want to switch salt brand

alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
i am currently using instant ocean (because it's cheap) but i want to switch to a better brand. what do you reccommend? im looking for something that is
-sold in large quantities (like 5 gallon buckets)
-good for reef
-not crazy expensive
-wont cause a weird effect when i switch (ive heard some salts will mess your tank up if you switch fom IO to them)
thanks
 
tjone752000

tjone752000

Member
reef crystals reef salt is $14.99 a bag. Has trace elements added to it.Seachem reef salt buffers water to 8.4, and also has trace elements.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
i use reef crystals, which is better than IO, but i hear tropic marin pro is far better than --.
what do you consider "crazy expensive"?
 
120reefer

120reefer

Member
Been using SeaChem reef crystals for a few years now. $39.99 for 3- 50gal bags, Ph- 8.4 Calc- 450 good amount of trace elements like magnesium ect. and have NEVER gotten a "bad" bag. I've heard that TM is good salt also, but until I have problems, I will be using this salt for as long as my 120 is up and running. Hope this helps
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
C'mon Alix, since when are you concerned about money
Didn't I read one of your posts that you are going to a 75?
BTW I think one of your pics showed your RO/DI water going into two seperate 5 gal buckets. How do you stop the system from running when you have enough water
Do you have shutoffs or are you just unplugging the unit?
Thanks, Steve
P.S. Aren't you ever going to be happy with your Avitar?
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member

Originally Posted by metweezer
http:///forum/post/2540833
C'mon Alix, since when are you concerned about money
Didn't I read one of your posts that you are going to a 75?
exactly why i need to be saving money! im gonna have to buy like 3 buckets of salt just to get it set up & still have some for the first couple water changes!
BTW I think one of your pics showed your RO/DI water going into two seperate 5 gal buckets. How do you stop the system from running when you have enough water
Do you have shutoffs or are you just unplugging the unit?
its got little valves, kind of like a tap. when you close the valve the water stops running and the waste water line stops running too. unfortunately mine's broken and i have to completely shut off the water source or it will overflow my basement.

Thanks, Steve
P.S. Aren't you ever going to be happy with your Avitar? never! lol, i had this one for a few months a while ago, i missed it.
^
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
Thanks Girl,
I like the one with you and your cousin best. The one you are using now is as scary as mine
 
matt b

matt b

Active Member
I use instant ocean cause I dont mind dosing extra and reef systems has it CRAZY cheap!!!!!!! I tried red sea coral pro and it is horrible. I have heard great things about reef crystals I think its just instant ocean with extra elements.
 
espkh9

espkh9

Member
I use Reef Crystals for over 18 months it is great for reefs and I get them in bulk very cheap about $25 for a 5 gallon bucket. It's loaded with trace elements and no dosing is really needed unless you want to do specifics. The shipping is very reasonable and it comes out to be about $27.99 after shipping. I ususally buy 2-3 at a time.
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
oh my god, he's alive!?
ok, thanks everyone, looks like ill be going with reef crystals, because i think i can get it locally where i'd have to order most others. not sure if i can get the 5 gallon buckets locally, but ill look into it.
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
Alix,
If I may ask, why a 75 gal over a 55
It seems to me that you are only gaining 5" in width. Everything else stays the same, (length & height) except 200 more pounds. Is this because you want to stock bigger fish? I would think that length is what everyone desires. My 2 cents.
 
alix2.0

alix2.0

Active Member
well, im actually getting it (the tank & stand) for my birthday, thanks to my mom and dad. they were originally going to get me a 55, but they decided that they liked the shape of the 75 better. plus its an extra 20 gallons of water, which im not about to argue with.

not so much bigger fish, but more. i want a couple chromis and a sixline along with the fish i already have. i was thinking about a mandarin, but IDK with the sixline.
 
mscarpena

mscarpena

Member
I reccomend Reef Crystals over anything else. I was using it for 6 years and I switched to Tropic Marin and I think it sucks. My zoo's/play's and LPS were not opening. Also some of my hammer corals started to loose there heads. Switched back to me -- and everything is back to normal and looking great. Also with TM my coraline algae turned a rusty color and I got some brown algae growth that I have never had before.
 
bodacious

bodacious

Member
I've been useing tropic marin pro for ever dont have to add anything at all .I've used all the other salts and I have to add every thing to them ,after you add buffer,mag,cal, and all the other stuff it's about the same price.
 
psu

psu

Member
Agree w/ bodacoius--never have had a problem w/TMP--its all my local LFS uses--and I trust my LFS.
 
natclanwy

natclanwy

Active Member

Originally Posted by metweezer
http:///forum/post/2541062
Alix,
If I may ask, why a 75 gal over a 55
It seems to me that you are only gaining 5" in width. Everything else stays the same, (length & height) except 200 more pounds. Is this because you want to stock bigger fish? I would think that length is what everyone desires. My 2 cents.
I would go with a 75 over the 55 anyday, I have a 55g now and it sucks to try and aquascape because it is so narrow especially because mine is a room divider and I have to keep the glass clean on three sides. That extra 5" of width would do wonders for giving me more room to work with.
 
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