Author Topic: Favorite Salt for Reefs? (Read 2873 times)

aquatic mouse · « **on:** February 03, 2010, 16:17:15 »

This poll hasn't been up in awhile, and I'm wondering if the results have changed. I've started my reef tank & have been using regular Instant Ocean, but think I should probably change since it's not specifically for reefs.

Kenn · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2010, 16:38:11 »

Red Sea Coral Pro Has done well for me after I changed from Instant Ocean. Due to the size of my tank I do a weekly 20% or so change and dont add many supplements at this time.

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2010, 16:50:07 »

Whoops, forgot to ask. Do you add any supplements? I use iodide & Purple Up. Since I started using the iodide my mushrooms have gotten huge! They love it!

Kenn · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:02:58 »

The Only supplements I add at this time are Kent Marine Nano-Reef Part A and B

ghurlag · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:08:27 »

I've been using Instant Ocean Reef Salt in my tanks, since that's all the LFS here in Middletown carry. I'm looking forward to a group buy in the coming months maybe?

I don't yet dose, but I've just added corals, and I'm still researching what, if anything I should add.

Kenn · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:11:10 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 03, 2010, 17:08:27

I've been using Instant Ocean Reef Salt in my tanks, since that's all the LFS here in Middletown carry. I'm looking forward to a group buy in the coming months maybe?

I don't yet dose, but I've just added corals, and I'm still researching what, if anything I should add.

If you change salts I recommend doing it slowly. I didnt listen to that advice and nuked a few of my things when I switched from IO

HUNGER · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:11:43 »

i love instant ocean but im useing kent right now its doing ok but still not as good as instant ocean

HUNGER · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:12:14 »

Quote from: kennv431 on February 03, 2010, 17:11:10

If you change salts I recommend doing it slowly. I didnt listen to that advice and nuked a few of my things when I switched from IO

i agree

ghurlag · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:12:44 »

I have no complaints with IO. Ken, why did you switch, out of curiosity?

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:13:19 »

Quote from: kennv431 on February 03, 2010, 17:11:10

If you change salts I recommend doing it slowly. I didnt listen to that advice and nuked a few of my things when I switched from IO

How slowly? Can I change with 20% water changes every other week?

Kenn · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:17:41 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 03, 2010, 17:12:44

I have no complaints with IO. Ken, why did you switch, out of curiosity?

went with it because of it increased level of supplements. Also mixes well. After the nuking, all my corals and softies look healthier and more colorful.Supposed to be formulated for RO

HUNGER · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:20:59 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 03, 2010, 17:12:44

I have no complaints with IO. Ken, why did you switch, out of curiosity?

joel had it on sale and i wanted to try in and see how good it was

Quote from: aquatic mouse on February 03, 2010, 17:13:19

How slowly? Can I change with 20% water changes every other week?

ya that should be fine

ghurlag · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:23:23 »

That's good to know. So by slow conversion, what does that mean? Over several water changes? For instance, I have 2/3 of a 29g with mixed water right now (IO). If I were to begin mixing in Red Sea Coral Pro, I would assume that to be a reasonable transition.

What's the price comparison (I as as I'm pulling up web pages to look)

HUNGER · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:40:18 »

on urs i would do a 1/3

there about the same maybe a 5 doller diferance

ghurlag · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2010, 17:55:18 »

I just found this review of Red Sea Coral Pro. I'm not making this up, and I promise I typed the whole thing:

"Comments I've used several bands of aquarium salt and found this product to be one"

...thanks for the insight?

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2010, 18:06:23 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 03, 2010, 17:55:18

I just found this review of Red Sea Coral Pro. I'm not making this up, and I promise I typed the whole thing:

"Comments I've used several bands of aquarium salt and found this product to be one"

...thanks for the insight?

too funny

Kenn · « **Reply #16 on:** February 03, 2010, 18:27:46 »

Best price I have found local for Red Sea Coral Pro is Coral Ranch $45 and change (at last visit) and Jacks @ 675\Wilmington for $49.99 ( all the time)

UDJustin · « **Reply #17 on:** February 03, 2010, 18:53:56 »

they suggest when switching salts to not do more than a 5 percent water change until you have changed over the whole volume of the tank

UDJustin · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2010, 18:55:16 »

I use Brightwell Aquatics Neo Marine salt

HUNGER · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2010, 19:52:57 »

wow how much is that and you have to ship it in right

UDJustin · « **Reply #20 on:** February 03, 2010, 20:37:04 »

Joel has to ship it in

HUNGER · « **Reply #21 on:** February 03, 2010, 20:41:21 »

o ok i guess dealing with him mite not be worth it lol
its about 70 75 right

Reefd Up · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2010, 22:09:12 »

I've used Oceanic, Reef Crystals, SeaChem, Red Sea, Red Sea Coral Pro, Instant Ocean, and a few other brands that either aren't carried locally or are discontinued now.

