Reefers Best Salt

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

Wow, before making comments like this, you should ask what I do and how I manage my setup... Who said I only do water changes! It sure wasn't me! yes I am running full Zeo, no I don't use Reefers best salt.... You don't have to, to be running full Zeo.

I test and dose for trace, strontium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and so forth... So yes, there is alot involved (in alot of cases, daily maintenance), especially as I don't run any Kalk reactors or dosing pumps, so it is a manual process for me (of which I like it this way) Don't assume, AS YOU ARE WRONG!

I get quit peaved of the ignorance of some. When I comment, it is to give my perspective (Right or Wrong), what has worked for me, what has failed... Always to often, people take what is said and bash... Take my advice and others for what it is, then decide for yourself what you wish to do with it or use in your own aquarium setup... There is never any reason for posts like this one from JDigital

I argued the claim of your tanks success was because of your salt choice, when in fact it could be any number of reasons which.... You just clarified what you hadn't mentioned earlier. That you have an extensive dosing regiment. Did I make an assumption? You bet! And I was RIGHT.

Our tank success doesn't just come down to the brand of salt, as you have clearly stated that you have a daily maintenance routine (quite extensive even) to manage your levels. All of these things weigh in to affect the tanks quality. So why back a product so strongly when the success could be from so many differing factors? (Zeo, dosing regiment, feeding, etc)

I have tested the salts I've used against each other as well and found that RC was lacking in CA and Alk from other brands that I have used since. With RC I had to dose my water change water just to get it to match my tank... with other salts, specifically Aquamedic and H2Ocean, my WC water is about as close to my tank levels as I'm gonna get which saves me from having to dose WC water AND my tank. That translates into savings on my dosing products. A bucket of salt @ $90 bucks lasts far longer than my dosing products which cost $15-25/bottle.


PS: Don't get me started on ignorance.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

I am currently using B-Ionic 2 part but was going to switch to bulk powder form as you correctly stated that it is much cheaper. Have you by any chance tried the mix your own 2 part from Bulk Reef Supply? It says that the kit makes about 8 gallons + 4 gallons of magnesium for about $60, it sounds like a good deal but I haven't tried it myself.

I personally haven't used this product, but am interested in others reviews on it.

I am using the following in crystal form:
Seachem Reef Advantage Calcium - 1KG for $23.80 @ JL
Seachem Reef Advantage Magnesium - 2.2KG for $22.55 @ JL
Seachem Reef Advantage Strontium - 1KG for $12.60 @ JL
Tailored Aquatics Pottassium, Zeovit K-Balance - use a combination of both, mostly Zeo, but when extra needed, dosing with Tailored Aquatics, mainly because I have a big bottle, and don't want to waste it.

I can say the above will make alot more than the other stuff, for less money... I can't say how what you asked about is different, but what I use works well.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by JDigital

I argued the claim of your tanks success was because of your salt choice, when in fact it could be any number of reasons which.... You just clarified what you hadn't mentioned earlier. That you have an extensive dosing regiment. Did I make an assumption? You bet! And I was RIGHT.

Our tank success doesn't just come down to the brand of salt, as you have clearly stated that you have a daily maintenance routine (quite extensive even) to manage your levels. All of these things weigh in to affect the tanks quality. So why back a product so strongly when the success could be from so many differing factors? (Zeo, dosing regiment, feeding, etc)

I have tested the salts I've used against each other as well and found that RC was lacking in CA and Alk from other brands that I have used since. With RC I had to dose my water change water just to get it to match my tank... with other salts, specifically Aquamedic and H2Ocean, my WC water is about as close to my tank levels as I'm gonna get which saves me from having to dose WC water AND my tank. That translates into savings on my dosing products. A bucket of salt @ $90 bucks lasts far longer than my dosing products which cost $15-25/bottle.


PS: Don't get me started on ignorance.

I never stated that my success was solely on salt, again you assume that I made that claim... You are correct, a successful tank has a variant of things involved.

If you are using liquid form for dosing, that is where you went wrong... that way is always more expensive (I too learned the hard way in the beginning). I now use crystal form (where possible), as I stated in a previously post, costs are very minimal and you get a large volume out of it... Now you have to prepare it, but that is ok with me. you pay much more for liquids for the convenience factor.

Your comments about backing a product... Again I am just stating that I use Reef Crystals and it works well for me, so I don't pay extra for the more expensive salt... you are reading much more into things than needed.

