What kind of salt is best???
- Thread starter Dezzy
- Start date
Ocean Pure Pro - CA always around 420-440 and Mg around 1400-1500. Gone through 10 buckets of it in the last 6 months and numbers have been very consistent in that time frame. I can't say that for some of the other well known brands out there where you may get an ok CA level but Mg always seems lacking. (Reef Crystals/Instant Ocean).
Catpicklesdog
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
I use Reef Crystals and never have a problem with any of my levels. I did recently swap to Aqua Medic Reef Salt but have found that it doesn't dissolve as well as Reef Cyrstals, so will be swapping back (only tried it to save money!)
Tropic Marine. I did a phosphate test on my RO water. It equqlled 0. I then tested my salt water mix using IO. It read .5. I tested Reef Crystals. Same result. I tested Tropic Marine, Never had a problem. The ph and all the parameters are very consistent with Tropic Marine. It's a little expensive compared to the other brands,but you get what you pay for.
Whichever one seems to have the better parameters at the time. They seem to vary, so I vary by how off they are. That usually means switching between Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals, and Red Sea. In any case, always test every new batch of salt to see if it meets your needs.
Catpicklesdog
Hindsight is a wonderful thing!
I started with Instant Ocean and soon switched to Reef Crystals. I've never had a problem with Reef Crystals. It dissolves well and the levels in it tend to be fine most of the time as far as I'm concerned. The consumption rate of calcium and alkalinity in my tank always warrants supplementation between water changes regardless of what it starts out at from the salt mix itself.
Tropic Marin, beyond question. I've been using it for more than 30 years. It mixes quickly, and produces water that is virtually indisguishable from natural seawater. Tropi Marin Pro has extra calcium for reef tanks. Otherwise, no difference.
I have used both tropic marin pro and Reef Crystals. I think Tropic Marin is a better salt, but not worth the extra money. I am using reef crystals now because it is almost as good and a whole lot cheaper.