best salt?

[40galreefman]

i've been looking to figure out which salt to use in my tank i'll be setting up, just trying to get the last few things together b4 jumping in with both feet, i've read up on IO reef crystals, and red sea coral pro, mostly because they come in the biggest amounts, are these ok, or is there something better, i'll be ordering them offline, so i will find the best price, just wanted to know what others are using with success. thanks all

 

[40galreefman]

ive also looked at Kent marine, and coralife "scientific grade", so if anyone has experience with an of these please let me know, and what makes this "scientific" grade so much better than any other grade?, is there even such a thing as scientific grade?. i mean if it's developed byscientists, isn't it all "scientific" grade? or is this just a clever sales pitch?

 

[Grins]

Out of the ones you listed I'd use IO or Reef Crystals. If you're not going to have corals the IO will be fine.

 

[Almondsaz]

I have always used Tropic Marin Pro and have really liked it. It is a bit pricey and it doesn't seem to be the most popular brand of salt, but my LFS suggested I use it and it is the only salt I have used. Consistent, mixes well, no debris and my readings are good. HTH

 

[40galreefman]

thanks both of you.

grins, i do plan on having corals, not to start but down the road once the cycle is done and money permits, so i'm leaning toward the reef crystals.

almonds, thanks for the input that is what my LFS sells, but their prices are rediculous compared to the online prices i've seen for the stuff, i'm just looking into the brands that have large containers of salt so i can have more on hand at once than having to run out and buy it when needed, my LFS is great for fish and inverts, but their supplies run a lil pricey for me

 

[Sploke]

I use IO without any real issue, with corals - mostly softies...zoas, mushrooms, etc.

 

[Catpicklesdog]

I use Reef Crystals and have never had to dose anything in my tank.

 

[Amphiprion]

There really isn't a "best" salt. The more popular ones seem to be the ones that work for most people. These include Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals (which is Instant Ocean with a slight calcium boost), Red Sea (also a good salt), Tropic Marin, etc. Any of the main stream ones work, it is just which one works best for you. For example, Reef Crystals works best for me because a) I am too lazy to add extra calcium, even though I have ~50 lbs of it and b) it is already fairly balanced, with most parameters being close. That allows me to simply boost them with additives already being supplied to the tank. Hope that helps a bit.

 

[salty420]

i use reef crystals but am disappointed with the calcium level from the salt mix.

 

[Amphiprion]

Well, like I said, it is at least close, according to an Elos kit (~390-400 ppm). That is enough within range that after it is used for a water change, it will be boosted to approx. 420 ppm, at least for my tank.