Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals

[meera]

Every time I walk into the fish store to buy my critters more salt, I've always wondered what the difference between IO Sea Salt and IO Reef Crystals.

I currently use Sea Salt. I know that the Reef Crystals contain other trace elements. I house a colony of Green Star Polyps and Blue Mushrooms (that's all I have for corals as I'm terrified to spend any money because I'm terrified they will die).

I guess my main question is....how much of a difference would it make to switch from Sea Salt to Reef Crystals? Should I stick with Sea Salt instead of Reef? Why?

 

[kay-bee]

If your soft corals are doing fine you can stick with the salt you have. Reef Crystals (and other reef orientated salt mixes) have higher levels or essential and trace elements that would probably benefit stony corals more.

 

[Amphiprion]

I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. However, the main benefit of Reef Crystals over Instant Ocean are elevated calcium and magnesium concentrations. Those can easily be compensated for with very, very cheap chemical additions or you can spend a bit extra and get a salt that already has those levels elevated. Either way works just fine. One extra caveat is to test every single batch of salt you buy. If you have a bucket, mix it thoroughly prior to use, mix, then test. That reading should be consistent for the rest of the salt batch.

 

[meera]

Good point. Thank you.