Salt Mixes

[uwtrauma1]

I know this question probably has been asked a million times but I will dare to ask it again. Which salt mix would most of you recommend for a reef aquarium. I currently use Oceanic but I have also been told to use SeaChem Reef or Reef Crystals from Instant Ocean. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[acrylic51]

I started back in 87' on IO and switched to Reef Crystals only because the store I dealt with was out, and over the years I've tried quite a few.....I've tried Seachem and didn't like the inconsistencies between the batches and how it mixed as well.....RedSea I wasn't pleased with at all, Oceanic it seemed my tank inhabitants didn't like the change, Tropic Marin Pro, I really liked, but honestly for the money I didn't really notice any real difference in my tank between that and Reef Crystals.....Kent salt I didn't like as well, mixing issues, and Coralife is just poor IMO.....they had (have) issues with the mix. I've also had a friend that mixed his own salt and my tank responded incredibly with his mix ratios, but the mixing was horrible, because of precip, but gave that mix up and went back to Reef Crystals......

 

[steve24]

my reef and i are very happy with Reef Crystals

 

[ibew]

if price doesn't matter TM pro is the best out there or the closest for not having to add anything at a salinity of 1.025 I use to use --, IO, oceanic, Red Sea Pro, and TM. all have there flaws and have to buffer something TM Pro is ok how it is I do buffer my mag to 1350 but thats me and the way I like it all of these tests were done with salfiert test kits multiply times to make sure. If you have a very big reef tank using this salt will get very expensive. Thats why people buy other brands and just buffer them to proper levels

cal 480
dkh 8.4
mag 1250
ph 8.3
nitrite 0
nirtate 0
amn 0
phos 0

 

[lecithin]

I started w/IO then moved onto Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. Seems to work better. With the IO I couldn't get my PH above 8 and the Red Sea keeps my parameters right on.

 

[nycbob]

i use reef crystal.

 

[al mc]

I have always used Oceanic. I do have to buffer it some. Since it appears to work for me I have been unwilling (OK ...afraid) to try something else.

 

[psu]

Tropic Marine Pro for me--My LFS only uses that so same for me.

 

[ccampbell57]

I use instant ocean only. I used Kent for a while but found myself using buffer and having to tweak the mix and tank too much. Instant Ocean is dead on and I have never had any issues with it.