Salt-Mix Survey

[Jason McKenzie]

Yes After 4 years I've dragged this thread up and refreshed the poll.

So what salt are you using and why?

J

[muecyl]

Georgia's aquarium used 750 -2,000 lb sacks of Instant Ocean at a total of 1.5 million lbs of of Instant Ocean. I don't know if that means anything... but if it is good enough for them it is good enough for my tank

[BB23]

Basically, i've used instant ocean all of my life, it mixes well, it tastes amazing haha jk (Although ive gotten a mouthful once ....good times with water changes ) Overall reliable product.

[Otty]

Instant Ocean for the price!

[jtReef]

I also use instant ocean as well. Plus it is easy to get the industrial sized box that does 200 gallons for less than the bucket that only makes 160 gal. I believe I pay about 32 dollars for 200 gal. And the big box actually has 4 smaller bags of 50 gal each which is nice. I used to always get pissed when moisture would get into the bucket making the entire salt mix hard as rock and needing a drill bit or chisel to break it up again.

[Jason McKenzie]

So how many of you perform water quality tests on your newly mixed water before you put it in your tank?
Beyond SG and temp. Do you measure CA ALK and Mag?

I have found over the last few months that several salts lack the consistency that would like from bag to bag or bucket to bucket.
Currently I have found my ALK to be mixing a 4dKH Far below the desired 8. useing Ocean pure Pro.
I find Kent Salt to be very dirty
so for now I will be using Tropic Marin Pro. Newly mixed measures
CA 410
ALK 8
PH 8.3
Mag 1400
That is at sg 1.026 79F

[inwall75]

Originally Posted by Jason McKenzie

So how many of you perform water quality tests on your newly mixed water before you put it in your tank?
Beyond SG and temp. Do you measure CA ALK and Mag?

All salt mixes are bad...pick your poison. If you aren't testing for these basic elements prior to doing a waterchange, you should be.

[Urban_s]

I have been using IO for a while. I have switched over to another brand....can't remember for a bucket( it was cheap).

[muecyl]

Originally Posted by jtReef

I also use instant ocean as well. Plus it is easy to get the industrial sized box that does 200 gallons for less than the bucket that only makes 160 gal. I believe I pay about 32 dollars for 200 gal. And the big box actually has 4 smaller bags of 50 gal each which is nice. I used to always get pissed when moisture would get into the bucket making the entire salt mix hard as rock and needing a drill bit or chisel to break it up again.

I'm glad Im not the only one who has had the problem with the IO bucket and moister, it becomes so flipping hard!!!!! your not joke'n when you say you need a chisel either!

[nemo79]

I use IO as well but I hear that the Kent sea salt is actually geared towards reef tanks and IO is made more for FO. I was thinking of changing but I am leery of any ill affects changing salt would do to my tank.