Which salt brand, and WHY?

[javajoe]

I have done a search here and have seen several recomendations on different salt brands, but not a lot of information as to why one brand is prefered over the other. (except for - "It was on sale" )
Can people please post which brand you use for a reef tank, and WHY you choose the brand you use?
I have a 55 Gallon w/ 4 inch DSB (South Down and LS), just getting ready to fill it up. Planning on having LR, a few fish, but mainly coral once I get it up and running. (coral has to wait till beginning of next year, when I can add a Metal Halite or PC lighting)
Part 2: for FIRST time, can I just fill with water, then dump the salt in with some powerheads? of should I mix it OUTSIDE the tank first? (Not mixing live sand into the SD untill sand settles- have read that it'll be cloudy for a few days...)
Thanks for any input...
Joe
[ November 05, 2001: Message edited by: Javajoe ]

 

[beth]

I use Red Sea salt because it is the only salt that I've used, & I've tried several, including Instant Ocean, that does not test for phosphates. It also mixes very well and seems to hold up better when stored.
Also, as long as your sand is not live, there should be no problem with mixing the salt in tank.

 

[nm reef]

I use Instant Ocean....read an artical several months ago about studies that compared the different brands and it indicated that Instant Ocean was as good as any other out there...and I test for phosphates and never have any...it is the brand I started with and the only I've used....personally I think its best to pick one and stick with it...all I've seen and heard indicates that they are all close enough to not make much of a difference

 

[car guy]

kent is the best, instant ocean isn't that good

 

[javajoe]

Originally posted by Car guy:
<STRONG>kent is the best, instant ocean isn't that good</STRONG>
Can you elaborate as to why you say this? Why do you feel that Kent is the best?
What is wrong with Instant Ocean?

 

[burnnspy]

I use Instant Ocean because it works and is inexpensive. The 2 best reasons to use anything as far as I know.
BurnNSpy

 

[car guy]

the reason i use kent, it has never tested for any phosphates, it has great buffering capabilities, and i get for wholesale price at the lfs i work at, and it doesn't lose it's "potency" after time, and mixes entirely so much better than instant ocean, which isn't as good as a buffer as KENT, it's your choice and my choice, only my 2 cents, i use kent and my store uses kent, i like it a lot better than instant ocean

 

[mr.marine]

I use and reccomend CORA LIFE salt mix. It has superb buffering qualities. In my opinion (with test to back me up) Cora Life makes the perfect salt water. My findings are that It instantly makes the ph, calcium and all other readings PERFECT. it disolves in a matter of seconds and ive kept it up to a full 10 months but im sure it can last longer. when i go to buy salt price is not a matter. i will always pay more for CORA LIFE, but it can also be found at lower prices or at the same price as other brands. Iv always used cora life and prob always will. What do U use now? Believe me Try CORA LIFE. The only brand i will ever use. keep us posted!
Mr.Marine

 

[reddog]

If you can get hold of some Tropic Marin then you should try it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

 

[joetst2]

I use Instant Ocean. The reason for my decision was based on the recommendation on the GARF website. They state that's the only salt mix they ever use and their reef tanks are AWESOME!!! That's good enough for me.

 

[von_rahvin]

I use instant ocean. never had any problems, tank is doing fine, saw no reason to change. I was fist told to use it by some friends of mine who have been doing reef tanks for a long time. they love it.

 

[y2says]

I use Coralife too. I think that if you stick with what you use, that's the best. That way it's balanced. I've heard that changing salt can lead to inbalance and unhealthy fish. Pick one and stay with it.

 

[kris walker]

Morton Iodized is the best.
sam

 

[thereefman52]

I use corallife also, my LFS Has the BEST deal you can get, what does one bag go for? 20 bucks?? well they sell the whole bucket with three bags in it, for 23 dollars!! and it comes wit a free t-shirt! haha

 

[y2says]

That's cheap!!! Over here in Seattle, it'll be $39 on sale. You know what I can do with the extra $16 bucks?

 

[javajoe]

Originally posted by Surfin Sam:
<STRONG>Morton Iodized is the best.
sam</STRONG>
That is a joke... right? table salt in your tank?
Anyway- Thanks to all for the suggestions, I think I am going to go with the Coralife- the prices are all pretty close at the stores here, so price doesn't make too much difference....
Thanks everyone!

 

[goldfish]

I use IO and have a slight phosphate problem. I have a fowlr tank so the high phosphates are not really that big of a deal, but would they be coming from the salt? I use ro water when I do water changes. I never thought that the salt has phosphates???

 

[salisbury a d]

Not sure about morton iodized salt in a reef tank by my science teacher who was a sea mammal trainer at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut said that is what they used in the dolphin, and baluga whale tank.
As for me I use Marine Mix.
It was recamended from and bought from a friend who takes care of local business aquariums.
It has no phosphates nitrates nitrites or ammonia.
It also has kept my tank at a stable 8.2 ph.
Adam

 

[zack schwartz]

Has anyone used marine enviroment befor. That is what my lfs sells. It is $13 a bag. A bag is 25 gall. Sound to chep to you?

 

[adrian]

I use instant ocean, same reason as above, cheap and it works, been using it for 5 years