Salt mix?
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Reef Chemistry
Forum Description: A place to discuss reef chemistry.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46977
Printed Date: December 19 2025 at 1:54pm
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Topic: Salt mix?
Posted By: Josh95
Subject: Salt mix?
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 4:39pm
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I am curious as to what is the best salt mix made as in when you mix it everything balances well. I want to get it locally so any help is greatly appreciated. |
Replies:
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 5:09pm
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Options are WAY too limited locally.
I get all of my salt online. I have used Oceanic, Reef Crystals and D&D H2Ocean. The D&D was the best by far. I didn't care for Oceanic and Reef Crystals. Oceanic has super high calcium and Reef Crystals has way too high of Alkalinity for me. I just bought the ESV B-Ionic Saltwater System from Marine Depot. I will be mixing some up pretty soon. It is nice because you can choose your levels with it. Everything comes packaged separate and you mix it yourself. I have read nothing but great reviews for it. |
Posted By: Josh95
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 5:26pm
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Where do you buy it? also how much is shipping? |
Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 7:24pm
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I like Oceanic. Alk is easy and cheap to add. It works for me and I've used very little else because I've never found a reason to try others. Just personal preference. |
Posted By: laynframe
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 8:45pm
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Found this on another thread, really good info
Here is a list of what I measured for the big three in a number of the salt mixes we use today. This is intended as a guideline and I, in no way, guarantee these figures. All I can say is they were all tested under the same conditions, with a number of different brand test kits, using the same methods for each test. I believe these numbers are reasonably what you can expect from these salts mixed at 35 ppt or SG 1.0264 @ 25 C. Salt Brand Calcium Alkalinity Magnesium Aquatic Gardens 430 8 1240 Brightwell Neomarine 370 11 1140 CoraLife 560 9 1380 Crystal Sea Marinemix 340 9 1050 Crystal Sea Marinemix Bio-Assay 340 9 1050 D-D H2Ocean 450 10 1380 Instant Ocean (new) 400 11 1350 Kent 540 11 1200 Marine Environment 480 7.5 1450 Oceanic 580 8.5 1650 OceanPure 510 10 1320 Red Sea 400 8 1300 Red Sea Coral Pro 490 7 1300 Reef Crystals (new) 490 13 1440 Reefer's Best 420 11 1200 SeaChem Marine Salt 500 10 1400 SeaChem Reef Salt 540 10 1450 Tropic Marin 375 10 1230 Tropic Marin Pro Reef 450 8.5 1380 Tunze Reef Salt 420 9.5 1350 ------------- The time we enjoy wasting isn't wasted time!!!! |
Posted By: Josh95
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 9:56pm
| Thanks, looks like D&D H2Ocean it is, where can I buy this for a reasonable price? |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 10:00pm
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Ive never seen it in stores. Pst dont listen to everything ryan says. OCEANIC IS GREAT! $45 at most stores for a 200 gallon bucket! ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 20 2011 at 10:19pm
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D&D is expensive, I recommend ESV B-Ionic myself. Premium Aquatics is a great place for salt. |
Posted By: kellerexpress
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 1:04am
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I had good results with D&D as well, and it has been the best I have used so far. It is kinda pricey though. I am currently trying a bucket of Red Sea Coral Pro salt. Results have been just as good as D&D so far, but to be fair I have only been using it a month or two so we will see as time goes on. ------------- IM 30L Kessil A160we x2 |
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 1:28am
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Here is the links if you want to compare Salt mixes hope this help http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1 - Link http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1/view - Link http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/12/aafeature1/view - |
Posted By: bur01014
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 2:41am
| I mix Oceanic with Instant ocean 60/40.....best of both worlds if you ask me....cal, alk, mag....essential elements.....has given me rock on stable parameters for months.... |
Posted By: SGH360
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 3:09am
mixing different type of salts? that something to think about, i got to say mixing IO an Oceanic is not a bad a idea |
bur01014 wrote:Posted By: MadReefer
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 2:02pm
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Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 4:14pm
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The links that sgh linked are the test showing what metals different salts have in them. Oceanic and instant ocean are high in some heavy metals but great in other areas.
I just don't like the salts carried by lfs, they aren't that great when you compare them against a good salt. |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 9:27pm
I've used Oceanic solid for two years straight. I've never had one single issue with it. It's cheap, you can get it anywhere locally and it's easy to add extra ALK for almost nothing. If it is loaded with heavy metals then they must be doing something right for my tank because my SPS grow like weeds! My dad has also used only Oceanic in his tank for 10+ years! That's right 10+ years with one salt brand. He has never had one single issue with Oceanic. He is pretty much 100% SPS dominate in his tank. He has a 225 and loves Oceanic. He's never even looked at other salts. He's been in this hobby for 30 years now and can tell you that salt is the easiest thing to get right. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 10:04pm
That's great! Everyone has success and failure with all the many different aspects of this hobby. 1000's of people of use Reef Crystals without issues. I fought cyano for over a year in 2 different tanks with Reef Crystals. Within a month of changing to D&D, cyano was gone and everything looked better. Does that mean Reef Crystals is garbage? No, but I won't be using it again anytime soon. I used Oceanic for over 3 years on my tanks. I got tired of the inconsistency in parameters and I don't go through a ton of salt on my smaller tanks. Therefore I don't care about $20 a year, when it comes to salt. Every time I changed water with Oceanic and Reef Crystals, the tank was "off" for a few days. With D&D that was far less noticeable. I have read 5 or 6 different threads where people switched to Oceanic and lost their tank. I think that can happen with any salt mix if you just immediately switch over. |
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 10:27pm
| Its funny cause when I talked with the seachem chick at the mwrf I asked if the aquavitro salt was better then any others, and in more or less words she said..."its not so much that its better, but more batch specfic. With independent lab test on every batch"..... so I think jwoo is right, salt is the easiest thing to get right. Most major aquariums us IO, I have used oceanic,reef crystals, and aquavitro don't have a bad thing to say about any of them |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 10:43pm
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dang ryan ill remember that next time i do a water changes. Because if more metal in my tank is making my corals look and grow that fast! Dang its worth saving the money. I have used IO, Oceanic, reef crystals and the new aquavitro one and they all seem the same to me. I dont have to dose anything extra and nothing in my tank is hurt for "a few days" or ever!
