[surgeonfish]

welcome aboard dcmoore;

As you are probably noticing after reading all the posts, there is a lot of difference in opinion regarding most aspects of this hobby which adds to its fascination. You would think that simulating natural sea water would be the best for your SW tank. However, we have small closed systems which results in rapid depletion of several minerals and trace elements in the water. Therefore, it may be better to increase the dose of calcium, magnesium etc. so the levels don't fall below physiological levels too quickly. However, if you have a fish only system then probably cheaper salt like IO may be perfect for you. However, if you are planning on having a reef tank then I would start with a more expensive salt that has higher levels of Ca and Mg which means you have to spend less to supplement these. Pick one brand of salt that is easily available and stick with it (if you are happy with it). This is good for consistency and will let you become familiar with the characteristics of that brand of salt. Regular water changes are also important to keep the mineral and trace element levels in the appropriate ranges.

Happy reefing,
Shane