Salt mixes/brands: What is everyone currently using?

[00W]

Red sea blue bucket currently just switched from long term IO purple bucket usage due to red sea mixing faster.
I have no issue with IO and have a full bucket in the closet.

 

[mrpontiac80]

I started with and still use Fritz RPM blue. Mixes fast and clean. My LFS keeps it in stock too. Unfortunately the price has been going up considerably like everything else though.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Reef crystals, and I just adjust mag before water changes

 

[Snoopy 67]

I have used various salts in the past with bigger tanks.
Now it's a 100 gallon.
@ only a 5 gallon weekly water change I have gone with ESV & can make my own parameters.

 

[Sdbuehler1]

I have been using Tropic Marin Pro for the last 2.5 years on a 20 gallon and 100 gallon mixed reef. It mixes well and works great but the alkalinity is low (as expected for tm pro) I just switched to Red Sea blue because it’s cheaper and closer to the alkalinity that I want to maintain. It will probably be a month or so before I see if there are any differences.

 

[The new fish on the block]

I started with and still use Fritz RPM blue. Mixes fast and clean. My LFS keeps it in stock too. Unfortunately the price has been going up considerably like everything else though.

Same here and yep, I wish it would back down to the $65 a box that it used to be.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I'm wondering the same thing. I was using it for a while and now I cant find it at any of my LFS. I went back to IO, but I really liked the fritz salt. It mixed quick and clean.

I've been finding it on chewy

 

[Doctorgori]

whatever is cheapest …

I/O orange and purple buckets
Fritz Blue
Red Sea
HW (whatever that is, All I know is I got 3 boxes)

I’m not sure making a 10% water change using any brand makes a hill of difference

Added: BTW does anyone actually have conclusive data? or has anyone even kept a log?or are we going by “my corals looked better”
At least tell us what you are basing your opinion on …

…3 decades reefing and I’ve yet to notice one dang difference in salt brands other than mixing clear or not

 

[crazyfishmom]

Using Reef Actif. I have found it to be great when setting up an aquarium and adding coral on day 1. Was using Reef Pro also from Tropic Marin prior to this. Also a great mix. Have used reef crystals in the past, did not like the calcium and magnesium numbers.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

whatever is cheapest …

I/O orange and purple buckets
Fritz Blue
Red Sea
HW (whatever that is, All I know is I got 3 boxes)

I’m not sure making a 10% water change using any brand makes a hill of difference

Added: BTW does anyone actually have conclusive data? or has anyone even kept a log?or are we going by “my corals looked better”
At least tell us what you are basing your opinion on …

…3 decades reefing and I’ve yet to notice one dang difference in salt brands other than mixing clear or not

I see amazing tanks on the wwc videos where they go and spot light personal home reefs and many are using reef crystals. I've always used reef crystals and don't think I'll change. I just waited out the 90.00 buckets until sales come around and stocked up. I always have 6 months or more water changes in reserve.

 

[CO2TLEY]

Fritz RPM Pro, i was using Red Sea blue bucket before that

 

[Doctorgori]

Have used reef crystals in the past, did not like the calcium and magnesium numbers.

Thank you, finally a valid reason….
btw, sorta related but I’ve been running lower alk numbers around 7.8 - 8.0 … I have yet to journal anything but if I can be forgiven for being a hypocrite it just “feels/looks” better …. I’ve had big issues running over 12dKH but can’t honestly put my finger on any single cause other than high dKH

 

[crazyfishmom]

Thank you, finally a valid reason….
btw, sorta related but I’ve been running lower alk numbers around 7.8 - 8.0 … I have yet to journal anything but if I can be forgiven for being a hypocrite it just “feels/looks” better …. I’ve had big issues running over 12dKH but can’t honestly put my finger on any single cause other than high dKH

I found it challenging to maintain stability when I was using reef crystals. Every time I mixed a new batch my parameters were different when testing the fresh saltwater. Learned that I needed to stir the salt thoroughly. Started doing that and it got better but then I was dosing calcium and magnesium to get to the range I wanted to be in. And alkalinity was way higher than I wanted. I run my tanks at 9-9.5 dkh and my corals seem to do well with it there. If it swings up a little up or down it seems to be a fairly safe range. I’ve been thinking about dropping down a little to ~8 but if it isn’t a problem I don’t know whether I should.

 

[TheWB]

I was using Nyos but for the last 4+ months it seems to be out of stock everywhere so have switched back to Tropic Marine Pro. I was using Red Sea Coral Pro but didn't like the brown residue it left behind in my mixing containers.

I am thinking a oth switching to Two Little Fishies since they are reputable and I like the idea of using 50 gallon small bags. That would save time spend on measuring. I don't know if it will will the same brown residue issues as the lower priced salts.

I have been using the Two Little Fishies salt since 2019 with no problems. It mixes very clean (no brown residue) and very quickly. It also comes in convenient small pouches that mix to my preferred parameters in 4.5 gallons of water. I use two pouches for a weekly-ish 9 gallon water change from a water volume of 70 gallons in my current display. Couldn't be easier, no measuring the salt and it mixes up the same every time, it's very consistent. Target dkh is around 8 so if you like it higher you'd need to supplement.

 

[gbroadbridge]

whatever is cheapest …

…3 decades reefing and I’ve yet to notice one dang difference in salt brands other than mixing clear or not

Exactly what I found - which is why I just buy the cheapest and have no issue changing each time I buy.

Makes no difference to the tank or the animals inside.

I do keep a logbook

 

[merkmerk73]

NYOS, was using Tropic Marin Reef

I'm also using NYOS

Just an excellent salt. One of their best products I think, and an 'up and comer' salt.

 

[EVOL_LOVE]

I'm using Aqua forest cause it was really cheap on sale at BRS. I have 5 boxes of waterbox salt I bought for $30 a box cause it was on sale but I love the Fritz RPM blue. Wish it would go on sale again for $40 a box.

 

[LoneStarReef]

Yeah Fritz was my go to as I wanted to support the local brand (I live in TX) but the $85-$90 per box is getting hard to swallow. Might need to switch soon.

 

[Doctorgori]

outta the dozens of reef forums over the last 20 years there has gotta be a thread somewhere where somebody claimed the salt crashed their tank…
…. and likewise there has gotta be a thread somewhere where changing brands had some miracle effect …

but alas, I’ve never read one…only zillions of salt#1 vs salt#2 threads…

Anyone outside BRS have any substantial data with an actual biological study? that’s not a smart alec rhetorical question but a legit curiosity

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I'm also using NYOS

Just an excellent salt. One of their best products I think, and an 'up and comer' salt.

Another vote for NYOS.

When I first started out a couple decades ago it was Instant Ocean. With IO or IORC there always seems to be undissolved salt at the bottom of my 5 gallon pails. The brown residue/coating as very minimal but I always clean the pails between each use.

After watching a BRS video about the actual costs per gallon I decided to switch to NYOS, even though they were not included in their investigates video.

When mixing to 35ppt some more expensive salts actually are cheaper per gallon.

Also, I feel like IO's inclusion of additives to neutralize heavy metals in tap water isn't needed if you are using RODI water. This also made me wonder if their salt didn't also need the additives to neutralize contaminants it may have?

There may be no real differences as far as end results go but I do feel better about my salt choice.