Preferred Salt Mix

[The Rugger]

It seems I read a tread a while back that folks discussed which Salt Mix they Preferred. I can not seem to find the thread when I search so...

It is time for me to buy another bucket and I was wondering what folks were using. I have been using Kent and have not had any issue. My local area is limited to Instant Ocean, Oceanic, and Kent. I believe they had a new brand last time I was there but I can't seem to recall the brand.

What is your preference?

[ReeferRob]

I've been hearing amazing things about the ESV salts. Currently I am using Reef Crystals with no issues.

[stunreefer]

If your not having any issues, why worry?

[tazzy695]

if I were you I would continue with the same less chance of causing issues due to different values in the salts and if you are running a reef kent or oceanic are probably your best bets for ca alk and mg levels

[The Rugger]

I am always looking for ways to improve and am curious to hear what others have experienced and learned.

[iyachtuxivm]

I have tried RC, Redsea, Marin, and IO. I like RC the most seems my corals like it too, they look "happier" with RC.

[Steven Pro]

I like Red Sea Coral Pro. It is made to be mixed with RO water and dissolves well. My only complaint with it is the bucket handles are terrible. They are prone to pop off easily.

[Broberts]

I use Instant Ocean and have had no issues but I too would like to upgrade, I was told by a lfs that if I switched to Tropic Marin I wouldnt have to dose Calcium or Alk anymore. Has anyone heard of this, sounds to good to be true.

[Poseidon]

It really depends on demand, at this point in your reef, regular water changes with a quality salt, should be plenty. However, once you get HUGE colonies of SPS, you will have to supplement no matter which salt you choose.

[Bella127]

I use reef crystals. Once I run out of current stock , I will be trying the tropic marin at one of our SPONSORS Reef solutions located here http://reefsolutions4u.com/index.html

[Tom@HaslettMI]

I use Tropic Marin and like it a lot. I used IO in the past with no issues but Preuss uses and sells TM by the bucket.

As for the no need to dose advise... +1 to what Poseidon said.

[ReeferRob]

Well Im using the ESV 4 part mix these days. For the last 7 weeks to be exact. I'm dosing half as much alk and calc as I was with RC. I've been told by Bella that he can see a difference in the coral colors.
Very happy and don't plan on switching anytime soon!

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Well Im using the ESV 4 part mix these days.

Educate me Rob... when you say 4 part does that really mean you have to mix 4 different components? If so, what are the ingredients of each and why separate them?

Thanks,
Tom

[ReeferRob]

Educate me Rob... when you say 4 part does that really mean you have to mix 4 different components? If so, what are the ingredients of each and why separate them?

Thanks,
Tom

Yes, I actually mix 4 separate parts into the water.

For a 50 gallon/417 lbs of water mix I add, 15 cups or 10 lbs. of Sodium Chloride, 5 cups or 2.75 lbs. of Magnesium Sulfate Heltahydrate, 64 fl. oz of Component A and 32 fl. oz. of Component B.

The advantages are that it does not contain any of the artificial binding agents and preservatives that typically go into a bucket of salt mix.

It mixes clean and clear in seconds, and can be used in minutes. Where as salt like RC requires hours to properly mix, balance, clear, and stabilize before use.

Corals and fish have zero reaction or acclimation period after a water changes.

Zero residue build up in mixing vat, and the smell is much more pleasant.

[AZDesertRat]

I started with IO 25+ years ago as it was about all I could get and it worked well. I later switched to Red Sea and actually had better results. I have been using Oceanic for the last 7 years and am very happy with the calcium levels but have to buffer the alkalinity or mix it with IO so it balances out.
I tried Ocean Pure for awhile and found it to be very consistent and well balanced but do not find it anywhere around here now.

[igot2gats]

If you ask me, I say that there's no need to change if you're not having any problems.

Consistency is a key factor for success in this hobby. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

[cherrycorals]

ESV!, ESV!, ESV!

Its the best salt we at Cherry Corals have ever used and since none of the brick and mortar stores have decided to carry it we have decided to stock it.

This salt combined with the Fauna Marin products have been soooo good to us! :highfive3:

[CalmSeasQuest]

I've always used Reef Crystals - It's worked well and seems very consistent allowing me to fine tune using 2-part and kalk/ATO

[nate_newton]

Is the ESV easy to mix in smaller amounts like 5 gallons?

[Paul_PSU]

I started with IO 25+ years ago as it was about all I could get and it worked well. I later switched to Red Sea and actually had better results. I have been using Oceanic for the last 7 years and am very happy with the calcium levels but have to buffer the alkalinity or mix it with IO so it balances out.
I tried Ocean Pure for awhile and found it to be very consistent and well balanced but do not find it anywhere around here now.

I have been using Oceanic for the past 2 years. I like to run my Ca/Mag/Alk high.

