Deadlyhobbitses
New Member
Hello, starting off with a new reef tank and will be mixing my own salt. I was looking between the Red Sea Salt and Tropic Marin, but have no idea which is best and what to go for. Which would you recommend?
Which salt to pick?
- Thread starter Deadlyhobbitses
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
Go with the salt that matches closest to the parameters that you want to maintain in your tank. This will minimize dosing requirements later on when the reef matures. I initially started out with an expensive salt, but didn't need it with a new tank and minimal corals. So, I ended up switching to Instant Ocean regular salt...it was half the price ($40 for 200g) of the other salt ($76 for 160g) and the parameters were almost identical. I couldn't justify the higher cost when the coral load in a new tank is almost miniscule to start out. I switched to IO and haven't had any issues.
Deadlyhobbitses
New Member
How would I know what parameters I want to maintain? It seems like there's a million different right ways to do it. I want to mostly keep a lps and softy tank, but definitely transition to sps eventually.
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
Agree with @Idoc . And, there is no "best" salt. It's like tomato sauce (some say gravy) for your spaghetti, it's what you were brought up on and like that is the best. The one you pick is going to be your best salt. I too am and IO user, and for me, the best! Can't beat the price, quality, and consistency.
Poof No Eyebrows
Valuable Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2020
- Messages
- 1,599
- Reaction score
- 8,961
I was an IO user myself but finally decided to switch to Read Sea because of the container. I was tired of battling clumped up salt that I had to break apart with a hammer. As too the tanks, I have noticed zero difference.
Mr. Mojo Rising
7500 Club Member
for me, price determines my choice. As idoc mentioned, some salts are more than half the price of others, and this hobby is super expensive already without adding dollars for salt
Idoc
Getting lazier and lazier with upkeep!
Most corals will adapt to the alkalinity you set in your tank... just keep it stable. 8-12dKh is s good target as well as calcium between 400-450.
IO nice to around 9dkh and 400 calcium.
dmy535
Well-Known Member
Everyone will give their own opinion here... but you specifically asked “tropic Marin” or “Red Sea”... I’ll say Red Sea because it’s readily available and tropic Marin (although a good salt) is out of stock most places... I use tropic Marin for now, but will be switching because it’s always out of stock Andy the calcium, Dkh and magnesium levels are really low!
Randy’s reef
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2018
- Messages
- 420
- Reaction score
- 280
I like tropic Marin , I’ve tried many others they’re all good don’t get me wrong , but one thing I noticed was with Red Sea salt , Instant ocean when I would mix salt in a bucket and after I put the salt in the tank and take a white paper towel to wipe to bucket dry I would notice brown residue on the paper towel , but upon switching to tropic Marin no more brown residue , I understand it’s hard to get right now but soon it will be avl everywhere again!, I truly believe that tropic Marin is a cleaner salt, reefing is not a cheap investment so why put salt that will “do the job” but “dirty” in your expensive investment , just doesn’t make sense.
Randy’s reef
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2018
- Messages
- 420
- Reaction score
- 280
Yes same here I wish it was a little higher dkh , but honestly I dose25 ml of alk into my 10 gallon mixing bucket and it brings it right up to 8.2 where I keep my tank at, this thing clears up so fast it’s unbelievable I just smile knowing I’m putting a quality clean and great salt in my tank
Viva'sReef
Valuable Member
What about Tropic Marin Classic?? It mixes to 10 dKH. Problem is it's even harder to get than Pro reef it seems
