What type of salt do you use?

Quote:

Originally Posted by YougMoney 

Im thinking about buying Instant Ocean..

It looks good and its cheap !

There is nothing wrong IMO with IO salt.

Which were you looking at? The reef salt or the standard?

I use it....and have no problems

Quote:

Originally Posted by YougMoney 

Standard

Do you plan on having a reef?

Quote:

Originally Posted by YougMoney 

Standard

Instant Ocean is fine, especially if you're just starting out.

IMO, once you get advanced and move onto trickier corals (such as most SPS), you'll outgrow instant ocean salt. I think the reef salt is better than the regular salt, but if you're just doing a fish only tank, the regular salt is fine.

I've basically tried everything on the market, I'm not a firm believer in AquaVitro Salinity salt, but it's expensive and if you have a new tank, it's a waste of money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by YougMoney 

Im thinking about buying Instant Ocean..

It looks good and its cheap !

Hi,

I didn't go and read every post...I'm lazy.

I use Instant Ocean Reef CRYSTALS when I used the regular saltwater mix it wasn't doing my corals any good at all. So if you have a fish only tank, the regular is fine and cheap, but if you have coral, then use the crystal... not as cheap but not too bad either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by YougMoney 

A fish only tank.. Maybe with some shrimp.

You should  be good to go.

I use IO right now. Once this bucket is done I will move onto Reef Crystals. Would it be worth just picking up the RC's now and going with half of each during water changes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyH24 

I use IO right now. Once this bucket is done I will move onto Reef Crystals. Would it be worth just picking up the RC's now and going with half of each during water changes?

I wouldn't mix them.....just wait till ou are done with the regular....and then switch over
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

I wouldn't mix them.....just wait till ou are done with the regular....and then switch over
 

Just a little curious as to why not mix them? Some people recommend mixing the salt mixes, so the system is not shocked by the change. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemmy 

Just a little curious as to why not mix them? Some people recommend mixing the salt mixes, so the system is not shocked by the change. 
 

LOL....IDK....I just don't think it's necessary.....you do a 10-15% w/c....so it's not like you are draining the tank and adding the new salt

I have never heard anyone recommending they mix them.....you may know something I don't

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by meowzer 

 

 

 

LOL....IDK....I just don't think it's necessary.....you do a 10-15% w/c....so it's not like you are draining the tank and adding the new salt

 

I have never heard anyone recommending they mix them.....you may know something I don't

 

Mixed crowd on this. No pun intended.

Some say to slowly ween the tank into another type of salt. By going to the reef crystals the alk, cal, ect will be higher. So the tank will see a more powerful salt.

I use I O crystals no problem here. 

The general consensus (not only here, but almost everywhere) is that IO is adequate. My experience with it was completely different however. Now, I could have been unlucky and purchased a bad batch, but in any case, my calcium levels were terrible. I'm just adding that in for what it's worth.

As far as mixing goes...it's salt people. Salt plus salt does not yield bleach. Mixing is fine, but as far as preventing system shock, I don't believe it's necessary. That is, unless you are planning on doing a huge water change. If you have left over salt, you might as well mix it in as to not be wasteful and condition your system for it.

seems like the money I put into additives to get my calcium and other stuff up I should just buy the reef crystals instead of the reg IO.

The numerous reports of the stuff left over in the mixing bucket always worries me though. If that stuff is in the mixing bucket wouldn't it also be on my tank and everything else?

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but should I use just regular salt for my QT tank then?  I also bought the Instant Ocean Salt Reef Crystals that I'm going to use for my DT... should I buy the low end salt for my QT?

You want your QT's parameters to match your main tank's parameters as closely as possible. This makes any transition very easy and safe for your fish.

EDIT: This DOES NOT eliminate the need for drip acclimation.

Very helpful to know.

Thanks!