Which salt mix?

[The Pondman]

New 560 gallon tank, 1/4 of the way filled up and needed advice on choosing a salt mix (brand/type). Thanks!

 

[James M]

FOWLR or reef ?

 

[The Pondman]

FOWLR or reef ?

Reef

 

[James M]

you have lots of options for the cheapest I would say instant ocean but red sea coral pro salt is good

 

[Ron Reefman]

The biggest difference between all the reef salts is the price. ;Greedy

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is the cheapest (and the one I use). Over the last 15 years I've tried several other "better" salts that were double what IO Reef Crystals sells for and I don't see any difference in my tank.

 

[andrewkw]

I would regularly use what ever is cheapest and easily available. For initial filling though I'd consider using a salt that is closer to your parameters. For instance I would never fill a tank with red sea pro but rather blue bucket because the alkalinity is sky high in the pro. However if you run a high alk tank then that could be the salt for you. Just using that as an example.

 

[AdamNC]

Use which ever salt you want to closely match the parameters you want to keep.

 

[Flexin]

I may go back to instant ocean. I use salinity and honestly can’t say there has been a difference. I used IO for 9 months and salinity for the past 12. Salinity does seem to leave a residue on my brute container, and that was from day 1.

 

[Ron Reefman]

AdamNC, thanks for sharing the list. Is that fairly current?

 

[The Pondman]

The biggest difference between all the reef salts is the price. ;Greedy

Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is the cheapest (and the one I use). Over the last 15 years I've tried several other "better" salts that were double what IO Reef Crystals sells for and I don't see any difference in my tank.

Use which ever salt you want to closely match the parameters you want to keep.

I guess by looking at that chart that question of "Which salt..... " wasn't that simple.

So, I take it that the parameters within that chart that I would be wanting will depend on what fish and corals I'll be putting in the tank, correct?

 

[James M]

I thought IO reef crystals is no different from regular IO salt

 

[KJa]

BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) has several youtube videos on this subject and the parameters sounding the type of salt/tank you are trying to create. One of the youtube videos specifically discussed Alkalinity and salinity in regards to coral growth. I have used Reef Crystals, Red Sea blue bucket, and Pro. I prefer Red Sea Coral Pro for the alkalinity and elevated nutrient levels. The synthetic salts are by far the best but they are also the most expensive. So coral pro is my happy medium

 

[zoso]

I found Red Sea Coral Pro to work very well in my 16 Biocube .

 

[The Pondman]

BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) has several youtube videos on this subject and the parameters sounding the type of salt/tank you are trying to create. One of the youtube videos specifically discussed Alkalinity and salinity in regards to coral growth. I have used Reef Crystals, Red Sea blue bucket, and Pro. I prefer Red Sea Coral Pro for the alkalinity and elevated nutrient levels. The synthetic salts are by far the best but they are also the most expensive. So coral pro is my happy medium

I'll check out the video, thanks for the info!

 

[AdamNC]

AdamNC, thanks for sharing the list. Is that fairly current?

I think it’s a few years old but should still be pretty close. I don’t know that anyone else has done a current one.

 

[AdamNC]

I guess by looking at that chart that question of "Which salt..... " wasn't that simple.

So, I take it that the parameters within that chart that I would be wanting will depend on what fish and corals I'll be putting in the tank, correct?

Pretty much yea. I have a full SPS tank with low Alk and Ca so I use Red Sea Blue bucket. When I had a mixed reef I was using the Red Sea Pro.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

AdamNC, thanks for sharing the list. Is that fairly current?

I can confirm that the plain IO readings are right. I test every new box and they all measure to about 10 - 11 dKh alkalinity, 400 - 410 ppm calcium, and usually 1,400+ ppm magnesium.

@The Pondman, almost any major salt mix on the market will work. None of them have any major problems that would prevent them from working in a reef tank. If the choice were mine, however, I would use plain Instant Ocean. It's cheapest and you're going to need a lot of salt with a tank that size. The numbers are plenty high enough for reef tanks too, plus, with a 560g tank, you're not going to be relying on your salt mix for much calcium and alkalinity supplementation anyway.

Many SPS reefers have used IO for decades with great success. It's also the only salt mix that Jason Fox uses.

 

[Flexin]

I thought IO reef crystals is no different from regular IO salt

Yes there is a difference.

I’m my post I should have said IO Reef crystals. I may go back to that

 

[vetteguy53081]

Didn't see mention made of what is highly regarded: Fritz pro salt. Dissolves easily and low cost. I like also my aquaforest salt and Reef Crystals.