What is the best Sea Salt?
- Thread starter Andrea1
- Start date
I have used Kent and IO and feel either is a good choice. I am now trying a relative newcomer, Oceanic, that seems to be getting good reviews.
If you have a few hours to spare, do a search on this topic and you will see many, many discussions here in RDO on this topic. More than you could ever want to know about salt mixes. :wink:
If you have a few hours to spare, do a search on this topic and you will see many, many discussions here in RDO on this topic. More than you could ever want to know about salt mixes. :wink:
I like instant ocean. Seems to have the best of all parameters, only have to watch calcium and magnesium, which are both easy to dose if and when needed. Mixes up very well and is stable in 24 hrs for alkalinity etc...
Oceanic I have heard is too high in calcium, which if you have a large coral load may be great, but many posts i see with calcium problems are due to using oceanic.
Whatever you use, just use it for a while, and test often to see what you need to do to keep parameters stable.
I think once you "learn your salt" any of them could be fine.
Oceanic I have heard is too high in calcium, which if you have a large coral load may be great, but many posts i see with calcium problems are due to using oceanic.
Whatever you use, just use it for a while, and test often to see what you need to do to keep parameters stable.
I think once you "learn your salt" any of them could be fine.
Instant Ocean is best for a FOWLR set-up. Reef Crystals is a reef salt. Do not expect IO to support a heavy coral load, it is too low in calcium, magnesium and the alk is as low as I would let it get in ANY tank. That said, I've been using it for years. I think people just get set in their ways and stick with what they know. Keeping in mind...THIS is a REEF board.
However, recently I have switched. I have been using a brand new salt called OceanPure for the last month. It's amazing stuff. Calcium is high, mg tests at 1350! alk in the midrange. I have been testing great results from my nano reef tank, compared to when I was using IO.
Wings, that's an ad, and therefore biased. Sorry.
However, recently I have switched. I have been using a brand new salt called OceanPure for the last month. It's amazing stuff. Calcium is high, mg tests at 1350! alk in the midrange. I have been testing great results from my nano reef tank, compared to when I was using IO.
Wings, that's an ad, and therefore biased. Sorry.
Unleashed":3dp8nk3i said:Instant Ocean is best for a FOWLR set-up. Reef Crystals is a reef salt. Do not expect IO to support a heavy coral load, it is too low in calcium, magnesium and the alk is as low as I would let it get in ANY tank. That said, I've been using it for years. I think people just get set in their ways and stick with what they know. Keeping in mind...THIS is a REEF board.
However, recently I have switched. I have been using a brand new salt called OceanPure for the last month. It's amazing stuff. Calcium is high, mg tests at 1350! alk in the midrange. I have been testing great results from my nano reef tank, compared to when I was using IO.
Wings, that's an ad, and therefore biased. Sorry.
Yup.. I caught that. Sorry guys/girls.
~wings~
I don't think it really matters which salt you use - people have had success with all of them.
I think the important part in choosing a salt mix is availability. Make sure you can get it consistently because switching salts has caused problems for some people (although some switch with no problems).
I think the important part in choosing a salt mix is availability. Make sure you can get it consistently because switching salts has caused problems for some people (although some switch with no problems).
Thank you all.
I think we will go with the instant ocean. When we are ready, I will come to you all to see what steps need to be taken to mix the salt. I read how to mix it and maintain it, but boy, it's seems like you need to be real careful. Scary almost...Therefore; I will come here when ready.
Thanks again,
Andrea
I think we will go with the instant ocean. When we are ready, I will come to you all to see what steps need to be taken to mix the salt. I read how to mix it and maintain it, but boy, it's seems like you need to be real careful. Scary almost...Therefore; I will come here when ready.
Thanks again,
Andrea
Actually, I am all for trying other salts. I trust Instant Ocean, but I have tried others. And the latest one I've tried is the one I will stick with. But like all things, switching over has to be done properly.
I think the problems people have when changing salts are due to differences in water parameters. Salt brands differ in levels of alk, ca, and mg, for example. So, if I go from using Instant Ocean (low levels) to a salt with higher levels, and I do a waterchange on a tank that has even lower levels, the resulting change in water chemistry may have consequences.
And my cynicism tells me that the people who have the biggest problems are probably those who have NO idea what any of those levels are in their tanks, compared to the new salt they just purchased..how many actually test the new salt they just bought and mixed up, and compare the results to their tanks daily test results? Probably none of them.
And there are a lot of other elements that we do not test for.
That said, I love Instant Ocean but it is NOT the best salt for a reef tank unless you plan to test your parameters weekly (which we are supposed to do) and adjust ca and alk and add minerals accordingly (which too many people don't do...)
If you do switch salts, test all parameters, and start with small waterchanges, 10-15%.
I have never had a SINGLE problem switching brands. And I have tried everything available to me from my LFS's shelves.
You cannot know which salt is your fav if you are too afraid to bother trying.
Live a little, people :twisted:
I think the problems people have when changing salts are due to differences in water parameters. Salt brands differ in levels of alk, ca, and mg, for example. So, if I go from using Instant Ocean (low levels) to a salt with higher levels, and I do a waterchange on a tank that has even lower levels, the resulting change in water chemistry may have consequences.
And my cynicism tells me that the people who have the biggest problems are probably those who have NO idea what any of those levels are in their tanks, compared to the new salt they just purchased..how many actually test the new salt they just bought and mixed up, and compare the results to their tanks daily test results? Probably none of them.
And there are a lot of other elements that we do not test for.
That said, I love Instant Ocean but it is NOT the best salt for a reef tank unless you plan to test your parameters weekly (which we are supposed to do) and adjust ca and alk and add minerals accordingly (which too many people don't do...)
