Salt Mix

[JR Bodyman]

What brand salt mix do you use and why?
What are the pros and cons of others you have tried?

 

[andrewey]

I use instant ocean. Have tried about 4 other salts and always came back to IO.

If you don't get a lot of replies to this question, feel free to use the search function- this question comes up pretty frequently there are a few hundred replies on some of those threads about the pros and cons of each and every salt imaginable.

 

[JR Bodyman]

Thank you for the info.

 

[MJ in Boise]

Reef Crystals. Cheap, always in stock, does the trick.

 

[CK00020]

Tropic Marin pro reef, mixes way cleaner than reef crystals

 

[smokin'reefer]

Aquavitro Salinity

Its what my lfs uses. I think that helps with fish and corals I purchase from them to be in the same mix. Whether it helps or not, idk.

One other big thing for me is the big bucket ($99) mixes 220 gallons at 35ppt. Most others give you a subdued amount their mix makes based on a lower 32ppt i believe.

Never felt the need to try anything else.

 

[jda]

There are hundreds of threads on this... they all seem to break down the same way...

Longtime users and folks who are going to doctor their mix anyway, like Instant Ocean a lot. You can get 200g for like $40 and it is solid and reliable for decades.

Clean bucket or mix people tend to like Tropic Marin or some flavor of Red Sea.

People who want their salt mix to be perfect out of the bag will be all over the place with brands since none mix up the same.

I am a IO guy. I never had it mix badly and I lower the alk and raise the calcium. It is also so cheap at $10 for 44g water change (50g bag does 44g of reef water).

I hated Kent and Coralife (hard metals), Salinity (just all over the place from batch to batch and was super expensive), ESV (got a bunch at a club raffle, but too much work for no difference), Fritz (box was all over the place and probably needed dry mixed). I do not feel the need to experiment anymore.

 

[MikeRizz88]

I started with Red Sea coral pro salt, but moved to the tropic marin pro reef. Tropic marin mixes much faster and cleaner. Doesn’t ugly up Inside of mixing bin like the Red Sea. Just gotta dose alk cuz TMP gives you about 8 dkh. Hope this helps

 

[JR Bodyman]

There are hundreds of threads on this... they all seem to break down the same way...

Longtime users and folks who are going to doctor their mix anyway, like Instant Ocean a lot. You can get 200g for like $40 and it is solid and reliable for decades.

Clean bucket or mix people tend to like Tropic Marin or some flavor of Red Sea.

People who want their salt mix to be perfect out of the bag will be all over the place with brands since none mix up the same.

I am a IO guy. I never had it mix badly and I lower the alk and raise the calcium. It is also so cheap at $10 for 44g water change (50g bag does 44g of reef water).

I hated Kent and Coralife (hard metals), Salinity (just all over the place from batch to batch and was super expensive), ESV (got a bunch at a club raffle, but too much work for no difference), Fritz (box was all over the place and probably needed dry mixed). I do not feel the need to experiment anymore.

So what’s your way of lowering the alk and raising calc? How much do you mix at a time? I’m using IO but I only mix 5 gallons at a time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tropic marin - Every element, dissolves quickly and reliable with good alk -not high

 

[Gernader]

I use regular IO and corals are happy with it!

 

[BAUCE]

Tropic Marin Pro is the only salt really worth paying extra for over Instant Ocean imo. I use IO because I'd rather pay 1/2 the cost of TMP at the time being.

 

[Backreefing]

I use Red Sea blue bucket . Mixes darn close to sea water .
I avoid Reef Crystals, I’ve had parameter problems with it . And reef crystals has a crazy high alkalinity 13-15 DKH or worse .

 

[Crabby48]

TM Pro. Sometimes think about trying brightwell for higher alk and miss fritz for price.
I would pick one what parameters you want and go as long as it’s a mainstream salt.
Tm Pro holds parameters good if storing for long times.
TM Pro, Brightwell, Fritz, Red Sea are a few that I would recommend

 

[FlexingFishSticks]

Fritz!