Hands down! Whats the best salt?????

whyamisofl

whyamisofl

Active Member
I used 2 buckets of TM Pro Reef and couldn't see a difference between that and Oceanic. I have used IO, Seachem, TM, and Oceanic.......so far I stick with Oceanic.
Calcium
Alkalinity
Magnesium
Aquatic Gardens
430
8
1240
CoraLife
560
9
1380
Crystal Sea Marinemix
340
9
1050
Crystal Sea Marinemix Bio-Assay
340
9
1050
D-D H2Ocean
450
10
1380
Instant Ocean
350
12
1070
Kent
540
11
1200
Marine Environment
480
7.5
1450
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
 
maxalmon

maxalmon

Active Member
Tropic Marin Pro for all my tanks
Seems to be the best in terms of Mag and Ca levels and consistent from batch to batch.
 
U

usirchchris

Guest
I have always used IO. Have two tanks running currently, and have no algae problems in my 125, but my 120 does because this has my aggressive fish and they are very messy. In my experience it is not the IO that causes the algae blooms. The only other salt I have used is Red Sea, if it goes on sale at my LFS. No problems with Red Sea, but I am partial to IO.
 
grubsnaek

grubsnaek

Active Member
again where i get my water they use IO. but with this smaller set up, im trying to add in areas i can. meaning maybe try a better salt on this tank, and if success than onto my 125DT
 
coral keeper

coral keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by maxalmon
http:///forum/post/2805420
Tropic Marin Pro for all my tanks
Seems to be the best in terms of Mag and Ca levels and consistent from batch to batch.
Tropic Marin Pro is hella expensive!! It costs $85 to make 200 gallons... Too pricey for me...
 
myzislow

myzislow

Member
Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2804378
i hear tropic marin pro reef is the best salt (closest to natural sea water), but it's way too expensive for me. i use oceanic. i like it alot better than reef crystals and i don't dose anything. also, the oceanic bucket which is the same price as reef crystals, is 25% or so larger.
reef crystals is low on calcium.
and oceanic is way too high in Ca...
I have been using marine environment but recently switched to tropic marin pro and am loving it. I'm about a month in and am already noticing very big changes in some of my colors. My big brown rainbow monti that used to be bright blue is now turning back to an awesome teal/blue color very rapidly, with way better PE. This coral has had me perplexed as nothing I've done has seemed to help its coloration what so ever; up until now that is. I can't attribute its change to anything else but the switch in salt brands as everything else has remained the same.
 
myzislow

myzislow

Member
Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2805883
you have a bad test kit. i bet it's an API test kit. try a salifert.
API test kits, especially the Ca kit, are regarded as one of the best in this hobby, and very cost effective as well. What would make you say that? Maybe you had a test kit that went bad due to improper storage or old age. You must store them out of the heat/sunlight and make sure you keep the caps on tight.
Salifert, on the other hand, has been known for terrible inconsistencies; especially their dKh kit. Only salifert kit I'd ever use is the Mg kit.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i'm just going by 3 different api test kits. mine, the one at the lfs, and my friend's kit.
my salifert kit is much more accurate.
api might be the most popular kit here, but not on every other forum. this is the only forum that holds api kits in high regard, and salifert kits so low.
 
myzislow

myzislow

Member
Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2807178
i'm just going by 3 different api test kits. mine, the one at the lfs, and my friend's kit.
my salifert kit is much more accurate.
api might be the most popular kit here, but not on every other forum. this is the only forum that holds api kits in high regard, and salifert kits so low.
Sorry, but that is simply not true. Too many different factors could be the reason why you got different readings between the various API kits. Perhaps one was old, maybe one had residue from a previous test in the vial, or maybe even user error.
I'm speaking in general, not just because this forum has a supposed bias towards API. In this hobby, the API Ca kit is regarded as one of the best. Go over to the bigger forum, and ask there and you'll hear the same. In fact I've even read, over at the larger forum, a very in depth study of all major test kit brands, and API was one of the highest ranked and most consistent brands available. I'm not trying to argue with you, but it's simply not true what you have said about the API Ca test kit.
The only gripe I have with the API Ca kit is that 5ml mark is not accurate, you have to make sure you have a medical grade syringe to properly measure out 5ml as it is off. This is not a problem for me as my elos dKH kit comes with 5ml syringe(the elos 5ml mark on the vial is way off too).
What kit do you use to measure your Alk?
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
this is the first time in 10 years i've heard anyone say api kits are the best. i wonder why salifert and elos kits are so expensive, and you can buy a reefmaster test kit from api for under 25 dollars.
so, you are telling me that all three kits we checked the calcium levels with were wrong?
my api test kit tells me that my calcium is so high that it can't even get a reading. there is no way this is possible. it's the same with the other two test kits.
the salifert kit gives me a 550 or so reading, same as the studies show on -- and oceanic salts.
i use the api kit to measure the alk, which seems to be accurate.
i understand it's not personal. you can disagree with me if you like.
 
dse

dse

Member
Originally Posted by Kevin34
http:///forum/post/2804089
I use reef crystals. never had any problems so i guess its good lol

Originally Posted by Coral Keeper
http:///forum/post/2804200
I use Reef Crystals and I like it!

Originally Posted by msch1999
http:///forum/post/2804204
I use reef crystals and it seems to work for me.

Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2805885
Reef crystals here, no calcium issues ever.
meeeee toooo i love reef crystals yay!!!!!!!!!!! reef crystals FTW!
i too have no calcium problems but i too use api and i have no quarrels with api i like it and its easy to use and quick to do.
so goooo API!
 
yerboy

yerboy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2804378
i use oceanic. i like it alot better than reef crystals and i don't dose anything. also, the oceanic bucket which is the same price as reef crystals, is 25% or so larger.
reef crystals is low on calcium.
+1
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Oceanic... started with it never changed it, I get consistent levels every time I test.
I think consistency is key... aside from not having dangerous levels of trace elements the consistency based on your individual maintenance schedule is what IMO Is critical. Everyones trace elements are not going to be the same even if they use the same name brand salt. There are no 2 tanks that are the same, or hold the same amount and type of corals. This would show a significant difference in what trace elements are in your tank to start and which ones get used first.
 
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