Salt

[::pete::]

Im curious with all the different threads on salts why does most everyone use Instant Ocean?

From the threads and reports there are salts at or around the same price that give better results. Even Instant Ocean makes Reef Crystals which has higher calcium and magnesium.

Just wondering ... $$$ :D

[alexwolf]

convienent? Everyone has them and it CAME in a nice bucket

[DeletedAccount]

I use IO when I am out of Marine Environment. I use it because it often goes on a very good sale at PetsMart and it ends up being very cheap. PLUS, I get a cool bucket for future uses!

[alexwolf]

i almost want to ty that oceanic stuff, but i have used IO since day 1, i wonder if there are any adverse effects?

[::pete::]

The price ... unfortunately here I have to pay 50.00 for their downsized new easier to carry and new snap tight lid. The containers are for 160gals, but still cost the same if not more. The lfs (2) choices are poor and are 25+ mins either direction for marine supplies, unless I go out of city limits.

My Instant Ocean bucket is just about empty and after always having to suplement for calcium I am considering a change too.


i almost want to ty that oceanic stuff They have a pretty blue bucket :-D

[StephenA]

I switched to Oceanic Because it's natural, Higher Trace elements than even Reef Crystals, and th price ok. Plus IO is ripping us off with the new 160 bucket for the price of the old 200gal. Their whole marketing idea is a "Better Lid". WOW! I'll take the old 200gal back!

[Isis]

Instant Ocean was one of the first brands that ever came out, so for many it just what they have always used, like me. I used to HW salt, but that stuff is pricey. Reef Crystals does have higher concentrations of trace elements and targeted more towards the reefer who has a reef, Instant Ocean are for those who aren't doing a full-blown reef and don't need the higher concentration amounts, at least that is what the sales rep says. IMO, all salts are fairly comparable, but some differ on certain things than others. There aren't really any out there that are BAD, so it is a matter of finding one that fits your needs.

[alexwolf]

Question, if i wanted to switch to Oceanic, can I intermix the new saltwater with the old IO water?

[::pete::]

Well you are lucky in that respect because you are setting up a new tank. I would assume you would just have to acclimate again.

[alexwolf]

ah yes, but i want to minimize cycle time, so i was going to keep most existing water, maybe a 50% change?

[StephenA]

I took my tank from IO to Oceanic with no problems. I did it about 5% at a time. I called Oceanic about mixing the 2 salts and they said there are no issues.

[alexwolf]

i wonder if the salt is going to be readily available? Or if they are going toi jack up the prices like they did with their tanks.......

[StephenA]

The stores in Austin have tons of it in stock. They claim they will stay competative.

We'll See...

[::pete::]

I'm just waiting to hear more feedback about the new salt.There was a good 7 page thread at RC with people testing all over the country and it was consistant.

[MikeP]

If it has higher Ca levels than IO I'd definitely be interested in trying the Oceanic salt. I have been using IO for almost 20 years and I guess it's habit plus it's inexpensive and a stable formula.

[Jimnorris]

Marine Enviroment-Instant Ocean-Kent- HW Marine-Reef Crystals-Kent-Seachem-Instant Ocean-Fritz-Marine Enviroment. This is the order of salts I have used in the last 20 years. The Oceanic salt looks GOOD!
My tank right now has Marine Enviroment, Kent, Reef crystals and Instant Ocean in it????
My favorite is still Marine Enviroment but I am interested in the Oceanic--they say it is good on corn on the cobb so it has to be GOOD?
Also I heard Fritz is/was coming out with a Pro Salt?
Jim

[matt]

Well, I use the Crystal Sea Marinemix bio-assay formula, primarily because of Shimek's study on the long term effects of metals in various salt mixes. The thing that got me was the urchin larvae test; urchin larvae, which have a poor tolerance of heavy metals, (somewhat like me having a poor tolerance of "heavy metal") survived MUCH better in the bio-assay salt than they did in IO. Since I started a new system with it, i did not experience the bleaching that some did when switching from IO to this salt. I have to say, anecdotally, my new system looks healthier to me; much better polyp extension, and I like the fact that bio-assay mixes to 8.3ph, rather than the 7.9 or so I was getting in freshly mixed IO.

And, the hidden benefit, it's cheaper! But, much more difficult to find.