Instant Ocean is a great salt...for the price you really can't beat it. You can use IO even if you have a reef...but once you get more demanding corals, you may have to supplement more (alk, ca, mag). I used it until it was just more affordable to get a better salt rather than using IO and dosing a lot more to maintain parameters.

I currently use SeaChem. I've had amazing results with it...much better than the results I had with Red Sea Coral Pro. Occasionally I'll get a bucket a bit low in magnesium, but that's about it.

Aquatic Mouse - be careful dosing iodine. It's very complicated to test for...and you shouldn't just dose things if you can't test for them. Iodine if dosed too much can cause shrimps, crabs, etc to molt at an unnatural rate...and has been shown to cause an even shortened life than normal in captivity.

Also, Purple-up is just really expensive baking soda, epsom salts, and calcium...and a few trace things. At this point in your tank, you shouldn't have much really sucking the alk, ca, mag levels down enough to need to dose with Purple-Up with frequent water changes. Of course, it seems to work b/c your tank is naturally growing coralline based on what is in the salt mix already. If you start having low levels of ca, mag, & alk, you can either switch to a salt with elevated levels of those to begin with...or buy chemicals in bulk to dose. Much more affordable that way...and you know better what is going into your tank!

Riderc82 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 03, 2010, 22:18:39 »

I'm currently using Kent so far I don't have any complaints about it. I've used IO, Reef Crystal, Red Sea Coral Pro. I think it's more important to do water changes than anything.

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2010, 22:24:36 »

Well Red Sea Coral Pro seems to be winning.

Reef'd Up, which Instant Ocean are you using? The regular or the Reef Crystals? I've been using the regular.

I'm using Kent's Iodide, not Iodine. Should I worry? I love how my mushrooms have opened up from it. The bottle suggests 8 drops a day for a 50 gallon tank, and I'm using 8 drops per day for my 55 gallon tank.

You might be right about the Purple Up (many people have told me the same thing) but at the rate the coraline is growing, I just don't know. It's growing so fast and I'm just using florescents (that are over a year old) until I get my new lights this Friday. Do you still think it's the salt? I using a cap a day (supposed to be the dosage for a 50 gallon).

Reefd Up · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2010, 22:34:48 »

I used to use Instant Ocean regularly. After about 1.5 years (it all is a blur now) later, I started using Reef Crystals...switched to Red Sea Coral Pro shortly after I think...stuck with that for a while...now I'm using SeaChem...and plan to stick with it for a while. I'm quite happy with it. For the past 2 years I've had reefs with a very high demand for supplementation - even down to potassium.

I'm sure this is way more than you ever wanted to know about iodine in saltwater aquariums, but here you go: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/chem.htm

Basically, dosing iodine is very complicated due to its different forms (iodine & iodate...but varying forms of those as well). Unfortunately, in marine life, what one life form may need for iodine...is deadly toxic to another life form. There doesn't seem to be a level scientists have found that is ideal. Sure, we know what the oceans averages are for iodine/iodate...but not what we should have in our aquariums. If you want to keep dosing, I would dose less than the recommended manufacturer's suggestion.

HUNGER · « **Reply #26 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:26:31 »

ive been reading up on the neo marina salt seems to be one of the best you can get looks like ill be trying it soon

Rbunk13 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2010, 20:46:28 »

I use coral pro also and love it. although for you instant ocean users, jacks has the buckets on sale all month for $36.99.

ghurlag · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2010, 20:50:10 »

Quote from: Rbunk13 on February 04, 2010, 20:46:28

I use coral pro also and love it. although for you instant ocean users, jacks has the buckets on sale all month for $36.99.

Rbunk, are those the Sea Salt or the Reef Crystals?

ghurlag · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2010, 20:51:32 »

nevermind, I found it. It's the regular sea salt.

Rbunk13 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 04, 2010, 21:21:25 »

sorry just regular sea salt

lazylivin · « **Reply #31 on:** February 04, 2010, 21:41:27 »

1 cup rock salt per gallon of RO/DI water here.

jd · « **Reply #32 on:** February 04, 2010, 21:51:49 »

Quote from: Lazylivin on February 04, 2010, 21:41:27

1 cup rock salt per gallon of RO/DI water here.

At least you're using RO/DI water.

HUNGER · « **Reply #33 on:** February 04, 2010, 22:15:19 »

Quote from: Rbunk13 on February 04, 2010, 20:46:28

I use coral pro also and love it. although for you instant ocean users, jacks has the buckets on sale all month for $36.99.

thats a good price

ghurlag · « **Reply #34 on:** February 04, 2010, 22:27:39 »

As a side note, does anyone else think that Instant Ocean Reef Crystals smells like bacon?

