Salt

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Dearth

+1

Salt is salt is salt

Well, yes and no. I used Reefers Best for years, then switched to IO for cost savings. In recent discussions with IO, I've learned that the discrepancies in Ca/Alk I've been seeing were in fact "acceptable" limits. That means, for my setup, I have to test and calculate each batch of salt. I found RBS to ot have this issue, so I've gone back to that. Yes, it's a lot more money, but for me, it's worth it.
A salt is a salt, dependent on what you want out of the salt to begin with.

[monocus]

different salts have different levels of elements.if you buy a cheap salt(not saying any salt is cheap or inferior)and have to dose $50 in additives,the more expensive salt might be cheaper.i use seachem reef salt and only have to dose magnesium,with the occasional calcium

[Taipan]

My controversial input for the day (I don't advocate it, nor do I discourage it - there will be a lot of opinions on this topic) .....

I generally use what's "on sale" or readily available on hand.

Hobbyists will argue NOT to mix different brands and be consistent with what you use over the long term. The argument for this of course is constancy in water chemistry and trace elements.

My personal preference is Tropic Marin Pro. Simply for the fact that I like how dissolves. It leaves little to no precipitate. The rate of which it dissolves is great as well - fast. As such; I usually stock up during sales (boxing day etc.) or try and work out better pricing with my LFS.

That being said, if I'm running low or in a rush for a water change; I have no problems purchasing Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals, DD H2O, or Red Sea.

There's an old adage that: "At the end of the day, everyone comes back to Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals" It's pretty accurate. IO is the most widely available.

Everyone will have their own preference and their own acceptable tolerances/variations for salt parameters. You'll have to experiment to find what you like.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Taipan

You'll have to experiment to find what you like.

Ding Ding!! We have a winner

Spend what you're comfortable with, add what you feel you must, mix it as long as you like and roll the damn thing around the block if it makes you happy. If the corals grow and fish swim, it's all good in the end!!