LF: Cheap Instant Ocean Salt

[Bblinks]

Originally Posted by TimT

Possibly, but you might wonder why you thought it was worth it if your tank gets nuked because of a bad batch. I threw IO to the curb due to quality issues a while ago(ie 14.4dKH and 1000mg/l Mg at 1.026sg, and I mixed the whole bucket at once). I've used it since the late 70's but no more.

What I find particularly silly is the vast concern with USP grade Alk and Ca when the salts used for these cheap salt mixes are going to be tech grade if that. Now stepping down from the saltbox.

That doesn't make sense, all the reviews and from my personal experience with io has been positive, CA 380 Alk 11-12 and Mag 1200. product variation does happen with it has the least reported with io. I still remember when reefers best had a bad batch of salt that took out a lot of the tanks and they are 100 bucks for a box...

[TimT]

Hi Rich,

Originally Posted by BBlinks

That doesn't make sense, all the reviews and from my personal experience with io has been positive, CA 380 Alk 11-12 and Mag 1200.

When I started my first tank in the late 70's I used IO. When I started Seacare in 1999 I used IO. I have had a lot of positive experience using 1000's of gallons of IO. My decision to change was not lightly made. 3 years ago I started to notice instability in the parameters. I discussed this with them and think I got a customer service person that was either not knowledgeable or not paying attention. The parameter instability happened several times so I decided to switch. I like to keep things as consistent as possible so even if they have corrected the issue I won't know.

Cheers,
Tim

[gregzz4]

Been buying my IO from KE's pretty much from day 1. It's not a sale price but rather a continuing one

FWIW, my current bucket of IO is giving me 12.10, 470 and 1305, but only after a lot of rolling

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Vancity

Saving 25% is a good reason

Personally I think saving 10 bucks to support a store that you feel gave you bad advice, and otherwise avoid, is not good reason. JMO

[GoFish]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Personally I think saving 10 bucks to support a store that you feel gave you bad advice, and otherwise avoid, is not good reason. JMO

Went to JL and spent the extra $10, felt alright about it. Honestly if i was buying 2 or 3 buckets i would've gone to KE

And heres why i switched back from H2Ocean, it used to be worse but I've been slowly chipping away at it

[TimT]

That looks like a calcium buildup. Save yourself the effort and use some vinegar or diluted muriatic acid.

Do you fill the bucket and circulate it then add salt mix? Are you using RO water?

[Myka]

Like Tim, I've been using H2Ocean for several years now in my reef tanks for the same reason - it's derived from natural seasalt. I add Mg and K to H2Ocean and my testing has been very consistent with it. I used IO (and IO Reef Crystals) almost exclusively from 1993 to 2009 and I thought I was happy with it until I switched to H2Ocean. When I used IO I added Ca, Mg, and K. In my opinion, for the average reef aquarium IO is a perfectly fine salt to use. If your tank is PACKED with SPS corals (in particular), I think IO is sub-par. Having said that, I've seen AWESOME SPS tanks using almost every brand of salt out there. I don't think salt choice is the be all end all as long as you stick with one of the more major brands. In the end, I think it's more about parameters. If you want to keep alkalinity at 7-8 dKH, IO or IORC is a really poor choice because they have high alkalinity. If you want 9-10 dKH, then H2Ocean is not the best option.

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Personally I think saving 10 bucks to support a store that you feel gave you bad advice, and otherwise avoid, is not good reason. JMO

I agree with this 100%. In my opinion, this is really the most significant part of this whole thread.

[duncangweller]

Fill the bucket first with water and then add the salt to the water and you won't get that build up.

[AdamsB]

I started with regular IO, then moved to Kent marine salt from Dr foster and smith from the states as I added more corals. Now I'm onto reef crystal because I can get them locally if I need to.

How long do you guys store mixed salt water for water changes? I use a 50 gallon barrel and I'll mix it all and do about 15 gallon changes every 2 weeks. So the water is potentially in the barrel for 6 to 8 weeks. I run a powerhead and heater in there too.

[Madreefer]

I've used IO for 15 years with zero problems. I tried a pail of Seachem once and my tank went for a crap for that time period.
I'll also add that i'm a very lazy reefer. I've never rolled my buckets and quite often when i'm making up my salt water I only mix the water for 2 mins max.
I have a mixed reef with mainly SPS.
Here in PG a pail of IO is $69 and at one time I paid $119. I have pics to prove