Looking back to your reefing roots: Did you start with Instant Ocean salt?

[PapaFishRocks]

I have a million empty reef crystals buckets. I’ll never change

I do miss having extra empty buckets. So handy for so many things.

Using ESV now, so no more buckets

 

[Sleeping Giant]

started and still use it

 

[rc8t6353]

Started with it. Now I'm using RPM Pro.

 

[Troylee]

Still use it mixed with reef crystals.

 

[1112-425XL]

Then and now

 

[ReefShaQ]

yeah that’s why I get the bucket of reef crystals. Airtight lid. Got a box once, had a brick of salt after a few mixes. Very humid where I am

Its always muggy and humid where I am also...good to know that the buckets are better to use!

 

[Gtinnel]

Reef crystals is all I’ve ever used although I have considered switching to the basic instant ocean if I ever catch it on a good sale.

 

[nano reef]

Astonishing that 86% started with IO! I will never go back once I change to Fritz! Its clears in 20 minute while I0 would take all day! Sometimes I wonder if the switch is why I am more successful but could be that I was a rookie back in my IO days! lol

 

[14 foot reef]

Been using Instant Ocean since my first 40 gallon saltwater tank back in 1987, Still use it today. The only time I ever used anything but Instant Ocean was when I had my collecting facility in Hawaii and we used Natural Sea Water.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

my first salt was Kent Marine. It had crazy high dKH but that’s what was the thing at that point. It came in a 7 gallon bucket which was a nice bucket to use after. Switched instant ocean (OG, not reef crystals) and have used it almost exclusively. I have used RS blue bucket from time to time, especially if I’m doing a huge water change, like when I set up my new tank which was 1/2 old tank water and 1/3 fresh.

Otherwise, IO for about 17 years

 

[Formulator]

Reef crystals since the start. 8 years now. If it ain't broke don’t fix it!

 

[SunnyX]

Started with it, and 25 years later am still using it(Reef Crystals). I have never had a reason to change brands. It simply works.

-Sonny

 

[smitten with ocean life]

io is what i started out with but was battling high alk. was told by an ''expert'' to switch to red sea. so i did. it took care of my problem, but i have to order it and its more expensive. miss being able to just run into the LFS snd pick up my salt...

 

[Reef By Steele]

I started with IO with fish only tanks. Moved to Reef Crystals when I started a reef. Use Fritz Blue box now.

 

[rdirtytwo]

I started my nano with IO reef crystals a year ago and I've been using it since. I've probably had one bad mix (it was probably my fault, humidity caused clumping) towards the end of the bucket.

 

[Brazilian Reefer]

Never used it before. I started with Fauna Marin, then switched to Tropic Marin, changed to Red Sea (blue bucket), one of the best salts in my opinion, and now I use a Brazilian salt (MBreda) that I really appreciate.

 

[lbacha]

It was pretty much all that was available when I started over 30 years ago

 

[Kenhill82]

My local LFS has a tank with premixed saltwater, so I used theirs! Not sure which salt they use.

 

[rc8t6353]

Astonishing that 86% started with IO! I will never go back once I change to Fritz! Its clears in 20 minute while I0 would take all day! Sometimes I wonder if the switch is why I am more successful but could be that I was a rookie back in my IO days! lol

The clearing time with Fritz is very fast. Comes in clutch when you need to make salinity adjustments

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Looking back to your reefing roots: Did you start with Instant Ocean salt?

Regardless of what salt you use now, many reef keepers started with Instant Ocean. This seems to be true whether you have started reefing recently or have been in the hobby a long time. As a side note, many years ago Instant Ocean used to have a saltwater fish facility in Florida where I had the privilege of seeing the hatchery and meeting the founder many years ago. No matter how long you have been in the hobby and no matter what salt you use now, did you start with Instant Ocean salt? Bonus points for anyone else who wants to reminisce about the Instant Ocean fish facility!!! Also, please let us know if you have ever bought more than six boxes or buckets of salt at one time!

Photo by @Brett S


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.tidalgardens.com

“The goal of Tidal Gardens is to offer the highest quality corals to those seeking a piece of that world without destroying it. We hope to instill a deep appreciation for the natural reefs and help develop a self-sustaining hobby that no longer requires the collection of fish and corals.”

I think I started with Rila Marine Mix in 1968.