Those 5 people I would beat $100 it was due to something else I have used oceanic for over 5 years with out a problem my dad has used it as long as I can remember and he has had SW tanks well as long as I can remember and his are some of the most beautiful in the State! (Although you wouldnt think so ryan)I know several LFS use it as well on there display tanks and have ever since they started to get the salt in and they have never had a problem once ! But like you said "Everyone has success and failure with all the many different aspects of this hobby." I think I will stay for another 5 years using the same salt.. well not only because of the savings but because of what i have seen in tanks. ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 10:50pm
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OH and ps 30 years of my dad plus 5 years of me plus my brothers at 2 years... 37 years of "testing" this salt out... vs ONE yes 1 lab test..... lets be honest a lab test is a lab test and isn't a good viable conclusion for how a certain salt will do in a system. There are so many other variables that just one test doesn't cut it. But years and years... and guess what it might not work in others tank. But I have never found any one have a tank crash because of the type of salt they use! That is ludicrous and plain naive.
The funny thing was I was just in a LFS and the employee was telling them T5s were the only way to go. He was so Naive and just wanted to make a sale. I jumped right in gave them all options of T5s, pcs, MHs, LEDS and more. They felt so much better and guess what they still bought some T5s but they felt better knowing what else was out there in face they bought a MH pendant as well for another tank just to see how it does so they could come up with a conclusion themselves. So any way me and the LFS employee started talking and he said he had heard it from someone the T5s were the only way. I agree with people that there is more than one salt out there. I wont doubt that. But the same with with lights there are more than one light that you can grow and SPS coral under and it be fine. Same with salt as you can see Josh there are tons of salt out there. Some people mix them (I will have to try that) Others are stuck on one. All I know is, get what is available with out breaking the piggy bank. If it doesnt work out after a bucket or even a half a bucket sell it on here and get a different brand. But you wont crash your tank for the type of salt you use! That is for sure! *Sorry for the long winded post josh just wanted to make sure you got something out of all this babbling back and forth with each other! ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 11:23pm
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Its funny how you guys let a "tankless" guy get you all worked up LOL ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: February 21 2011 at 11:32pm
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Dangit jeff! Thats all I needed to say... lol next time ill just say... "and you trust a guy that is tankless"? Lol! ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 9:36am
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Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 9:40am
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. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 9:48am
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Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 9:54am
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. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 9:58am
| . |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:02am
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. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:06am
Wow I didnt know I started a company called all mighty wootton bros, inc! Lol I dont know ryan try using it on your hair and skin maybe it will help. ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Jeremyw
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:07am
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I too apologize for trying to tell someone that a certain type of salt wont crash your tank. I also apologize to help some one else see that there is other salt out there that is good for your tank and you dont have to spend an arm an a leg for it! ------------- Next meeting: |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:11am
| . |
Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:16am
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Oh camon Ryan .....dont bow out
....This thread is just getting good!  ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: jwoo
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:17am
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*hugs all around*
Removed my posts as they really didn't add anything to the discussion. Back on track: I use Oceanic and love it. It's cheap and you can get it for 45 bucks from most LFS. I hadd a little bit of ALK to raise the ALK as it is a little low. I've used Reef Crystals as well. It seems to work about the same, but I don't get it as often because I don't see it as often. ------------- None at the moment Soon: 72 Gallon Bowfront |
Posted By: Adam Blundell
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:20am
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Instant Ocean- it's the best salt. It's used by all the professionals (public aquariums, research projects, etc). You can't beat it. It's easy to get. It's common. There you go, that's my advise. Adam ------------- Come to a meeting, they�re fun! |
Posted By: Ryan Thompson
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:26am
They took away my Drama Thread, I have to find somewhere to create this nonsense! Free "Drama Thread" We need shirts, hats and protesters! Actually check out my new sig!
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Posted By: Jeffs_little_ocean
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 10:35am
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Okay I protest being able to go back and remove all drama. Thats just wrong!
...back on topic...
Mixing reef crystals and oceanic....thats a good idea...how come i never thought of that?? ------------- Life is good....right? |
Posted By: Chevmaro
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 1:55pm
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I usually use Mobile 1 in my camaro when I change the oil. One day we were out of Mobile 1 and I decided to use Pennzoil Full Synthetic instead. I went racing around the following weekend and my motor blew. I get bad vibes from Pennzoil now and havent used it since. It was the first time i used it and the motor blew. Bad luck im sure but i still dont like the stuff. I think Reef Salt is like comparing oil's. They all get the job done and a high quality oil/salt is going to do well. People that use the same oil/salt for 30 years swear by it and will never change. |
Posted By: tileman
Date Posted: February 22 2011 at 11:17pm
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I use Oceanic. Always have. Always will. ------------- 335G Reef TOTM. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2015/2/aquarium ReefKeepers TOTM Feb. 2012 http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index....k-of-the-month & |