Considering a salt switch

[rk4435]

I am considering a switch from Tropic Marin Pro to Reef Crystals for the sole purpose of saving money.

Has anyone else done so. I'm not sure what to expect if I do so. I imagine an algae bloom might be in order.

Nonetheless, both have good reviews and reef crystals are much more affordable.

 

[project1004]

I also grab a box of reef cristals today at Pure reef. I am making a change from instant ocean and like to see the result. I have some instant ocean salt left so I am planning on mixing them together for last two water changes coming. My mag is kinda on the lower end so I hope this will help.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

If you want higher Mg...switch to Kent. I think it's the highest on the market. As for Reef Crystals....I didn't see any noticeable difference between it and Instant Ocean (didn't really surprise me either). I did see a bit of a difference when I brought in Red Sea Pro. So if you're really after savings...drop all the way to Instant Ocean. You may have to dose a bit to maintain a couple of the elements but if you're doing weekly water changes, it would probably be just fine.

 

[mikesmith34]

I switched from Red Sea pro to plain Jane IO and my tank has done great. Should have started saving that money along time ago. I took that advice from some old time reefers on here and could not be happier.

 

[rk4435]

I used Tropic Marin in the beginning and eventually switched to TM Pro hoping that I would be able to quit dosing. That worked out fine. The savings to Reef Crystals would be big for me, but I will look into regular IO as well.

 

[mikesmith34]

rk4435;989764 wrote: I used Tropic Marin in the beginning and eventually switched to TM Pro hoping that I would be able to quit dosing. That worked out fine. The savings to Reef Crystals would be big for me, but I will look into regular IO as well.

I do dose but you can use a lot of 2 part with that savings

 

[tonymission]

I'm in love with ESV salt so I'm the wrong guy to ask...

 

[redstang]

I'm debating dropping down to IO from RC or moving up to Salinity. May also make a somewhat lateral move to one of Seachem's lower end salts. Like to support local'ish companies as much as possible and especially sponsors.

 

[project1004]

I been using IO for few years with great results. I think it's great salt. I used salinity before that for about year and half but couldn't justify the price although I can tell it's much better salt than IO. ANd Red sea Pro for about an year. I figure the diffrence of $7.00 from IO to RC must have some benefits coming from same company.

I'm still am dosing 3 part least once a week even with calcium reactor. I am planning on dosing it with RC as well.

 

[bluespot]

One thing to keep in mind about savings is how much of your salt mix you will have to use to reach the salinity you prefer for your tank. If I remember correctly IO suggests a half cup per gallon for a salinity of 1.022 so you need more than that for 1.025 or 1.026. I believe it is similar with RC. With the Red Sea Pro I am using, a half cup gets me 1.025 or so (probably due to the smaller grain size). But I haven't done the math to see how much it eats into the savings by going with the I/O or RC. I just seem to remember that my 200 gallon IO salt mix always got me about 175-180g. The Red Sea comes in a 175g size and I get about 175g. The IO is still cheaper just not as cheaper as I initially thought. There is a reason so many people use IO and RC especially in large tanks.

 

[glxtrix]

I've been an IO user for 10 years...love it. I ran salinty for a bit and liked it, but ended going back to the basic stuff. fwiw....I'll never buy Kent...I've known too many people who have had bad batches of salt from them.

 

[mikesmith34]

I think il is 1/2 cup to gallon for 1.025. I use io and I mix to 1/2 per and it comes out dead on????

 

[bluespot]

I may be the one spouting off wrong info as I am going by my notes I still have from my first tank when I was using IO. I havent used IO in nearly 8 years and things may have changed with the mix or something? I always got 1.022-1.023 when I was using it and so did many others I know including the lfs. A level half cup and 2 tablespoons always got me to 1.025 which was the highest salinity recommended to me back then. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely not bashing the salt or the savings. I used it for several years then RC.

 

[mcphock]

rk4435;989739 wrote: I imagine an algae bloom might be in order.

Curious. Why?

Reef Crystals aren't as affordable as everyone thinks their directions on the box only get you a salinity of 1.021. Really, you get 180 gallons out of a 200 gallon box to make water a natural seawater density. If you price that out per gallon, it comes to only a few cents more per gallon to get Salinity.

Now, that being said, I also use RC. Salinity seemed to give me batches where the entire brute can I mixed up turned cloudy white. I suppose something was precipitating out.

 

[bcavalli]

I buy mine from drsfostersmith.com.

 

[bcavalli]

I did want to mention that they use reef crystals at the Atlanta Aquarium in their entire system.

 

[ff337]

I have been using reef crystals for a couple years now. RSCP prior. I am not very happy with reef crystals. I have tested the last 3 batches from 3 different boxes, 3 different bags. All times the KH was 5.3-7 (hanna and red sea pro kit). Calcium was avg 420 and magnesium was avg 1380. All at 1.026 with newly calibrated refractometer using the same light source. :confused2:

Argument: Just increase the kh with 2 part alk. Great. That fixes alk, but what about the trace minerals, etc that I don't test for that companies promise.

I want a salt that I don't have to dose anything during a water change to keep balance for my sps dominate tank. I will likely be returning to RSCP. I prefer a higher kh (9-11) and IME RSCP provided great results.

 

[enderg60]

Ive tried Tropic marine, TM Pro, sea chem reef salt, salinity, RC and IO.

I see zero difference between RC and IO, salinity is a bit better but too much of a hassle to get the big drums for a good price. TM was not worth it at all.

I use IO and have for the past 4 years now. I upped my water changes from 1 to 5 gallons a day and just increased my 3 part dosing rates to keep up.

I calculated how much I was spending on dosing along with the salt and it still comes out about the same and buying salinity in the barrel which I still had to dose some.

 

[tonymission]

Find it amazing that no one else uses the four part ESV mix. Full control over parameters and a 10 minute mix. Ready to go, no residue, no rolling buckets around to mix up components. Consistency in mix is amazing, you could do 100% water changes.

 

[ff337]

I want a product that works, with zero hype. There are tons of products that often come out, promising the world, but are often let downs.

If the solution is continue using a salt and dosing a little bit, great. I just don't want to keep using the same brand that mixes inconsistently.

Tony, that salt on marine depot is almost triple what I am using now. What I am doing works, but aggravating. For the price, I can handle aggravation.