Print Page | Close Window

Does Salt brand matter?

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Main
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Description: Posts that don't fit in any of the other categories.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=38014
Printed Date: August 17 2025 at 4:27am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Does Salt brand matter?
Posted By: jacobwilson222
Subject: Does Salt brand matter?
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:35pm
I have currently been using Oceanic brand salt and am wanting to switch brands, I dont have a problem with Oceanic infact I really like it but I have a friend that will sell me a 5 gal bucket of some other high end stuff for 20 bucks! Smile I am just curious if changing salt brands matters or will make a difference?



Replies:
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:37pm
what is the "high-end" salt?


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:41pm
Instant Ocean


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:42pm
I was told Instant Ocean is close to the quality of Oceanic, I hope this is true?Stern Smile


Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:46pm
IMO oceanic has more calcuim in it


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:49pm
so that would be less calcium dosing or does it give a more natural calcium?


Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:50pm
Here is a quick comparison. I'm not sure it really matters which brand but this link gives a comparison of what's in each brand.
http://oceaninmotion.net/Site/NaturalvsMixed-670.html - http://oceaninmotion.net/Site/NaturalvsMixed-670.html
BTW the link is also in the Quick Reference Thread.


-------------
Burt

An equal opportunity reefer,
I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
[email protected]


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 5:52pm
oh oops, thanks for the input!


Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:00pm
what do you use burt


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:01pm

what is the majority of salt used by hobbiest here?



Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:03pm
70% of the tanks I've seen use oceanic and me as well


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:05pm
ya that is what I have ran the entire time I have been in the hobby... maybe the 30-40$ I would save is not worth it


Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:06pm
I use Oceanic

-------------
Burt

An equal opportunity reefer,
I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
[email protected]


Posted By: kody72
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:19pm
it's worth it because it shouldn't cost you $30 more in supplements to keep it where you want. Idk I use instant ocean once in awhile because my buddy gave it to me so I use it when I'm out


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:21pm

ya thats true, I have all brand new bottles of supplements to keep it in check as well



Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:21pm
I'd use it if it were me.

-------------
Burt

An equal opportunity reefer,
I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
[email protected]


Posted By: bfessler
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:25pm
You get a little more Magnesium and a little less calcium. Other than that it's pretty much a wash. Give it a shot of calcium when you mix it up and you'll never see the difference.

-------------
Burt

An equal opportunity reefer,
I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
[email protected]


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:32pm
Clap THANKS!!!! I feel much better now!


Posted By: jmorrell
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:34pm
I have used instant ocean, oceanic, and coralife. Don't know which one is better.


Posted By: Luckedout
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 6:38pm
I used the Petco brand. Bought a ton of it and it worked really well. I can't complain. I'll probably switch just because there isn't a Petco here and I just ran out with my tank switch. 

-------------
-Ben



90g Mixed reef



www.body-balancechiropractic.com



Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 8:24pm
I use Reef Crystals, or Oceanic whichever is on sale at the time.

-------------
Steve
http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef
Currently:
120G Wavefront Mixed
29G Seahorse & Softies
Running ReefAngel Plus x2
435-8


Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 9:18pm
I've used IO for years. Oceanic has been notoriously high in calcium, magnesium, etc, and when Jon Finch asked- they told him that they were omitting trace elements since they claimed that they "weren't necessary."

I can't say if Oceanic is still this way. IO had a bad batch a few years back. The other thing to remember is that most brands of salt are made by the same company, as I understand it. I just can't keep up with salt brands anymore. I would test for calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium of water first made from whatever brand I choose, regardless of other info. You never know when you might get salt from a bad batch...


Posted By: Corey Price
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 9:24pm
http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19201&KW=oceanic+salt - Salt stuff thread with Jon's take

Check it out. The topic of salt comes up yearly, I think. A few searches will help.


Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: January 18 2010 at 9:41pm
I use Morton brand.  When it rains ... it pours.


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 19 2010 at 10:33am
Originally posted by Corey Price Corey Price wrote:

http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19201&KW=oceanic+salt - Salt stuff thread with Jon's take

Check it out. The topic of salt comes up yearly, I think. A few searches will help.
OOPS, I had no Idea! I should deffinately have done a lil more research before asking this I did not know this was such a highly debated subject. what happens if there is a bad batch of salt?Shocked


Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 19 2010 at 10:44am

Shane, you made me curious. What is the product that your company makes? Is it a propellent in an accuator device, is it the entire airbag unit or what? Is the company still named Morton? My dad was a rocket Test Engineer at the old Hercules Aerospace in Magna.Smile

I just read a history which tells of two scientists in the 1930's seeking a cheaper anti-freeze when they stumbled onto a product that clogged the drain when they were dumping it. They had invented artificial rubber but it was still more expensive than natural rubber so was used only in specialty applications. Years later someone else found that it made for the best solid rocket propellent so Thiokol went into the rocket business big time. History is cool.Smile

-------------
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:
www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member


Posted By: arthuriv
Date Posted: January 19 2010 at 10:57am
Originally posted by Luckedout Luckedout wrote:

I used the Petco brand. Bought a ton of it and it worked really well. I can't complain. I'll probably switch just because there isn't a Petco here and I just ran out with my tank switch. 
 
I use the Petco brand as well with no problems! I have been ordering online from Petco. If you order the 50gallon size boxes they are usually online special for $12 ea you can get free shipping. I usually order 4 or so at a time.


Posted By: downhill_biker
Date Posted: January 19 2010 at 11:00am
Salt brand doesn't matter too much, you just have to know what you are getting and if it is low in ca, alk, or mag, you need to dose to make up for the differences. You can buy a cheapo salt and dose more, or you can buy a little better salt and not have any difference to make up in the chemistry of it. I am not saying you wont have to dose at all, you probably still will, but not to make up the difference in salt quality.

-------------
Make sure you post your best pictures every month in our POTM forum.


Posted By: Shane H
Date Posted: January 19 2010 at 11:58am
Mark - we build it all.  Generant, airbag, seat belt, etc., etc.  Morton sold off their airbag interests about 13 years ago.  We're now Autoliv.  Headquartered in Sweden.


Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 20 2010 at 12:17am
Oh yeah, Autoliv, and they make seat belts too? Since HQ is in Sweden, is that why you have spent so much time in Europe?
 
I wonder if we mixed up Morton pure Sodium Chloride and added enough supplements, would it work? I'll bet someone has tried it.Wacko I figure someone has because I once tried Great Salt Lake water for two consecutive water changes, diluted with freshwater to the correct salinity.Wacko The coral didn't like it. That was before I knew about Seabase and their experience.


-------------
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:
www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member


Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: January 20 2010 at 12:25am
Originally posted by Mark Peterson Mark Peterson wrote:

I wonder if we mixed up Morton pure Sodium Chloride and added enough supplements, would it work? I'll bet someone has tried it.Wacko 
 
When I was in school this was one of our assignments.  We had to calculate out each trace element, buy it, weigh it, and make our own salt mix.
 
Yep, much easier to just buy instant ocean.... which I think was part of the lesson to be learned.
 
Adam


-------------
Come to a meeting, they�re fun!


Posted By: jacobwilson222
Date Posted: January 20 2010 at 5:51pm
ClapHa ha ha what a cool thing to try though!



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net