What Salt do YOU use?!

[KingTideCorals]

I feel this always is a very interesting thread whenever it is brought back up, especially since there is constantly new products being brought to the market on all spectrums of the hobby, but today I wanted to talk SALT! I mean that is what this hobby is all about, the salty life, and wanted to see what you personally find to be the best salt mix for your system/systems.

This is not a thread where wee are looking to seek out the worst salt, this is a thread to see what salt everyone is using and why! I know many amazing reefs that use the simplicity of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals that have stunning results. I also have the other side of the spectrum of people using the best brand on the market and their reef tank is enjoying the luxury! Salt is one of the founding blocks of this hobby, and it all starts with that in essence so where does your salt water begin?

Personally myself, I run Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt and it has provided great balance of elements for my tanks and I love how clean it mixes as well. Things seem happy in both my tanks so why change now! I know this brand can fall short handed on volume of product from time to time, but due to my systems being nanos I can get away with just having a bucket I am using at the time, and a back up one ready for any kind of emergency or extended period of it being out of stock.

So reefers, what makes your reef salty?

 

[lpsouth1978]

I used IORC for years (almost 20) and had great results in my systems. I recently switched to HW MarineMix and have been VERY happy so far. I only switched because I was tired of the brown crud in my Brutes.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals, I switched off TMP due to costs and availability. I'm really liking how it's working. I'm 2-3 months in and on my second bucket.

 

[Water Dog]

Regular Instant Ocean... hasn’t failed me in over 20 years of reefing. I’ve toyed with the latest and greatest salt mixes here and there for short stints and always go back.

 

[Poof No Eyebrows]

Red sea coral pro. Only salt I've ever used that didn't eventually rock up. Also mixes extremely well.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Another for RC. Great for AWC.

 

[Gtinnel]

I also use IORC, I use it because it's cheap and always available. I don't see the added value in the more expensive salt mixes for me personally.

 

[prdubois]

I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. The only thing I don't like is the brown stuff (clay fillers) it leaves in the mixing container. I assume the same brown stuff goes into my tank. I like when you buy the box you get 50 gal bags. Works good since I mix 50 gal at a time. Just need to add a extra 5 cups to get it to the right level.

 

[RuuToo]

For a long time I used a 60/40 mix of regular instant ocean and purple bucket Red Sea that matched my tanks parameters pretty well.

since switching to auto water changes I’ve just been using just the Red Sea, since it likely cuts down a little on my 2 part dosing and I dont think it’s as critical to precisely match with awc.

I’ve been contemplating switching to the tropic Marin though when I replumb and get larger mixing containers though (mine last a week right now), since the numbers suggest that the Red Sea may be too high to store for longer time periods.

 

[RuuToo]

I’m probably massively overthinking it though

 

[DaddyFish]

I'll play along, it's such a familiar game!

IORC, after all, what's a little brown scum among friends.

 

[The_Skrimp]

I use Reef Crystals. I switched over to Red Sea for a little while but I can get a five gallon bucket of Reef Crystals for the same price that I was paying for a gallon and a half bucket of Red Sea. While I did notice faster growth using Red Sea, it’s just not enough of a difference to justify the added cost. Reef crystals is really the best for the price.

 

[BaysEndReef]

Fritz blue box

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Lately I've been using the red sea pro mix, just cause its the cheapest to buy in big buckets. I'm open to changing if I find a better deal for cheaper, as long as its a brand name

 

[Azedenkae]

I use LiveAquaria Professional Reef Salt

 

[Sharkbait19]

I use Reef Crystals. Keeps the calc and mag levels stable.

 

[mtraylor]

Just switched to red sea last year

 

[JCTReefer]

I only use Morton. It’s been trusted since 1848.

 

[NashobaTek]

Good old reliable IO , started with it in the 80's and I still use it

 

[mike550]

I use LiveAquaria Professional Reef Salt

I was looking at this as a replacement to TM Pro. What do you think of LA salt?