What salt to use?

[Notsolostfish]

Im in the process of setting up my tank, and i need recommendation on what salt to use, im defiantly not trying to go the cheap router here, I know this hobby is expensive. What's the best marine salt i can buy, its a 36 gallon tank with an 18 gallon sump. thank you.

 

[SilvermistInc]

Reef crystals

 

[Bucs20fan]

I also use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. Youll hear lots about many different salts and they all do good things. Just personal preference. I went with IORC due to its availability and it goes on sale often.

 

[flashsmith]

I used the "high end" salt for a year and about 6 months ago switched to reef crystals to keep costs down and have noticed no change at all. In fact I'm dosing half as much as I was now. Amazon currently has the bucket for $33.99. Can't go wrong IMO.

 

[stovenut]

This right here. IORC is on sale quite often online between Amazon, Chewy and Petco. You can often find the 200g boxes for $40-$45 or the 160g buckets for about $35.

 

[MaxTremors]

I don’t like reef crystals just because it’s so high in Alk (you can lower it, but it’s a hassle). I would recommend a salt that mixes around 8-9dkh, personally I use Fritz RPM, but all of the major salt brands are fine, I would recommend you pick one that mixes to where you want to keep your tank.

 

[rocky reef]

i used the insant ocean marine salt from petco for my first ever 10g tank. the 10lbs bag $9 is perfect for a 10g but you'll need more if you have a larger tank. my fish loved it, the tank cycled well and i didnt have any salinity issues

 

[PatW]

I used Reef Crystals and Instant Ocean. I found Reef Crystals to be variable on parameters. I always test ALK after mixing. So I switched to Instant Ocean. That worked pretty well. But the last batch I got had 0 ALK. If they mess up like that, what else are they messing up?

I switched to Red Sea. It dissolves more thoroughly than Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean and so far the parameters have been steady.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'm an Aquaforest Reef Salt man myself...middle of the road kind of salt. Not too expensive, not cheap either.

 

[moorjames]

I'd narrow down your search by what parameters you want to maintain- as not all salts are created equally. If you want to run a little higher Alk (above 8-9) then look to see which ones will help you maintain that better. Once you have it narrowed- then it's much easier to compare them to see which one you'd like best. I prefer Tropic Marin because it mixes clear pretty quickly. I usually just make enough saltwater for my next wc because I don't really have a lot of room to store large amounts- so I like mixing a 5 gallon bucket- and use it within an hour or 2 after mixing.

 

[Doctorgori]

I used to be sold on elevated alkalinity, but

I don’t like reef crystals just because it’s so high in Alk (you can lower it, but it’s a hassle). I would recommend a salt that mixes around 8-9dkh, personally I use Fritz RPM, but all of the major salt brands are fine, I would recommend you pick one that mixes to where you want to keep your tank.

I was mixing IO purple with Fritz red…sorta stupid but it kinda landed in around 9ish alk … might be shelvin* that as I’m getting skittish even at that range

I used Reef Crystals and Instant Ocean. I found Reef Crystals to be variable on parameters. I always test ALK after mixing. So I switched to Instant Ocean. That worked pretty well. But the last batch I got had 0 ALK. If they mess up like that, what else are they messing up?

I switched to Red Sea. It dissolves more thoroughly than Reef Crystals or Instant Ocean and so far the parameters have been steady.

yeah, I used to be sold on elevated alkalinity but I dunno about Reef Crystals anymore …I sorta prefer the purple bucket… might have been marketing brainwashing …

OP I might try running at 7.5 …do a lil research and see what range suits you

man oh man, so many what salt is best threads… I’m sure everyone here agrees it’s all good either way

 

[Tankkeepers]

I used to use reef crystals and after I switched to red sea coral pro wow what a difference MUCH better color and growth been using it for 2 years

Also IO has alot of clay in it I don't like

 

[Tankkeepers]

man oh man, so many what salt is best threads… I’m sure everyone here agrees it’s all good either
Way

I would not agree it's all good lol some are better then others

And heven forbid someone see salt and trys to use table salt lol

 

[mynd]

Back in the day I used to use SeaChem... SeaChem has now changed their label but the honest to GOD truth is that with this salt I have never lost one coral or one fish in the last 12 years. I am seriously being honest here..

