Looking for a good salt for a coral reef tank.

[Reef Swimmer]

I've been looking at Neo marine and Red Sea pro coral. It's a 90g tank with fuge, skimmer, and rio 2100 pump. I want a good salt I can stay with and not have to switch brands.

[Big_Pun]

well shoot for the top then, ive been running salinity for the past year and have had no problems. (thats just my opinion) i run a sps dominant tank and i like all the elevated levels in salinity

[koa25]

well shoot for the top then, ive been running salinity for the past year and have had no problems. (thats just my opinion) i run a sps dominant tank and i like all the elevated levels in salinity

What he said. I tried a couple different salts before switching to salinity and all my corals were happy with the switch. My clam started growing like crazy and so did my LPS and softies. Its normally 120 bucks for a 125 gallon bucket. But Alamo aquatics on bandera has it for in the 70's. Cheapest I've seen around town.

[Andresm]

+1. I run Salinty and love it, haven't had any issues

[Fracture]

We run reef crystals instant ocean in ours and it seems to be doing great. But we used to change our salt up every few months and that worked great to. IMO it's up to what you want out of it and you need to read up on each salt to see what's right for you. Good luck

[Zack]

I use kent pro because of the cost and how well it mixes for my needs but I've heard plenty of great things about salinity as everyone has mentioned above. I've heard reef crystals for whatever reason makes tanks more prone to cyano but this was maybe two years ago and wasn't anything scientific.

[FireWater]

"Good salt" is an open ended debate. I use Salinity and am happy with it. I have also used Reef Crystals and Red Sea Coral Pro and had no complaints those as well. Only salt I've used that had issues for me was Kent.

[jrossjr79]

I currently use Reef Crystals, new to the hobby, but so far I have not had any issues with it. Out of curiosity though, whats the price of salinity?

[jcnkt_ellis]

My only complaint with reef crystals is that it is not buffered to raise your water's Ph so when I mix it with my RO/DI water my Ph is right around 8.1 which is a little too low for my taste...

[Reef Swimmer]

I'm going salinity.

[Reef Swimmer]

Texas tropical has the 125g for 70 bucks.

[Big_Pun]

Texas tropical has the 125g for 70 bucks.

Alamo and ER sell it for 75 for the 225g bucket. call and make sure

[koa25]

Alamo and ER sell it for 75 for the 225g bucket. call and make sure
Yeah. I ment 225 not 125. My bad. What Chris said.

[Reef Swimmer]

I called ER and they sell the 225 for 99!! Texas tropical has the 225 for 70. I ment to say 225 not 125.

[Big_Pun]

I called ER and they sell the 225 for 99!! Texas tropical has the 225 for 70. I ment to say 225 not 125.

yup your correct I just talked to a buddy of mine. but double check last time Chris at TT got me a 225 it was 99, but I had credit so I didn't mind lol.

[ramsey]

Best salt is always a debate. I'm using ESV seawater system but I haven't used it long enough to say if it'll be good in the long run. It really depends on your goals IMO. If you're going with an SPS system and doing carbon dosing, you probably want to keep your alk level somewhat low (7-8 dkh). If you're not, you may not have to worry about it. I chose ESV because I read a lot of good stuff about it, and the alk is low if you mix it with the recipe ESV provides. Be careful when switching salt brands though. Sometimes they have much higher or lower alk levels than what you're currently running and alk spikes are bad.

[350gt]

I ran RC forever with no issues....

I tried Red Sea and hated it!!!!!

I tried Kent's and tank had issues.... Don't know if it was the salt, but I won't be buying anymore....


so I'm back to RC..... And and tank seemed to thank me.....


i might try salinity next...

[Sherita]

Instant ocean here. I've tried a few others, but I always come back to IO. Corals love it, tanks look great. And since I go through so much salt with the volume of water changes that I have, it sure doesn't hurt my feelings that its so affordable

[hobogato]

i use reefcrystals. i have tried io, oceanic, coralife, red sea pro, and salinity and like rc best. i do not use RO/DI water tho, so that may affect what works best.

[rrasco]

What kind of tank, FO or reef? My SOP was to use RC on the reef and IO on the FOWLR. Since I don't rely on my salt to buffer my water, I just switched to using IO for the reef as well and keep up with my dosing to keep my levels where I want them.

[ramsey]

What kind of tank, FO or reef? My SOP was to use RC on the reef and IO on the FOWLR. Since I don't rely on my salt to buffer my water, I just switched to using IO for the reef as well and keep up with my dosing to keep my levels where I want them.

I've wondered about this as well but if you're just dosing the big three, couldn't you be missing out on other trace elements corals need (like strontium, iodine, etc.)?

[Reef Swimmer]

90g reef tank.

[sdunn90fowlr]

I love these debates! Everyone has different experiences with different brands. I may be the odd ball out, but I use Oceanic. Early on Oceanic salt had some issues being consistent between batches, but this appears to have been worked out. I have tried just about all of them at some point and ended up with Oceanic. I have had good results with IO as well.

