Which salt to buy?

[d0gFartz]

I’m obviously a mere rookie compared to most here but I started with reef crystals then switched to redsea and then tropic Marin thinking as my tank progressed I need to upgrade. That was a mistake. I created more headaches by spending more money. My tanks have actually done the best with the cheaper option of reef crystals. I buy the bucket. Just because I can always use a bucket for mixing or else where when it’s empty.

 

[Reef.]

Thanks for all the recommendations however I’ve just done a test and my water pressure is only 0.11 bar so I don’t know if I’ll be able to run an rodi unit from my flat.

You can easily buy a booster pump to increase your water pressure, tho I think 0.11 is an error as that is extremely low.

You don’t need to go for a higher alk salt, no matter which salt you choose, the alk will be used by the corals, so you will be replacing this alk, I use instant ocean but I choose to run my tank at 7dkh, this salt has very high alk so I reduce the alk to 7 before adding to the tank, then a replace any alk the corals use to bring the alk back up to 7.
If you want a simple Salt that you don’t want to lower the alk and has a middle of the road alk of around 8.5 then Red Sea is a good choice.

 

[ying yang]

I just use regular instant ocean which comes in purple bucket but I buy the instant ocean in 10 x2kg bags so 20kg same as the bucket off salt and suit's me just fine as 1x 2kg bag mixes 50 litres of saltwater at 1. 026 which is my regular water change on my 300 litre system and cheaper is always better for same product just minus the bucket ( but extra buckets do come in handy)

And from reading multiply threads on " which salt to use" instant ocean mainly comes in at the top popular in the polls or threads I've read does anyway

As for your water pressure, get a rodi unit with a booster pump,that 50gpd unit I linked you from vyair has a booster pump so draws more water from mains water and makes unit more efficient but any reputable rodi unit with a booster pump will do.

 

[Jekyl]

Any major brand salt that's cheap and available will work just fine

 

[spamvicious]

You can easily buy a booster pump to increase your water pressure, tho I think 0.11 is an error as that is extremely low.

You don’t need to go for a higher alk salt, no matter which salt you choose, the alk will be used by the corals, so you will be replacing this alk, I use instant ocean but I choose to run my tank at 7dkh, this salt has very high alk so I reduce the alk to 7 before adding to the tank, then a replace any alk the corals use to bring the alk back up to 7.
If you want a simple Salt that you don’t want to lower the alk and has a middle of the road alk of around 8.5 then Red Sea is a good choice.

I used this to measure it. It came out as 1.3litre in 6 seconds.

 

[Reef.]

I used this to measure it. It came out as 1.3litre in 6 seconds.

Even at 1.3 litres that doesn’t give 0.11. bar, it’s over one bar (was the tap fully on when you took the sample, you could run the test for say 30 seconds to even out any errors, it will give a more accurate result) but also remember that some/most taps have flow restritors on them, the water for rodi is normally taken before the tap, at the water inlet but as said £70 water booster pump will fix any water pressure issues.

 

[Janet Belanger]

My biggest regret was swapping from Red Sea blue bucket to coral pro

Would you please explain why? What are the challenges you faced?

I use coral pro but always toilover if I should be buying the blue bucket when in the store.

 

[DE FISH]

Would you please explain why? What are the challenges you faced?

I use coral pro but always toilover if I should be buying the blue bucket when in the store.

The problem is you have to have elevated nutrients to avoid alk burn and other potential issues

 

[Jeffcb]

My biggest regret was swapping from Red Sea blue bucket to coral pro

Agree, I went back from Coral Pro to Blue bucket

 

[Janet Belanger]

The problem is you have to have elevated nutrients to avoid alk burn and other potential issues

Oh got it, I feed heavily now that I've beaten dinos. Gotta keep nutrients elevated... its was nasty stuff.

 

[Janet Belanger]

Agree, I went back from Coral Pro to Blue bucket

For the same reason as above?

 

[DE FISH]

Agree, I went back from Coral Pro to Blue bucket

I am planning to when this coral pro bucket runs out how did you go about it 10% - 20% wc weekly until alk was matching blue bucket parameters ?

 

[Jeffcb]

I am planning to when this coral pro bucket runs out how did you go about it 10% - 20% wc weekly until alk was matching blue bucket parameters ?

Exactly. Just switch. I also dose Red Sea Foundation B Alk and I slowly cut that back. Alk went from 11 to 7.8

Acros supper happy now.

 

[ying yang]

I used this to measure it. It came out as 1.3litre in 6 seconds.

Flow rate and pressure are different,flow rate is how much water flows through pipe/out off tap etc and pressure is pressure it comes out,they are connected but different, not done the sums on screenshot you shared as you didn't mention it you opened tap for 6 seconds like it suggested or what,but either or either a booster pump will help you draw more water from the water mains and make your unit/membrane more efficient unless you got super super low pressure/flow from your mains ( like a leak in your water mains in your street etc,but local water authorities are really good and got measuring devices to detect stuff like this and if member off public reports a leak they straight on it to repair and for decades now they been replacing old cast iron pipes and the like for plastic pipes,I'm sure you seen them on your travels when all road dug up and see large/huge big blue pipes which is for mains water,then they make the road all nice in as lay new tarmac then few weeks/months later then gas board digs the new road up and replaces the gas mains for nice new yellow pipes lol then re -lays new tarmac again lol ( Shane they don't communicate and both do at same time for less disruption and share the costs ^_^ ) but logistically be hard to arrange as stuff happens and slows one down so just having a laugh lol

Edit: ha ha just read your post I quoted off yours and you say 1.3 litres in 6 seconds pffft

 

[Reef.]

I am planning to when this coral pro bucket runs out how did you go about it 10% - 20% wc weekly until alk was matching blue bucket parameters ?

They say no more than a 0.5 change in alk at a time, I’m not good at maths but I would expect your normal water change should be safe.

 

[DE FISH]

@Reef. Thanks buddy always a good source for information props to you

 

[Bladezz]

Instant ocean and reef crystals for me since 1986.

 

[cancun]

I’m getting an rodi unit this weekend so need to order some salt. Which should I get?. I currently have fish and a couple of soft corals. I read that some have a higher alkaline mix which I think could help my tank as it’s always on the lower end. I’m in the UK.

I guess I am the odd ball here lol....I have been using RS Coral Pro salt for 10 years with great success. However I have a LPS dominant tank, and keep my Alk 9.5 - 10 and calcium at 420 - 440.

IMO choose one that you like, is readily available, and in your budget as others have said. Each tank is unique and has different needs.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I use regular old purple instant ocean. I think u want 60-75psi on your incoming water pressure to your rodi unit. Ya get a booster pump. Sorry. :/
Another thing to buy. Lol. Uhg.
D

 

[Spare time]

Red Sea Salt mixes in less than 15 minutes and is not too high or low in the numbers (ppm of elements and such). Its also pretty cheap. IO is cheaper but takes long to mix. Avoid tropic marin, its not a beginner friendly salt as you need to be on top of dosing very early on since it runs at the borderline minimum for either calcium or alk.