Seachem - Vibrant Sea

www.seachem.com

 

[Woodyman]

Im in the process of setting up my tank, and i need recommendation on what salt to use, im defiantly not trying to go the cheap router here, I know this hobby is expensive. What's the best marine salt i can buy, its a 36 gallon tank with an 18 gallon sump. thank you.

I haven't seen this one mentioned yet, so I'll throw it out, my LFS is switching over to this salt and they have recommended it. I've talked to a few people on here who all had good things to say as well.

One of those would be @TheWB

But the salt is

AccuraSea 1 by Two Little Fishies​

AccuraSea Seawater Salt Mix Box (200 Gallon) - Two Little Fishies

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[Woodyman]

I haven't seen this one mentioned yet, so I'll throw it out, my LFS is switching over to this salt and they have recommended it. I've talked to a few people on here who all had good things to say as well.

One of those would be @TheWB

But the salt is

AccuraSea 1 by Two Little Fishies​

AccuraSea Seawater Salt Mix Box (200 Gallon) - Two Little Fishies

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

I will probably be giving it a try over the next couple months as my TMP runs out and I can't get a refill. If I can get a refill maybe not, but we'll have to wait and see how that goes...

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'm having a little trouble with achieving the calcium levels that should be in AF Reef Salt so I was considering Reef Crystals due to the low cost and slightly high calcium (~450) which could bring my tank calcium levels up more quickly but them I was told 380 (which is where my tank calcium is right now) isn't as bad as I thought. I was aiming for about 410-420 because that's what I've always heard to aim for. Also I'd have to switch really slowly due to the high alk of reef crystals since it's a nano tank so for now I'm sticking with Aquaforest a little longer...Red Sea Blue Bucket is also a salt I used to use and like, just a little more expensive here

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I’ve been doing a lot of research on this myself recently.

If you’re trying to get your parameters closest to NSW (Natural Sea Water), then it looks like Tropic Marin Pro Reef is the best, followed by Red Sea. TM is about $30 more than RS for a 200 gallon bucket. Other salt mixes are typically either higher in Alk or or higher in other important values (such as calcium, magnesium, etc.). Instant Ocean, for example is pretty good on values, but it’s super high for Alk.

That said, you can (and plenty of people do) succeed with different “lower quality” salt brands like Instant Ocean. The main thing seems to be picking your parameters and sticking to them (i.e. getting them stable in your tank), as most fish and corals will adapt even to less than ideal conditions well as long the conditions don’t change too much too fast.

 

[Thermite187]

Back in the day I used to use SeaChem... SeaChem has now changed their label but the honest to GOD truth is that with this salt I have never lost one coral or one fish in the last 12 years. I am seriously being honest here..

Seachem - Vibrant Sea

www.seachem.com

Thanks for posting this...

I also used to use seachem reef salt. I was searching just now to find someone's opinion on the Vibrant Sea stuff. The params look pretty good per their site.

pH 8.4-8.5 || KH 3-4 meq/L || Ca 425-445 mg/L || Mg 1,250-1,350 mg/L || K 500-550 mg/L || Sr 8-10 mg/L

Are you finding it to be consistent? I'm using Coralife right now but was fish only. I'm thinking of switching up to something else.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Thanks for posting this...

I also used to use seachem reef salt. I was searching just now to find someone's opinion on the Vibrant Sea stuff. The params look pretty good per their site.

pH 8.4-8.5 || KH 3-4 meq/L || Ca 425-445 mg/L || Mg 1,250-1,350 mg/L || K 500-550 mg/L || Sr 8-10 mg/L

Are you finding it to be consistent? I'm using Coralife right now but was fish only. I'm thinking of switching up to something else.

I can't speak for seachem never used it

But when I switched from reef crystals to red sea coral pro there was a huge difrence in growth color and I have not lost a coral in 2 years since the switch before I'd have them just up and die for no known reason

Good luck