My experience with NeoMarine was that SPS loved it, but softies and some LPS seemed to not favor it. I did not do any testing to be able to show scientific evidence. My conclusion was purely visual. NeoMarine really hurts the wallet as well.

[DBR]

Its a little pricey but I started using Tropic Marine Pro about 7/8 years ago if I recall correctly and have stuck with it happily since. Every once in a while I'll use Tropic Marine Bio when I can get my hands on it.

Main reason I like the TMP & TMB is that they both mixes incredibly clear in my experience... no residue or cloudyness. Though its been a long time since I switched over to TM I remember a big difference in the color of my corals after the switch.

[REBridges]

I have used Red Sea Coral Pro Salt for the past 5 years. Not even sure if thats what it was even called back then too. I love it! I first tried it when it came with my Red Sea Max and stuck with it ever since. My corals love it as well! To get the salanity right tho you have to use less of what it actually tells you too. I live by this stuff and havent ventured to a different brand. Everyone has their favorite. But for for a Red Max 130D 35+ gallon and a Innovative Marine 16 gallon nano tanks its perfect!

[DBR]

So a lot of people swearing by Salinity in this thread. I've never used it before but all the research I've done on it has a lot of feedback that it mixes and stays cloudy even after 24 hours heated and w/ good flow. Have they fixed this issue or do people like it despite that issue.

[Big_Pun]

So a lot of people swearing by Salinity in this thread. I've never used it before but all the research I've done on it has a lot of feedback that it mixes and stays cloudy even after 24 hours heated and w/ good flow. Have they fixed this issue or do people like it despite that issue.

lots of salts will mix cloudy if they precipitate elements out, this happens with salnity when you dump in a bunch at one time, i slowly add a cup at a time and about half of whats needed also. i wait till it clears up and slowly add more until i hit my level desired, i then use it right away when it mixes clear, i never let my mix run over night. tank is a lil cloudy but last a few hours then back to normal but i think thats with any water change water looks a lil cloudy. i use ro/di water with 0-2 tds and my meters are calibrated monthly, i always know my water is clean.

[Zen Reef]

So a lot of people swearing by Salinity in this thread. I've never used it before but all the research I've done on it has a lot of feedback that it mixes and stays cloudy even after 24 hours heated and w/ good flow. Have they fixed this issue or do people like it despite that issue.

I just dump what I need (roughly 2 cups per 5 gallons of water) into a brute and turn on a mag 12. Never had a problem and it mixes clear with no residue like Red Sea coral pro used to have for me.

[grouch]

I use Reef Crystals mainly cause it mixes clear and have had no problems if I don't use it right away. I use to use Red Sea Coral Pro but got lots of residue if I didn't use it within a day or two. I try to have some mix ready at all times in case of emergency and I get no residue with RC.

[ramsey]

ESV mixes the fastest and clearest of any I've used. Completely clear with no residue within a couple of minutes. Also, every other mix I've tried precipitates on the container, heater, powerhead, etc. Not so with ESV.

[DBR]

I'm liking what I've read and seen on ESV. Just ordered a 200g box to try out. Now I got to find my digital scale...

[Reef Swimmer]

I'm starting to have second guesses going with salinity and trying tropic Marin or something else just not rc or something else. Who uses tropic marin and what all is in it.

[Reef Swimmer]

What do you guys like about kent, Red Sea coral pro and bio-marine.

[FireWater]

RS Coral Pro is a natural salt. I liked the colors and parameters I got with it. Used salinity for a year and now I'm back to RS Coral Pro. Still leaves a brown residue in mixing bucket and on pumps so I do a vinegar and ro bath every other change.

[allan]

I get the brown residue with kent as well.


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[Mr Cob]

Texas tropical has the 225 for 70. Yeah, I get from there too... consistently same price for ever,

[Big_Pun]

brotha just buy what you can afford at this point when your tank matures you can switch around and see what works well. there is no magical answer what grows coral faster all brands are different. i use salinity because of its elevated levels and it keeps my parameters where i want them because the way i run my tank. my g/f tank uses red sea cause she likes it.

[350gt]

Yup everyone will have their opinion on which is best....

But I think most start with IO or RC, which both are not bad beginners salt. I tried a few others but I'm happy with the price of RC... I might try another soon.....

just get one that is in your price range and see if you like it, most things in this hobby that will work for one might not work for another.....

oh and buy the boxes or the biggest buckets.... It saves in the long run...

[allan]

Yep, I always recommend kent.

You're not going to buy a salt that's detrimental to your tank's health at the moment.

Later on, when you're looking at that one little factor that you're concentrating on... That's when you start looking at the various salts that will go the extra mile.


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[Mr Cob]

I would also add that whatever you decide to do be consistent so that when things do go wrong or are off you can troubleshoot easier. So pick a salt and stick with it...then later down the road tweak or switch as needed. If you jump around from salt to salt you can complicate things when you are trying to troubleshoot your system's parameters.