If you do switch salts, test all parameters, and start with small waterchanges, 10-15%.
I have never had a SINGLE problem switching brands. And I have tried everything available to me from my LFS's shelves.
You cannot know which salt is your fav if you are too afraid to bother trying.
Live a little, people :twisted:Mixing the salt is easy, and I'll just let you know how I do it.
You will need:
-1 cheap powerhead...like a rio 800 or a smaller maxi jet
-1 cheap heater around 100-150 watt
-1 cheap air pump and stone (somewhat optional)
-1 refractometer if you can...(hydrometers should be outlawed)
-5 gal or more bucket for the mixing( you have a 90 gal tank, you may want to look for something in the 10 gal range), another bucket at 5 gal to make it easier to dump in the tank
-salt mix
-good source water-no tap water unless its been tested
-a notepad to track all of your tests
1. fill bucket of any size about half with the water, then add appropriate salt for that amount ( i fill my 5 gal about 3gal worth, then with the instant ocean, I add 1.5 cups of salt) while stirring very well. (Salinity at the rate IO gives you will be around 1.022, thats too low, but more later about that)
Only add the salt to the water, never add water to the salt.
2. Finish adding your water to the bucket, then add appropriate salt again while mixing. At the rate IO gives you (1/2 cup per gallon) your salinity wil be around 1.022. This is when I add about 1/2 cup more to the water in addition to what I've added, and in a 5 gal scenario, it comes out to 1.025, which is about where you want to be.
3. Add powerhead to circulate and airstone to oxygenate (airstone is optional, i like it though)
4. cover and let circulate for around 24 hrs. A couple hours before you will use the replacement water, add the heater. Test salinity after water gets to targeted temperature, which for most is around 80. But acceptable range is around 77-82 give or take, varying opinions from many people.
5. Test salinity. If this is good, I suggest testing this water for ph and alkalinity and calcium and magnesium. This way you know the shortcomings of the mix. DO NOT ADD ANYHING TO THE REPLACEMENT WATER TO ADJUST except salt. It may cause a preciptaion event, which i learned the hard way one day If salinity is too high or too low, either add a little more salt or just unsalted water to adjust. If you must do this, let sit for a little while longer and circulate. Test salinity again.
6. Ready for the change? What I do, is I dump half of the 5gal into another 5 gal bucket, just to make it easier to handle the weight while pouring in. So that's why I have 2. And if you ave purchased a 10 gal mixing bucket or bigger, you could siphon out the water into the 5 gal bucket.
7. Drain appropriate amount of water from your tank. Replace with new water.
8. Wait a few hours or so, then test your tank water. Given what you may know is lacking in your replacement water, plus the test on your tank water after replacement, this will give you a good idea what is needed.
Now you can add your b-ionic alk and calcium if needed and any other additives to the tank. Using IO, I will tell you this: Your alk and calcium and magnesium will probably be a bit low. But always test tank water before you add anything, and anything you add, do it slowly. Better to adjust over time than to try and quick fix things.
Hope this helps and good luck!!!
You will need:
-1 cheap powerhead...like a rio 800 or a smaller maxi jet
-1 cheap heater around 100-150 watt
-1 cheap air pump and stone (somewhat optional)
-1 refractometer if you can...(hydrometers should be outlawed)
-5 gal or more bucket for the mixing( you have a 90 gal tank, you may want to look for something in the 10 gal range), another bucket at 5 gal to make it easier to dump in the tank
-salt mix
-good source water-no tap water unless its been tested
-a notepad to track all of your tests
1. fill bucket of any size about half with the water, then add appropriate salt for that amount ( i fill my 5 gal about 3gal worth, then with the instant ocean, I add 1.5 cups of salt) while stirring very well. (Salinity at the rate IO gives you will be around 1.022, thats too low, but more later about that)
Only add the salt to the water, never add water to the salt.
2. Finish adding your water to the bucket, then add appropriate salt again while mixing. At the rate IO gives you (1/2 cup per gallon) your salinity wil be around 1.022. This is when I add about 1/2 cup more to the water in addition to what I've added, and in a 5 gal scenario, it comes out to 1.025, which is about where you want to be.
3. Add powerhead to circulate and airstone to oxygenate (airstone is optional, i like it though)
4. cover and let circulate for around 24 hrs. A couple hours before you will use the replacement water, add the heater. Test salinity after water gets to targeted temperature, which for most is around 80. But acceptable range is around 77-82 give or take, varying opinions from many people.
5. Test salinity. If this is good, I suggest testing this water for ph and alkalinity and calcium and magnesium. This way you know the shortcomings of the mix. DO NOT ADD ANYHING TO THE REPLACEMENT WATER TO ADJUST except salt. It may cause a preciptaion event, which i learned the hard way one day
If salinity is too high or too low, either add a little more salt or just unsalted water to adjust. If you must do this, let sit for a little while longer and circulate. Test salinity again.6. Ready for the change? What I do, is I dump half of the 5gal into another 5 gal bucket, just to make it easier to handle the weight while pouring in. So that's why I have 2. And if you ave purchased a 10 gal mixing bucket or bigger, you could siphon out the water into the 5 gal bucket.
7. Drain appropriate amount of water from your tank. Replace with new water.
8. Wait a few hours or so, then test your tank water. Given what you may know is lacking in your replacement water, plus the test on your tank water after replacement, this will give you a good idea what is needed.
Now you can add your b-ionic alk and calcium if needed and any other additives to the tank. Using IO, I will tell you this: Your alk and calcium and magnesium will probably be a bit low. But always test tank water before you add anything, and anything you add, do it slowly. Better to adjust over time than to try and quick fix things.
Hope this helps and good luck!!!
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