switching salt soon

[Myka]

Imo a salt is a salt is a salt is a salt. I've tried pretty much everything, although I haven't tried Reefer's Best...$100 for salt?? Seriously?? That's why! All kidding aside, of all the salts I have tried I have noticed a difference in my tank or my corals. I started off my reefing life with Instant Ocean...it was the only one I even knew of. Over the years I have tried a new salt here and there, usually for a year at a time, but I have always tended to go back to Instant Ocean because I see no difference in my tank, so what justifies the extra cost? Every other salt I have ever tried I still need to add chemicals to bump up calcium, or magnesium, or potassium...never alkalinity though, the manufacturers seem to have that one covered!

About 8 months ago I felt the urge to try a new salt again. I was lured by Deltec's natural H2Ocean seasalt. I figured well, if anything would perform different it would be natural versus synthetic, no? I was also lured by the reportedly acceptable parameters including the lower alkalinity of 9 dKH compared to 11dKH out of the Instant Ocean bucket. Not to mention the rumor of not having to add chemicals to the fresh batch of saltwater! *gasp*

So here I am 8 months later still using H2Ocean, still noticing no difference in my reef. Dangit, I fell for the advertising AGAIN! I do appreciate the 9 dKH alkalinity of H2Ocean as I can perform larger water changes without throwing the balance out of whack, but I still have to add chemicals to the water change water! I add magnesium and potassium. So what am I paying for? Less alkalinity? Oh, a sucker I am!

So, anyway...my point is I don't think it matters which salt you use. It is reported by many Zeovit users that H2Ocean is a perfectly acceptable salt to use with the Zeovit methods, but of course Reefer's Best is always recommended.

You suggest you are using an "algae-based system", but you mention a Zeovit-based bacteria system. Are you just wondering if the RB salt is specially formulated for the Zeo method and therefore wouldn't be acceptable salt for the algae-based system?

RB salt is in fact specially formulated for the Zeovit system. Zeolites (and any other brand of those "rocks") absorb many nutrients and elements including potassium. RB salt is made (among other things) with elevated potassium level to make up for that. As well, RB salt has a lower alkalinity of about 7 dKH to match that suggested of the Zeovit system.

Does this make RB salt incompatible with a typical reef system? No, it is just another salt. It will work perfectly fine, and if all rumors are true (I haven't tested myself), a person using RB salt wouldn't have to add any chemicals to the water change water. Wait a sec, I heard the same thing about H2Ocean!

Anyway, use whichever salt you want! What brand were you using before?

[globaldesigns]

I agree with Myka,

I changed to Reefers Best salt about 4 months ago, I haven't seen anything different. Before that I was using Reef Crystals.

I have been having some issues with corals, not sure why, but things dying... Not saying it is the salt, as I was having this issue before changing, thus the reason I am trying Reefers Best. But I can say it hasn't fixed anything for me.

I will say that RB mixes nicer than RC, much cleaner and less residue on the bottom after making the water. So I guess it is a purer salt mixture.

[fencer]

+1 for Ms M
Although I do try and find a salt with higher potassium(coralife)

or I could supplement I/O with gator aid

[Myka]

Originally Posted by fencer

+1 for Ms M
Although I do try and find a salt with higher potassium(coralife)

or I could supplement I/O with gator aid

I just dose potassium. It's cheap. I have yet to find a salt that doesn't need magnesium dosing. I haven't tried RB though.

[randallino]

Myka,
What are using for magnesium dosing?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by randallino

Myka,
What are using for magnesium dosing?

8.5 parts Fauna Marin Magnesium chloride balling salt
1 part Epsom salt

[daniella3d]

I started with IO and had very good result with it but had to dose for calcium/magnesium and alkalinity. Then I switched to Red See coral pro in hope I would not have to dose but I still had to the same amount practicaly.

I was told that I would not have to dose with H2O so I tried it for 6 months and same thing...still had to dose for the same darn things.

I just switched to IO Reef Crystal a month ago and I don't have to dose for alkalinity any longer and just once a week for the rest. I think I will stick with Reef Crystal for now. Also my zoanthids did not really do well when I used H2O, not sure why.

[Bblinks]

I have just picked up a box of reefers best salt from jl for 100 bucks. I have always used reef crystal on all my tanks, now that my display is full of sps I figure I should try some thing better...
If there is no reason for the switch I would rather stay with my reef crystal. I have always mixed my salt with ro water and never had a problem with any residue form reef crystal.
My question for those advanced reefer with sps dominated tanks is it worth the extra money to use a "better" salt?
I know Myka's feed back has been salt is salt is salt is salt, but I am really curious if anyone else out there has seen a difference.

[BlueTang<3]

Originally Posted by Myka

I just dose potassium. It's cheap. I have yet to find a salt that doesn't need magnesium dosing. I haven't tried RB though.

Reefers best mixes at about 1150(Elos) for mg i bought 10 boxes when i bought them. When i first switched from h20cean to best i has amazing colours. But i have either gotten used to them or they have faded.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by BlueTang<3

Reefers best mixes at about 1150(Elos) for mg i bought 10 boxes when i bought them. When i first switched from h20cean to best i has amazing colours. But i have either gotten used to them or they have faded.

Thanks for the feedback! Good to know RB needs to be dosed for magnesium just like the others. I still have another year's supply of H2Ocean, so I will stick with that for now. Maybe one day I will try RB.