But...like Allan said don't concern yourself too much with this one little factor.

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[Ram_Puppy]

I personally think it's more important that you keep up with water changes (something I am horrible at and trying to be better with lately) than it is to try and peg down a salt brand. I have used Seachem Reef Salt for years w/ no complaints - but then - I also abused that tank for years too. The only salt I stay away from (don't know if it's even still around) is Oceanic - I was unlucky enough to get some of the 'bad batch'. I actually still have half a bucket in the garage in case there is an emergency that requires salt mix... (better than nothing). That being said - I'm always interested in new things and I'm reading good things about Salinity - so maybe I'll give it a try... first - i need to get the energy up to get the water out of the tank so I can put the 65 gallons swimming around in my brute trash can IN the tank.

[ducati996]

I personally think it's more important that you keep up with water changes (something I am horrible at and trying to be better with lately) than it is to try and peg down a salt brand. I have used Seachem Reef Salt for years w/ no complaints - but then - I also abused that tank for years too. The only salt I stay away from (don't know if it's even still around) is Oceanic - I was unlucky enough to get some of the 'bad batch'. I actually still have half a bucket in the garage in case there is an emergency that requires salt mix... (better than nothing). That being said - I'm always interested in new things and I'm reading good things about Salinity - so maybe I'll give it a try... first - i need to get the energy up to get the water out of the tank so I can put the 65 gallons swimming around in my brute trash can IN the tank. what bad batch did u get with oceanic I used it and loved it but my 46 did crash just wondering after a year and a half using it if my crash was due to a bad batch of salt that would make sense tank was beautiful

[Big_Pun]

what bad batch did u get with oceanic I used it and loved it but my 46 did crash just wondering after a year and a half using it if my crash was due to a bad batch of salt that would make sense tank was beautiful

no it was you lol j/k

[ducati996]

Lol

[Reef Swimmer]

I decided to go with Red Sea coral pro. I have read a lot of reviews on it and neo marine and I like Red Sea better. It mixes faster than nm and it doesn't cloud up from what I've read.

[Big_Pun]

I decided to go with Red Sea coral pro. I have read a lot of reviews on it and neo marine and I like Red Sea better. It mixes faster than nm and it doesn't cloud up from what I've read.

congrats'

[Zen Reef]

If it were me on your budget, I'd get a less expensive reef salt like kent marine and get a refractometer as well. You'll do more damage by inaccurately/inconsistantly mixing your salt then the difference in salt manufacturers.

[Reef Swimmer]

I don't care for Kent's.

[Reef Swimmer]

Is getting a 200g bucket worth the money or will 175 be enough to start a 90g with?

[allan]

175
-90
------
85

Not entirely sure where your goals are... But yes, 175 gallon bucket will start a 90 gallon tank to include several water changes.


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[Sherita]

I agree with Tuan. Get a salt you can afford, and get a refractometer. Hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate and you will most certainly always be fighting salinity that is not right.

For my tanks I use Instant Ocean. I've tried a lot of different ones, but always come back to IO. I don't worry about consistency, since IO is used by most large public aquariums............if they trust it, I certainly do. I normally order my salt from Drs. Foster and Smith. Free shipping over $49.99, and since I order at least three boxes at a time I qualify for it.

Bottom line, find a salt you like and stick with it. But ditch the hydrometer and get yourself a refractometer for accuracy. The most expensive salt in the world won't help if your salinity is off.

[Reef Swimmer]

Not sure how big my sump is but I'm guessing about 10 to 15 g.

[Ram_Puppy]

what bad batch did u get with oceanic I used it and loved it but my 46 did crash just wondering after a year and a half using it if my crash was due to a bad batch of salt that would make sense tank was beautiful

I do not know if things have changed - but Oceanic did not ever put batch numbers on their salt back then - so it was impossible to tell if you were getting good or bad for a while. I want to say this was around 2006 - 2007 because I remember it being right before I seperated from my ex. If memory serves it was mixing up w/ high levels of amonia or nitrate - but I can't remember. It's been a long time - and at this point - even though I have half a bucket left - I would never use it. I'm sure all the bad stuff has worked it's way out of the market by now (though there may be a bucket or two sitting in some low turnover mom and pop stores - who knows...) so it's probably safe to use Oceanic again. I just won't. I think i've been convinced by this thread to give Salinity a try - I especially like (after reading up on it) that it's a boutiqe brand made by SeaChem. I love Seachem - never bought anything of theirs that wasn't awesome.

[Reef Swimmer]

Yeah I'm going with Kent's for now until I start getting corals then ill switch to salinity. I haven't heard anything but good stuff about it.

[FireWater]

At this point you just need to pick one and move forward. Thought you picked Red Sea and didn't like Kent?

As for all the folks liking Salinity more power to you. I'll say I used it for close to a year and I'm now back to Red Sea Coral Pro. Salinity just didn't do anything for me that RSCP won't.