Switching Salts?

[Steven91]

Thinking about switching salts, from Red Sea Coral Pro Salt (black bucket) to reef crystals, as I can get Reef Crystals for a decent bit cheaper at my LFS for the same amount of salt water. Has any one switched salt types before, do you recommend it and anything you noticed different between the salts?

 

[mr9iron]

I have ran Reef Crystals for years and have had good results with it. However, the Alkalinity is a bit high around 11 or so. I recently switched to Fritz RPM which is closer to natural sea water parameters. I've only done 1 water change with it thus far so I can't really speak to it's efficacy. It did mix clear in about 15 minutes and I did not see any residue in my mixing bucket like I do with RC.

 

[nano24Clownfish]

I switched to the salt from Live Aquaria from the RedSea Coral Pro. What a waste of money that RedSea was. My corals are happy now and I did nothing special to change salts

 

[Murica]

Thinking about switching salts, from Red Sea Coral Pro Salt (black bucket) to reef crystals, as I can get Reef Crystals for a decent bit cheaper at my LFS for the same amount of salt water. Has any one switched salt types before, do you recommend it and anything you noticed different between the salts?

Yes... Kinda. From reef crystals to instant ocean. I've had several issues from reef crystals such as elevated alkalinity. I think it also contributed to higher phosphates.. Instant ocean works much better for me.

Btw, I usually get 200 gallons worth of instant ocean off Amazon for fifty bucks.

 

[Steven91]

Yes... Kinda. From reef crystals to instant ocean. I've had several issues from reef crystals such as elevated alkalinity. I think it also contributed to higher phosphates.. Instant ocean works much better for me.

Btw, I usually get 200 gallons worth of instant ocean off Amazon for fifty bucks.

Thats what my lfs sells instant ocean for, i dont have an issue with red sea its just their salt is getting expensive and one of the guys i go for help recommended going to instant ocean/reef crystals

 

[Cment]

If you do switch salts i recommend doing small water changes say 10% during your regular maintenance. No need to do anything special. My only advice when switching salts is to find one that is readily available in your area and within your budget.

 

[Steven91]

If you do switch salts i recommend doing small water changes say 10% during your regular maintenance. No need to do anything special. My only advice when switching salts is to find one that is readily available in your area and within your budget.

I was thinking about doing 10% water changes every week until I get a full water change. Instant ocean is always in stock at my LFS in the boxes that they sell for $50

 

[Cment]

I was thinking about doing 10% water changes every week until I get a full water change. Instant ocean is always in stock at my LFS in the boxes that they sell for $50

Ive used many salts and always come back to instant ocean. Its really consistent and the reasonable price point isn't bad either.

 

[Steven91]

Ive used many salts and always come back to instant ocean. Its really consistent and the reasonable price point isn't bad either.

Red sea is like $80 for 200 gal and i can get instant ocean for $50 for 200 gals, i like saving money

 

[Cment]

Red sea is like $80 for 200 gal and i can get instant ocean for $50 for 200 gals, i like saving money

Lol me too, more money for corals. Just remember to compare apples to apples. IO instructions are for mixing to 1.023 and if memory serves me, I believe RSP is 1.026. However, you still make out a little better with IO

 

[squampton]

I am considering going to IO, currently using H2Ocean but its $95 CAD + tax and not always in stock they only bring in a few buckets in at a time, vs IO where it appears they bring in a pallet or more each time and IO is 51 and some change + tax, pretty decent savings.

 

[mtraylor]

Very small water changes is the key for making a change as the parms like alk, etc and are different and a huge water change can kill corals. That is what you want to look out for.

 

[Steven91]

Very small water changes is the key for making a change as the parms like alk, etc and are different and a huge water change can kill corals. That is what you want to look out for.

how small, 10% or smaller?

 

[mtraylor]

I think 10% water changes are safe.

 

[Steven91]

I think 10% water changes are safe.

I might play it safe and 5% to start with for the first few times and then go to 10%

 

[KJAG]

Switched from reef crystals to Red Sea blue bucket and couldn’t be happier.

 

[BoSalman]

I'm actually in the process of switching salts from Tropic Marin pro reef to Brightwell NeoMarine.

Main reaoson to change for my opinion is parameters. Look closely at those and see which one is closer to what you're looking for and shoot for it slowley over a period of time to avoid complications.

 

[DSC reef]

Thinking about switching salts, from Red Sea Coral Pro Salt (black bucket) to reef crystals, as I can get Reef Crystals for a decent bit cheaper at my LFS for the same amount of salt water. Has any one switched salt types before, do you recommend it and anything you noticed different between the salts?

Have you tried ordering your red sea salt? We would get 200 gallon bags from @SaltwaterAq for cheaper than any store that had the 175 gallon bucket. Coral pro is a really good salt and so is reef crystals. We changed salt a few times and always went back to coral pro.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Personally, if you test and match your alkalinity before you do water changes, I'd just do your normal water changes. The change in parameters is just not going to be that great with the average water changes that we do in the hobby.

 

[Steven91]

Have you tried ordering your red sea salt? We would get 200 gallon bags from @SaltwaterAq for cheaper than any store that had the 175 gallon bucket. Coral pro is a really good salt and so is reef crystals. We changed salt a few times and always went back to coral pro.

Yeah, I've looked just about everywhere for coral pro and instant ocean is still like $10 cheaper