Is it safe to switch up the salt you use in your tank?

[Kostas]

Is it a good thing to switch up the brand of salt you buy for your reef tank?

I’ve been using ‘instant ocean’ salt for years now… was down to one bucket and went to buy more and they were all sold out, so I got two buckets of ‘oceanic salt’.

Now should I mix a little from both buckets when I make up a bucket for a water change? Or just use it till its gone then go back to my regular stuff when it comes in

I think I recall reading about a horror story where someone switched salt brands and corals were dying in their tank due to that?

[sphelps]

Switch it slow, even then you'll probably notice some effects of the new salt, some may be good but there will be bad. Switching salt usually isn't the best idea, especially when you've used one kind for years.

[TJSlayer]

I think that if your usinging it during water changes you'll be fine as you are basically doing a slow switch over like that anyway. I also can't see it hurting anything to mix the two dry and do that as well.

Unless of course your doing more than 50% water changes you should be just fine...
TJ

[TJSlayer]

On another note I have never used oceanic salt so I don't know anything about it's quality either, so there will be differences in what trace elements it has as well which will probably make the corals react a little at least.....

As Steve said good or bad....

[jasond]

I switched to Tropic Marine Pro from IO, and just switched doing my weekly 5 gallon water changes. I did not notice anything change good or bad with the slow change (other than dosing less )

[Trigger Man]

In the past year I've done 4 switches in salt brands and found no ill effects on my tank. When I switch salts I am doing a 15-18 % water change, so it is mixing with the current salt in the tank.

[jasond]

Originally Posted by Trigger Man

In the past year I've done 4 switches in salt brands and found no ill effects on my tank. When I switch salts I am doing a 15-18 % water change, so it is mixing with the current salt in the tank.

So which is your favorite? Why?

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by Trigger Man

In the past year I've done 4 switches in salt brands and found no ill effects on my tank. When I switch salts I am doing a 15-18 % water change, so it is mixing with the current salt in the tank.

You're lucky, I've seen tanks crash from this.

[untamed]

Originally Posted by Trigger Man

In the past year I've done 4 switches in salt brands and found no ill effects on my tank. When I switch salts I am doing a 15-18 % water change, so it is mixing with the current salt in the tank.

R

Similar experience here. I've moved from Ocean Pure Pro (1 yr) to Seachem (6 months) to Reefers Best (2 weeks). 10% water changes every week. While I have observed some mixing/measuring differences between the salts, I have not observed any changes to coral/fish colours/behaviours as a result of any of the changes.