Everyone remember this, what works for one individual, may not work for others... Everyone has different views, and that is all it is, Views... Take what info you wish and roll with it and make your own decisions.

lets move forward!

[imisky]

Originally Posted by intarsiabox

No better eh? I'm using Seachem Reef Salt right now and it's OK but I don't like my alk readings from it. Also even with 2-pt dosing my corals are growing very slow IMO so I thought I would try something new. What brand are you using now? Seems like I should just go back to IO and continue dosing.

Ive been using seachem for a good year now and i love the stuff, alk comes out constantly at 9dkH as long as u mix the bucket before you scoop and its also within the zeovit parameters in terms of alk, alot of people on the zeo forum actually use it on there system instead of RBS. You have a good salt and as stated by all the others the salt is not what makes the tank, there's about a hundred other factors that contribute. imo...salt is just salt, eventually your tank will stabilize at a set of parameters before you have to start dosing and if you can get it to constantly stay at that "magical number" parameter then you got it. you'll end up dosing anyways....so an expensive salt is just that...an expensive salt go for what you feel your moneys worth and if its the $110 or whatever RBS costs then go for it!

[fragNplug]

Porches are the same as dodges then i suspect.
They both do forward and backwards, one just costs more??
Im on the side of you get what you payfor.
And seachem is still a good salt just reefers best probably drives alot faster.

[imisky]

Originally Posted by fragNplug

Porches are the same as dodges then i suspect.
They both do forward and backwards, one just costs more??
Im on the side of you get what you payfor.
And seachem is still a good salt just reefers best probably drives alot faster.

are porches and dodges both not cars(sounds like you are saying they are different)? if they arent then prove me wrong please
from talking to the reefers around who have used RBS i havent heard of a person who said that once they switched to RBS they got faster growth, more coraline algae, and more color. in fact most of them have switched back to whatever salt they were using before they switched as they found nothing different after using RBS, as they all had reactors or was auto-dosing 2 part to (and would be crazy if you didnt while doing SPS tanks)

just food for thought, if you are on the side of you get what you pay for, would using NSW collected a distance away from the coast be "slower" than the RBS when used? although i agree that RBS is probably one of the better brand salts out there, there are other brands which do just as good of a job with a few additives (Mg,Ca buff) before adding it into the tank and it'll be just as good imo..but thats just me

[fragNplug]

Originally Posted by imisky

although i agree that RBS is probably one of the better brand salts out there, there are other brands which do just as good of a job with a few additives (Mg,Ca buff) before adding it into the tank and it'll be just as good imo..but thats just me

im done here on this.

[fishytime]

Originally Posted by imisky

although i agree that RBS is probably one of the better brand salts out there, there are other brands which do just as good of a job with a few additives (Mg,Ca buff) before adding it into the tank and it'll be just as good imo..but thats just me

This is exactly the point......all salts will work.....with the less expensive brands, you will need to dose more... premium brands will cost more to begin with but you will need to dose less...plain and simple....independent studies have proven this...

[shrimpchips]

Has anyone tried the new Brightwell's salt? I'm wanting to try it (over my next choice DD), as apparently the mix is 100% synthetic, apparently assuring a more consistent mix from batch to batch.

As for quality of salts, I'm sure the difference between is a small one, but if that 5% or whatever difference is worth it to you, then go for it. I for one figure that the $30-$50 difference is a cheap one gallon to gallon considering the cost of just about everything else that's needed to maintain the tank.

For me, I'll pay to play with the more expensive salts - if they're worth the extra money for my system is my opinion, just like the justification for just about everything else that I buy/do to my system.

At the end of the day, if I'm happy with it, and not doing anything outwardly wrong, then to hell with all of your opinions

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by fishytime

This is exactly the point......all salts will work.....with the less expensive brands, you will need to dose more... premium brands will cost more to begin with but you will need to dose less...plain and simple....independent studies have proven this...

+1, Before Reefers Best what did you all use, and you would of said it was the best also, at that time... So I agree with FishyTime...

I use Reef Crystals, it works for me and I have a nice tank... I also state that is it the Best, probably/maybe not, but again it works for me, and yes I dose.

The problem with forums, and I am at fault at times also, is that everyone is so reactive to get their point of view in there, so much that it comes across as bashing... We all need to take a step back and remember that we are all in this hobby because we love it, and I don't think anyone here really wants to hurt anyone else. Everything is a point of view, right or wrong, and someones mistake can hopefully save someone else, but someones find can again help others.

Have fun all!