Done with Reef Crystals

[gregzz4]

I have the same complaint you do with IO Regular

If you can get your hands on it;
I've used Red Sea Blue Bucket and the listed parameters were true in 2 buckets.
Here the cost is about 0.50 before tax for their claimed 175g bucket.
But @ 38.2grams/litre for 35ppt, math tells me the bucket will only yield 152g
So actual cost is around 0.57/g, based on their mixing instructions

Only reason I recommend it is because of their parameters @ 35ppt
No shock to your tank, just your wallet.

https://www.redseafish.com/red-sea-salts/red-sea-salt/

[Scythanith]

I second mseepman, AF reef salt is great and every batch is tested with results viewable online.

[lastlight]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Avoiding alk spikes def trumps savings. I'll look into your recommendations. Who sells blue bucket and AF in town? I only recall seeing red seas other 'pro' salt before.

[rayjay]

As there are many people using any of the salts available successfully, while others using the same salts have problems, it leads me to think the problems lie somewhere OTHER than the salt. If it was the salt, most people using that specific salt would have problems.

[FishyFishy!]

I have also used all of the above listed salts. The best i've found to mix and the happiest my tanks were, was with Fritz and Red Sea Blue Bucket. Red Sea also hits the parameters that i'm striving for right on the button.

AF - It's just ok, but I saw a noticeable decline in my tank after using it for a couple of months. Switched over to Red sea, and everything looked happy again. It also dosn't mix the best. Water stays cloudy for a while and the bucket lid rip[s your fingers to shreds.

Red Sea Blue Bucket - Mixes well, great parameters for LPS/SPS and now comes in a screw top bucket! (What I use Currently) - And Wai's in Calgary always has it, as well as other stores.

AV Salinity - Great bucket! But mixes poorly and burns your hands. The water also got crazy hot right after dumping in a large amount. Results in the tank were decent though. Corals seemed to like it. More on the expensive side.

Fritz - Crappy box, no bucket, can't ever find it in Calgary, but mixes awesome (crystal clear in seconds) and tank really seemed to like it. I used this on my old tank through 2 X 200 gallon boxes and corals seemed very happy.

IO and/or RC - Used this early in my reefing days and found the parameters to bounce all over the place, so I had to test them and adjust in my mixing barrels before adding it to the tank. The bucket lids also rip your fingers to shreds.

All in all, i'd say try out Red Sea Blue Bucket. Wai's in town always carries it.

[Piscez]

I switched to good old Kent approx 1 year ago and have had great results since, never will go back to IO, that being said I don't grow SPS.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by rayjay

As there are many people using any of the salts available successfully, while others using the same salts have problems, it leads me to think the problems lie somewhere OTHER than the salt.

To be fair I'm not complaining about anything other than the incredibly high Alk in the mix... and not every bucket I've had mixed super high to boot. I'd like consistency and parameters that match my own as closely as possible. The goal is stability and large swings (especially with Alk) aren't good. At least my corals tell me they aren't good. If I ran my tank at 11 dKH RC would be perfect most times I've mixed it.

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

All in all, i'd say try out Red Sea Blue Bucket. Wai's in town always carries it.

I think I'll give it a shot thanks =)

[crimper]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I have the same complaint you do with IO Regular

If you can get your hands on it;
I've used Red Sea Blue Bucket and the listed parameters were true in 2 buckets.
Here the cost is about 0.50 before tax for their claimed 175g bucket.
But @ 38.2grams/litre for 35ppt, math tells me the bucket will only yield 152g
So actual cost is around 0.57/g, based on their mixing instructions

Only reason I recommend it is because of their parameters @ 35ppt
No shock to your tank, just your wallet.

https://www.redseafish.com/red-sea-salts/red-sea-salt/

To me salt is salt, however they are not created equal. That is the same sentiment why I switched to the Redsea Blue Bucket due to the high Alk of IO.

I agree with Greg, I never have to deal with the Alk swing during water changes and what's advertised on the bucket is what I get each time. I maintain my Alk Around 7.7 and 8.0.

I've been using this for more than a year now. My acro dominated tank is a testament to that.

[msjboy]

Noticed canadacorals sells Tropic Marin and the Fritz salts. A lot of reefers now like the tropic Marin and their various additives as well in the USA. As for fritz, some reefers swear by them as well. They are suppliers to the large public aquariums the claim....and produce in limited product lines to be consistent with the chemistry.

[lastlight]

Picked up a bucket of the Red Sea Blue bucket today. I'll be sneaking a bit of my Reef Crystals into my next few water changes to use the rest of it up. If the parameters are consistently as advertised on the bucket I'll be very happy.