first reef tank - RO, DI & salt mix questions

[dcmoore]

Thanks everyone!

It turns out that an Aqua-Safe RO-DI system isn't as expensive as I thought. They sell them on eBay for $85 US including shipping. Compare that to $45 for the Aquarium Pharmaceuticals tap water filter and the choice seems obvious.

I would like to understand the differences in the salt mixes. Instant Ocean doesn't say too much about theirs. Kent and Seachem both talk about enhanced levels, i.e. greater than found in natural seawater, which puzzles me. Is this a good thing? It appears that Tropic Marin simply replicates natural seawater which sort of makes sense to me, keeping in mind of course, that I've never had a reef tank.

"Kent Sea Salt contains enhanced buffer levels and enhanced levels of important minerals, such as calcium, strontium, iodine, iron, cobalt, rubidium, lithium and many others."

"Seachem's Reef Salt will support and promote enhanced calcium and alkalinity stability for those wishing to maintain calcium above Natural Sea Water (NSW) levels (400 mg/L) as well as providing NSW levels of bromide (65 mg/L)."

"Tropic Marin Sea Salt contains all 70 trace elements in the natural concentrations of the ocean. No more, no less."