What salt do you use?

[EmilyB]

Kent

[scub steve]

IO here but i cant seem to grow anything so i dont know how good my input is

[fresh]

we should have a count of how many times this question gets asked each month just being an a$$

[OCDP]

IO

Switching to Reef Crystals though.

[danny zubot]

Reef crystals here. I stopped using tracing elements and other vitamin type suppliments because RC has more of everything you need.

[Matt]

From my reading, IO, Reef Crystals, and Kent salts are all made by the same manufacturer (Aquarium Systems), and apparently test very similarly.

All the subjective considerations of which salt to use are inconsequential, since I doubt any of us have the analytical tools or experience to objectively compare mixes -- especially over a large enough sample to be relevant.

All the major mixes seem to have created successes for many reefers, and pick any mix and you'll find a reasonable number of folks who have switched because another is apparently better.

Availability, price and marketing ability aren't the best measure, IMO.

I use Red Sea, because it was the first one I bought.

[Murminator]

Red Sea.....cause B.A recomeded it

[Bob I]

Red Sea because the price was right. When that is gone I will use Kent because I have a pail of it.

[rickjames]

Originally Posted by Matt

From my reading, IO, Reef Crystals, and Kent salts are all made by the same manufacturer (Aquarium Systems), and apparently test very similarly.

Not entirely true. IO is formulated to mix with an "average" amount of minerals in water (i.e. tap water). Kent and others are formulated to mix with RO/DI water.

If you mix IO with RO/DI water you end up with about 330 ppm calcium, depending on the specific gravity of the water, and a lower alkalinity.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by rickjames

Not entirely true. IO is formulated to mix with an "average" amount of minerals in water (i.e. tap water). Kent and others are formulated to mix with RO/DI water.

If you mix IO with RO/DI water you end up with about 330 ppm calcium, depending on the specific gravity of the water, and a lower alkalinity.

Sources? The Aquarium Systems website suggests that it is Reef Crystals that is formulated for tapwater use. The infamous S-15 Report (which uses apparently valid analysis for the mixes, although the scoring system that the sponsor uses to determine what's "best" is completely subjective and self-serving), shows that IO, Kent and RC are all substantially similar, nothwithstanding the marketing data.