Common Salt Mixes

[mkzimms]

I noticed a bunch of threads pop up recently about best / favorite salt mixes. I found a list online with the ca, ak and mg of the most common available. Please post your comments about your experiences with them.
Calcium-Alkalinity-Magnesium:
CoraLife
560-9-1380
Crystal Sea Marinemix
340-9-1050
Crystal Sea Marinemix Bio-Assay
340-9-1050
Instant Ocean
350-12-1070
Kent
540-11-1200
Oceanic
580-8.5-1650
OceanPure
510-10-1320
Red Sea
400-8-1300
Red Sea Coral Pro
490-7-1300
Reef Crystals
420-12-1260
SeaChem Marine Salt
500-10-1400
SeaChem Reef Salt
540-10-1450
Tropic Marin
375-10-1230
Tropic Marin Pro Reef
450-8.5-1380
Tunze Reef Salt
420-9.5-1350

 

[payton 350]

I use and like Coralife for my reef. Everything always tests out where it should be so no reason to change ..... and price is right
I also have never used anything else so i can't compare amongst other brands

 

[lion_crazz]

For any of the salts I have used above, I don't agree with any of the levels in the chart you posted.
I have never gotten the posted levels from Oceanic, Crystal Sea, SeaChem, Corallife, and Kent.

 

[mkzimms]

These were listed on the site I got them from as the manufacturer's listed chemical make up. Whether these are approximated values or values that are true in practice, I can make no guarantee.

 

[lion_crazz]

Which manufacturer? I know Red Sea Pro advertises their salt to be 420 and 9 but it is more like 380-400 and 8.

 

[mkzimms]

I did not personally scrape the manufactures pages for these numbers, they were compiled by someone else. I asked people to comment about them for that very reason, many times the manufacturer's listed values differ from how the mix actually preforms in the real world.

 

[lion_crazz]

Good thing you asked. Those numbers are very inaccurate of the typical batch of salt from many of those companies.

 

[mkzimms]

i wonder why that is... poor quality control? differences in the water used to mix? environmental variables?

 

[rebelprettyboy]

yeah my coralife is never close to 540 calcium. The Alk is right and Ive never tested for mag...
Lion how important is Mag in a reef tank? I have a 30 and 14 gal

 

[rs1831]

Originally Posted by rebelprettyboy
http:///forum/post/2681300
yeah my coralife is never close to 540 calcium. The Alk is right and Ive never tested for mag...
Lion how important is Mag in a reef tank? I have a 30 and 14 gal
It helps to keep your Ca levels up.

 

[lion_crazz]

Very important. If you have issues keeing calcium or alkalinity stable or raising either level, low magnesium is usually the culprit.

 

[mkzimms]

mg acts as a buffer to help stabilize ph, ca and alk.

 

[rebelprettyboy]

guess mine is good seeing ive never had a probem with any of those parameters... Ill eventually get me one though

 

[dennis210]

I have been mixing Oceanic and Reef Crystals 50/50 for about a month now. I like the results.

 

[aquatic cat]

Hawaiian Marine but its not on the list and have not tried some of the other brands.

 

[matt b]

I think someones calcium test was bad. WTF kind of company would have a calcium of 590? One that is horrible for a reef and will not be able to keep alk stable with that level and not to mention it would cost them sooo much to make a level that high so it is obvious it was not a bad batch. If anything it would be low.