HUNGER · « **Reply #35 on:** February 04, 2010, 22:31:24 »

every thing smells like bacan lol

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #36 on:** February 05, 2010, 15:57:14 »

I haven't been using RO, but I plan to. Can I start using Red Sea Coral Pro with new RO water, and do 5% water changes weekly? Remember, my whole tank is decholrinated tap and Coral Pro is meant for tanks w/ RO water.

HUNGER · « **Reply #37 on:** February 05, 2010, 17:35:47 »

Quote from: aquatic mouse on February 05, 2010, 15:57:14

I haven't been using RO, but I plan to. Can I start using Red Sea Coral Pro with new RO water, and do 5% water changes weekly? Remember, my whole tank is decholrinated tap and Coral Pro is meant for tanks w/ RO water.

thats a good one i dont know

Rbunk13 · « **Reply #38 on:** February 05, 2010, 17:42:06 »

I'm sure it will work with any water. Just formulated to work great with r/o. It is a great salt.

HUNGER · « **Reply #39 on:** February 05, 2010, 17:44:09 »

thats what i was thinking but wasnt sure

atreis · « **Reply #40 on:** February 06, 2010, 08:01:02 »

In the past I've used IO, Reef Crystals, and Tropic Marin and not really noticed a whole lot of difference. (Tropic Marin dissolved the easiest, but otherwise not much difference.) My current tank is using Reef Crystals Coral Pro because that's what Jack's had on sale at the time I needed it. It's nice, but again I just don't notice much difference.

aquatic mouse · « **Reply #41 on:** February 06, 2010, 08:45:48 »

Quote from: atreis on February 06, 2010, 08:01:02

My current tank is using Reef Crystals Coral Pro because that's what Jack's had on sale at the time I needed it. It's nice, but again I just don't notice much difference.

I'm confused. Are you using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals or Red Sea Coral Pro?

Kenn · « **Reply #42 on:** February 06, 2010, 13:07:14 »

RED SEA CORAL PRO Description
Main Features

Specially formulated for the use with reverse osmosis water

Red Sea is please to announce the addition of an innovative new salt formula designed to meet the needs of today`s advanced hobbyist. Coral Pro Salt has been specifically formulated for use with "mineral free" Reverse Osmosis, or soft tap water and contains the elevated levels of calcium and buffer capacity that provide the extended availability of these elements, essential for vibrant coral growth. Utilizing the same natural sea minerals used in Red Sea Salt the new Coral Pro Salt will enable all reverse osmosis users and reef enthusiast a superior product with out the need for immediate supplementation.

* Chemically balanced formula to support the most delicate Corals and other marine life
* Reaches a stable, natural pH shortly after mixing
* Free of Nitrates & Phosphates
* Produced by a small batch process to ensure homogeneity and consistency of the salt mixture

Corals, calcareous algae and other invertebrates use large amounts of Calcium for the building of their skeletons or shells. The Calcium level in natural seawater at 35ppt is approximately 400 ppm.

The Coral Pro formula provides elevated levels of calcium at the "lower than natural" salinities preferred in reef aquariums. Table shows Calcium levels of Coral Pro mixed in RO water at 24Â°C 75Â°F and salinity.

s.g.    Salinity    Calcium    Qty of Salt
1.021    30.6 ppt    420 ppm    33.4 g/l 1.4 lb/5 US gal
1.023    32.8 ppt    450 ppm    35.8 g/l1.5 lb/5 US gal
1.025    35.0 ppt    480 ppm    38.2 g/l1.6 lb/5 US gal

xXTheWendigoXx · « **Reply #43 on:** February 06, 2010, 16:39:18 »

I used to get BULK boxes of Instant Ocean from up north, but I was thinking about switching around a bit as soon as I use up this last box. Partly because I'm curious, partly because I'm trying to buy more from sponsors, and partly because I don't feel like driving three and a half hours for salt.

Quote from: ghurlag on February 04, 2010, 22:27:39

As a side note, does anyone else think that Instant Ocean Reef Crystals smells like bacon?

I definitely jammed my nose in a bag of salt after reading this. We talking cooked, or uncooked bacon here?

atreis · « **Reply #44 on:** February 07, 2010, 07:48:28 »

Quote from: aquatic mouse on February 06, 2010, 08:45:48

I'm confused. Are you using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals or Red Sea Coral Pro?

Sorry - Red Sea Coral Pro.

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Author Topic: Favorite Salt for Reefs? (Read 2873 times)

Reefd Up

Reefd Up