Which Salt do you use?
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Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
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URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=55195
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Topic: Which Salt do you use?
Posted By: faith=fear
Subject: Which Salt do you use?
Date Posted: March 21 2012 at 2:05pm
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Looking to switch salt brands on my next purchase. Wondering what everyone else is using? I'm sure there is a poll or topic on this somewhere, just couldn't find it.
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Replies:
Posted By: 1stupidpunk
Date Posted: March 21 2012 at 2:17pm
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I was using instant ocean salt and having lots of issues keeping my PH stable, so the LFS recommended i try Red Sea Coral Pro Salt, tank is really stable now and i like it alot...
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15483" rel="nofollow - http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15483
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: March 21 2012 at 6:44pm
| ESV B-Ionic Seawater System. It is the best salt I have used to date and I have tried quite a few of them. |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: March 21 2012 at 7:00pm
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SeaChem Reef Salt - been using it for a few years now. It has always given the right alk/mag/ca...and polyp extension is always awesome. ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: jdinchak
Date Posted: March 21 2012 at 8:58pm
We just bought some of that (actually a lot, 400 gallons worth). Glad someone else is using and likes it! |
Ryan Thompson wrote:Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: March 21 2012 at 10:15pm
My only advice is to practice making a gallon before attempting a larger batch. The salt has 4 different components to mix together. Add the 2 liquid components slowly and test the batch of new water for the first couple runs. I was adding component B too fast and spiking the alkalinity up past 16dkh. I worked with Bob at ESV trying to figure out my issue. Now my salt is spot on every time I make a batch. It is super clean and pure salt which is nice because others add a bunch of unnecessary stuff IMO. |
Posted By: griffith
Date Posted: March 22 2012 at 11:02am
Whatever is on sale  Linn ------------- Pay it forward... |
Posted By: faith=fear
Date Posted: March 22 2012 at 11:48am
| Thanks guys. Ryan, thanks for the advice. really thought I would get alot more responses? |
Posted By: Christianwaisath
Date Posted: March 22 2012 at 11:52am
| I've been using instant ocean reef crystals, idk what people will say about that but everything other than my sps are flourishing! Idk why but all the sps I have are dying:( |
Posted By: Laird
Date Posted: March 22 2012 at 1:31pm
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After a lot of research I recently switch to DD H2Ocean, I did a large water change a couple weeks ago and have been incredibly happy with the results. ------------- Indefinite hiatus from sw aquariums. Once I have my glorious return I'll set back up the following. 50 Gallon rimless cube. 180 Gallons mixed reef paradise |
Posted By: DLindquist
Date Posted: March 23 2012 at 8:17am
What a loaded question  I used Instant Ocean forever. Some where down the line, and no idea why, I switched to Oceanic. Months later, I finally realized Oceanic was the cause for my low PH. Since then, probably two or three years ago, I mix Instant Ocean and Oceanic. Seems to work for me. ------------- A government strong enough to give you everything you want, is powerful enough to take everything you have. |
Posted By: phinfan
Date Posted: March 23 2012 at 5:55pm
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just a heads up. I was experiencing great success as a beginner. I switched salts from Oceanic to Red Sea coral pro for no reason. I am still not sure if salt change is responsible for recent problems but, I think it may be a contributing factor. I know a few people that have success with Red Sea salt, but have also been told that when there has been a problem reported with salt it is usually red sea. I am a beginner, 1 year in the hobby, but I say if it is not broke don't fix it.
------------- John 3:16 93 GAL. Cube, 8 T5's, Elite Aquatics sump |
Posted By: kellerexpress
Date Posted: March 23 2012 at 6:55pm
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Here's my experiences: Oceanic- mixes well, but had problems with low alk and Ph. Reef Crystals- parameters were good but had problems with cyano and algae that mysteriously cleared up when I changed to another salt. Also didn't appreciate the brown the sludge that would build up in the bucket after mixing. H2O ocean- Great salt, solid parameters, corals did really good on this salt. My only complaint was that you are supposed to mix the salt for 48 hrs before using, and its a little pricey. Other than that, a great choice I/O- cheap and mixes well. I've had no issues with this salt. Had to add a little calcium but no big deal. Red Sea Coral Pro- Lots of problems during my time using this salt. Can't say with 100% certainty that the salt was to blame, but after ruling nearly everything else out I'm fairly certain that it was the problem. Problems included mystery coral deaths, sudden coral bleaching, parcipitate build up in mixing bucket and pumps, and I could not keep snails alive for more than a few days. Problems went away after I switched salts. Its possible i just got a bad batch, but I will never use this salt again. Aqua vitro Salinity- Been wanting to try this for a while but the price kept me away. Recently bought a large bucket from lfs for a killer deal so i couldnt resist. In my short time using it I have been impressed. It mixes like a dream and is ready to use in minutes after being mixed. Tank has responded well and parameters are solid. More time will tell if this salt is as good as I think it is, but so far so good. ------------- IM 30L Kessil A160we x2 |
Posted By: faith=fear
Date Posted: March 23 2012 at 9:53pm
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I was/am using Oceanic. Same prob. Super high on the Ca and really low Alk and Ph. kinda leaning toward H2O ocean. thanks everyone for the reply's
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Posted By: bur01014
Date Posted: March 24 2012 at 12:56am
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first year -> Instant Ocean Second year -> Mixed Instant Ocean w/ Oceanic - needed the increase in calcium and magnesium- worked great at about 70/30 Currently -> Got on the Red Sea Coral Pro band wagon, everyone's using it lately it seems - after 3 months, I am not totally happy, Alk has been mixing up at 14 kdh, paled out my corals some Today -> picked up some Aquavitro Salinity - little spendy but have heard good things about it....if I am unhappy, will likely go back to the Instand Ocean/Oceanic mixed |
Posted By: faith=fear
Date Posted: March 24 2012 at 12:59pm
| where are you guys getting the Aqavitro Salinity from? and how much? |
Posted By: herrera
Date Posted: March 24 2012 at 2:05pm
| ^^Aquatic Dreams has some for $60 120g mix. and $90 for 220g mix. |
Posted By: kellerexpress
Date Posted: March 24 2012 at 6:42pm
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I picked some up at Exotic Reef ------------- IM 30L Kessil A160we x2 |
Posted By: kellerexpress
Date Posted: March 24 2012 at 7:00pm
I have heard that this salt is awesome, but the prospect of having to mix all that stuff fueled by my own laziness keeps me from trying it.  ------------- IM 30L Kessil A160we x2 |
Posted By: MattinIdaho
Date Posted: March 24 2012 at 10:35pm
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Started with I/O and switched to Reef Crystals. Now I'm back to Instant Ocean and 2 part dosing with B Ionic. ------------- Matt Hansen 208 709-6559 180 Mixed Reef 40 Breeder Frag Tank 75 Gallon Sump SRO XP3000 Reef Keeper Lite Eheim Jagger 200 Watt x 2 T5 x 8 Lighting 2 Koralia 6, 1 Korali |
Posted By: faith=fear
Date Posted: April 01 2012 at 2:15am
| Just switched over to Aquavitro Salinity! thanks for the input |
Posted By: Akira
Date Posted: April 01 2012 at 10:06pm
| I've been using aqua vitro from reef on as a premix for 2 months now and all my params became more stable , i tried the premix because of price but bought a bucket on fri . It was $60 for 120g bucket at fish-4-u |