[Paul_PSU]

ESV!, ESV!, ESV!

Its the best salt we at Cherry Corals have ever used and since none of the brick and mortar stores have decided to carry it we have decided to stock it.

This salt combined with the Fauna Marin products have been soooo good to us! :highfive3:

Anyone have any numbers when you mix a batch up: Ca/Mag/Alk? I was interested in the ESV also.

[creefer]

I know this is an old thread, but worth keeping alive. I just ordered some ESV salt. I will post my findings however I can tell you that I understand you can be somewhat of a "chef" when it comes to mixing this salt. If you desire to keep specific levels in your system, you can alter the quantity of the components somewhat to achieve a specific set of parameters.

I was attracted to the salt partly for this reason, but also for the simply fact that I no longer would have to prepare salt and let it sit for a day or so prior to a WC. Since I do about 5 gal changes weekly in my 34 g system, this seems more appealing to me considering I won't clutter the laundry room and get the stink eye from the wife. Further, I have not heard, or read anything bad about it.

Currently, I use Reef Crystals. Things have been ok however I get heavy yellow crap at the bottom of the mixing buckets every time I mix salt. It's nasty and no matter how slowly I add salt, this still appears. Params have been similar each time I mix. Testing of mixed water shows values of 400-430 Ca, 1400-1440 Mag, and 7.4-12 dKH with RC. I would like to get more consistency with these values and hope that ESV will get me there.

[Rook]

Interested to hear your results. How expensive is ESV? I use Tropic Marine and have for a long time, I'm generally happy with it but none of the local stores carry it; to my knowledge.

[MizTanks]

I hate to say this but I'm glad someone else besides me gets that brown stuff on the bottom of my mixing bucket. Our LFS sells nothing but RC, so no choices here :(


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[creefer]

Interested to hear your results. How expensive is ESV? I use Tropic Marine and have for a long time, I'm generally happy with it but none of the local stores carry it; to my knowledge.

I'll post results. I think Tropic Marin is carried in Lansing at Preuss. Bit of a drive for you.

[creefer]

I hate to say this but I'm glad someone else besides me gets that brown stuff on the bottom of my mixing bucket. Our LFS sells nothing but RC, so no choices here :(


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

That brown stuff blows..I hate it and it's a giant pita to clean up.

I ordered the stuff on line. It's not the most cost effective stuff in the world, but if it's as good as I hear and offers the flexibility of mixing to your desired parameters, then it's worth it to me to maintain stability. I ordered from Marine Depot. RC was $20 for a 50g bag and ESV was $32 for the 50g kit.

[BK's Reef]

i use bio-sea with great results, not a very common salt

[creefer]

i use bio-sea with great results, not a very common salt

Im not familiar with that.

[BK's Reef]

http://www.aquacraft.net/w0002.html
we use it at vipets and it works great

[gablett]

I used tropic marin for a long time. Used to use it 15 years ago too. But I was getting serious variations batch to batch and mag was always super low.

Switched to the 200 gallon box of RC and I am happy with it. Mag is right on finally. Not going through gallons of mag solution anymore. I dont get any brown stuff in my buckets. It also seems to clear up much faster than TM as well.

[cg5071]

I use IO but I happened to jack my cal skyhigh w/caribsea+ so I went to the purple bag for awhile. I also get nasties w/ a pre mix of a day with IO(too much settlement). It is available to mix in 15min. No need for 24 hours. Disolve w/ warm water and the rest is ro/di for me. No need to change, plus it is basicly all that is avail. w/out spec. order here.

[creefer]

I use IO but I happened to jack my cal skyhigh w/caribsea+ so I went to the purple bag for awhile. I also get nasties w/ a pre mix of a day with IO(too much settlement). It is available to mix in 15min. No need for 24 hours. Disolve w/ warm water and the rest is ro/di for me. No need to change, plus it is basicly all that is avail. w/out spec. order here.

Being in Petosky is a bit of an issue for some things I would think. We have a retailer down here that carries the ESV line including that salt. I ordered my first batch because they didn't have the size I wanted I didn't want to get the larger kit and not like it based on the cost. If I'm pleased with it, I'll start buying from them. They are a sponsor here and good people to deal with.

[dlhirst]

@Cherry - so Todd, you got me sold. How much IS the ESV kit?

[jolson10450]

i used reef crystals for the longest time, had some slight issues now that my tank is pretty much packed, i have since switched to brightwell salt and all of the issues that i had are fixed! my issues were low alk, low calcium, and low mag even right after a weekly water change, now i can go 2 weeks with brightwell and still be good.

[creefer]

@Cherry - so Todd, you got me sold. How much IS the ESV kit?



Check this out.http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11832

It's my findings from the first few batches I made. I have nothing bad to say about the stuff. The 50 gal. kit is $32 I think from Marine Depot. I can't remember what the larger kits go for.