Best Sea Salt for Reef Tanks?

[Coleus]

Originally Posted by abcha0s@conceptaquatics

The trouble is that we all depend on the manufacturers to tell us what's in the salt and they all claim to be the best. You won't have to look far to find a reefer that prefers any one of the brands that you have listed. As the results start coming in, I expect there will be votes for all of the salts (or at least most).

I've seen studies that compare various salt brands and they appear to identify a leader. However, there are criticisms of the studies that show errors in the testing methodology and biases. They are also outdated as new salts have come onto the market.

Even a salt water analysis on a small sample can show very different results than what the manufactures claim. For that matter, the salt at the top of the bucket is likely different from the salt at the bottom of the bucket. When the manufacturers mix in large batches, results will vary.

You also really need to define what criteria make a salt “good”. If you are supplementing calcium, then high levels of calcium might not be a big deal to you. You might look for trace elements instead. If you aren’t supplementing calcium then that same salt might be problematic.

I like “Royal Natural” salt. You didn’t list it on your poll, but if you look around I am sure you can find it. I like it because the manufacturer claims that it is the best, so I assume that it is at least adequate. More specifically, it mixes cleaner than any other salt that I have ever tried. It mixes so quickly that it generally doesn’t even hit the bottom of my mixing barrel.

- Brad

I am also with Brad on this, I have used reef crystal over years and then try out the Seachem Reef Salt and then Royal Natural” salt.

I am literally don't have to dose any Mg with Seachem Reef Salt but i found it take longer to mix and it also leave some residual. The Royal Natural on the other hand mix very fast, i can mix and use it in 10 minutes with no problem.

However, different salt will give you different level of Mg,Alk, and Calc so i have to retest my water and change the dosing amount to my tank which is the sucky part.

Anyway, i think i am going to stick with Royal Natural salt from now on instead of switching.

[RuGlu6]

If your tank is under 100 Gal go with D-D H2Ocean, one bucket lasts me a year+ for a 65 Gal +sump tank.
If your tank is larger then 120 gal and more so if tank is in 240+Gal range use Instant Ocean because you need large volumes of water to be changed.
Simple !

[Madreefer]

I use IO. For me it's the best because that's all that is available in my town.

[bignose]

It's hard to vote for this because it would take years for me to try all of them waiting for the results. I voted Salinity because it came in a nice bucket.

Edit. What's the Tunze salt like? haven't heard much about it at all.

[Haloreef]

I have used IO for the past seven years with out any problems that I could blame on the salt directly.
I have a 300 gal system and just can't bring myself to pay double the price for one of the " high end salts". That being said I do dose cal,alk, and mag. and even with the extra cost of the materials it is still cheaper.
I have tried a couple of the more expensive salts but I did not notice any improvements, to make me keep using them.
I will continue to use IO. I change 30/35 gallons every Sunday, so the savings add up.
I would in no way, shape, or form, call it "the best salt" but it is good enough for me and mine!
Keith,

[doch]

You know... I've used H2Ocean for a while now, and have been happy with it. This poll however, is REALLY making me reconsider. I think I may be switching back to IO.

[ALang]

IO, cause it is cheaper and I do lots of water changes. I do dose Cal, Alk and Mag, though.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by kien

I thought we got you in rehab for that P.C. addiction of yours...

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[Myka]

I have tried a bunch of different salts over the last couple decades, but I always go back to IO because it is cheap and I have never noticed any benefit to using a different salt.

I have been using H2Ocean for 2 1/2 years in my reef tank. I figured if any salt will make a difference it will be H2Ocean because it is natural salt, not synthetic like almost all other salts. I have to add magnesium and potassium to the freshly mixed H2Ocean saltwater to get the levels right. I have enough H2Ocean salt for two more water changes, and after that I will be switching back to IO. I haven't seen any benefit to using H2Ocean over IO. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference switching back to IO now.

[kien]

Originally Posted by zoaElite

I thought we got you in rehab for that P.C. addiction of yours...

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It's all under control. Besides, Sea salt goes well with PC.

I recently tried a bucket of royal nature and have to agree that it mixes the best out of all the salts I've tried. I still don't know which is "best" but I'm also not sure if such a mythical beast exists.