It's synthetic so very consistent with parameters. It leaves absolutely no residue and mixes very clean. It is a little pricey, though. I've thought about switching due to cost, but I'm really not going through that much right now.

 

[Arcticfirefighter]

I use HW MarineMix Reefer salt. It's synthetic so very consistent with parameters. It leaves absolutely no residue and mixes very clean. It is a little pricey, though. I've thought about switching due to cost, but I'm really not going through that much right now.

Thanks I appreciate the input.

And....

Go Bucks!

O-H!

 

[Idoc]

Thanks I appreciate the input.

And....

Go Bucks!

O-H!

I-O

 

[Arcticfirefighter]

Well I made the switch to IO Reef Crystals and just finished the first batch. I am going to run it in both my DT and QT. I am going to do a 20% water change in both, and then follow up with another 10% water change over other day for about a week. DT tank still has nothing in it, I am just continuing pure ammonia until the first two clowns go in.

 

[Idoc]

Well I made the switch to IO Reef Crystals and just finished the first batch. I am going to run it in both my DT and QT. I am going to do a 20% water change in both, and then follow up with another 10% water change over other day for about a week. DT tank still has nothing in it, I am just continuing pure ammonia until the first two clowns go in.

Are you still cycling your DT? I'd so, just hold off on any water changes until the cycle is complete. Once it's done, you will do a huge water change anyhow to get rid of the high nitrates that are present from the cycle. No use wasting the salt with water changes now. Plus, the fish won't care one way or the other... only if you have corals in there will it matter... they don't like quick swings in alkalinity differences in different salts.

I use cheaper salt for my fish QT and then the expensive salt for my DT and coral QT.

 

[Arcticfirefighter]

Are you still cycling your DT? I'd so, just hold off on any water changes until the cycle is complete. Once it's done, you will do a huge water change anyhow to get rid of the high nitrates that are present from the cycle. No use wasting the salt with water changes now. Plus, the fish won't care one way or the other... only if you have corals in there will it matter... they don't like quick swings in alkalinity differences in different salts.

I use cheaper salt for my fish QT and then the expensive salt for my DT and coral QT.

No, DT is done with the cycle. Did a large water change to get rid of the nitrates, and now just ammonia dosing to keep it going until the clowns are done in QT.

 

[Idoc]

No, DT is done with the cycle. Did a large water change to get rid of the nitrates, and now just ammonia dosing to keep it going until the clowns are done in QT.

Gotcha...I miss understood.