Salt mix dilemma: IO or Kent?
 

Well sorry to open up another thread regarding the saltmix but I got confused whether to buy IO or kent for my reef tank. They are just $10 difference so I am thinking whether getting kent would worth the extra $10 or should I stick to IO?

I've been using IO for years works fine for me

Yah I am using IO right now. I see people say that calcium is below 400ppm with IO but mine always read 440ppm with new mix. And since I am getting towards LPS in my tank and not willing to dose, I was thinking whether kent would be a better option since it has higher calcium, magnesium. Or else I will just stick to IO :D

i've always used IO. no issues..... but again... i smell a salt debate coming!

Looking forward to it :D

Last one I started was between IO and RC ($20 difference). Now I have started it between IO and Kent ($10 difference). :lol:

They are both the same salt different packages. It is distributed by global giant SSDP Salt Inc. They pretty much have the market cornered on marine salt. don't be fooled.

Aha I see.

Someone reported this with kent salt:

Specific Gravity: 1.024 - 1.026
pH: 8.2 to 8.3
Calcium: 550 to 575 ppm
Magnesium: 1,350 to 1,450 ppm

I though people try to keep calcium level around 450ppm but this salt give 550ppm+. Is that too much? This figure is actually making me rethink about kent and get IO.

nopw ask if it was read after he rolled the new buckets around or not?!

oh ya stay away stay away 550 way too high

Got it from an old thread :P

Great. Then IO it is. I will get a frag with the extra $10 :P

catastrophe averted, that was close.

Haha :P

i use table salt....... works great , have used it for years(although there are cases of overdosing)....i dont roll the box, they roll weird.

ive never tested it ...but it taste great:)

hth

you can add milk for extra calcium:P

HA!!!! nice touch Denny!!!!

No salt mixes at 575ppm Ca. IO and Kent are comparable, but not the same. But either is fine, and based on price, go with IO. Have you yet come up with a reason to NOT use IO?? You keep asking about replacements, not sure what you find wrong about the salt.
Seriously, stop reading salt threads and buy want you want. Add it to your tank. If, after a long while, you come up with a reason it isn't working, look for salt threads again.

you do have a point Brad!

:biggrin::lol:

Yah I should stop reading those threads. Extremely confusing and that's why I always end up bugging people over here:redface:

Or calcium tablets perhaps :p

You're not bugging anyone but yourself :) Really, just stop messing with things. IO is great and the majority of reefers use it. It's fine. So unless you have a reason to not use it, stop worrying about salt.

Well the salt is suppose to be a gift to me from my sister-in-law and she got me salinity :P There goes all the IO, RC, kent confusion :P

It snows there, right? I'd use that to melt the ice on the driveway :) It costs more, and IMO, is not as good as IO (or table salt :))

Nah I don't have to take care of the drive way; landlord does :P But yah it is an expensive salt. Oh well it is a gift. Can't complain now :redface: All my researches kinda went down the drain though :P

I would trade it at the LFS for IO if possible, since you're probably going to want to use IO after that bucket is gone, just for cost.

Aha. I will look into that. Thanks for the tip :D

Yep, I agree "If it ain't broke don't keep trying to fix it". :silly: LOL!!