. In general, salt comes in two formulas standards alkalinity (7-8dkh) and high alkalinity (10-12dkh) with different manufacturers offering variations in the trace elements. You must log in or register to reply here. 2389 Air Park Road, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501. 100+ viewed in past week. IO unless you have a fair amount of lps and sps building skeletons. Given those reasons, I would not recommend this mix for Acroporas. Your cost per gallon each month would be 0.50 cents. Today it is easier than ever to install a pond right in your own back yard, but building a koi pond is neither fast nor cheap, so you want to make sure you're starting out in the right way. JavaScript is disabled. There have been questions regarding using a salt calculator to figure out how much salt you need to add. While it doesnt have the additional magnesium and calcium, its much more affordable, and you wont have to worry about a compromise in quality. So its Brightwell for me. The salt is a very small part of the puzzle given the small amount of major elements added by typical water changes. The Europeans do it again with a revolutionary probiotic salt mix. Anyway, my parameters are as follows: Salinity: 1.025 Temperature: 78 Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: .25 The cons on caking, which Fritz doesnt and it sounds as if its for beginners. You can also use a hydrometer but they are less accurate and reliable. Want to grow your business and reach a wider audience? Myself included. It is readily available at the local fish stores and online though, meaning you wont have to worry about getting your normal salt mix in a pinch if you need to get it locally. You do not have to follow that guideline if you purchase a mix with an evaluated level of Alkalinity, but you will likely want to still regularly check your levels and make sure you do not drop below 8 DKH. I am very confused now what the salt should I get for my tank. It is formulated with pharmaceutical level ingredients and one of the fully synthetic salt mixes on this list (Brightwell being the other). There is a quick list for you depending on your needs below: I hope this article helps with figuring out what salt mix works best for you. Hi Cherry. The pro mix has higher alkalinity while the regular Red Sea mix has lower alkalinity. Check todays price of Instant Ocean sea salt on Amazon here. Instant Ocean sea salt will be cheaper to purchase versus reef crystals. At the end of the day either is great (But I reccomend consitancy) because you are going to need to dose alk, ca, and mag in a thriving reef anyway. Just curious as I take the next step towards adding some LPS. Optimum effectiveness. All Rights Reserved. In this post, well compare the similarities and differences between these two products and provide guidance on which option is best for reef tanks, newly established aquariums, and more. SeaChem Reef Salt 540 10 1450. You can learn more about their process in the video below: Red seacoral pro salt is one of the more trusted mixes used by frag sellers and SPS stick heads. His site was created to share his knowledge and unique teaching style on a larger scale. *This post contains affiliate links. Features Extra Calcium to help ensure the growth of large and small polyp stony corals as well as coralline algae Extra Trace Elements to provide an additional measure of vital . There is also mainly synthetic made salt, which tends to be very popular in Europe. There is a cost-saving to buying salt in larger quantities. Both are suitable for all saltwater tanks. ), Salt mix package is measure at 35 PPM you will actually get the volume stated on the box, Low ALK can be a disadvantage for those who dont dose (e.g. Join 100,000+ Subscribers and stay up to date on education, news, sales & deals. Wow, I learned so much about salt from reading your article. While they are everywhere, this is not the best reef salt mix on the list. For example, SPS corals like Acropora are going to need different parameters and trace elements vs. say a softie tank. For example, lets say you buy a 200-gallon box of reef crystals for $70. That being said, Instant Ocean Sea Salt is made for fish only tanks. It is a top tier salt mix with a reasonable price. His place is a coral farm and theres no doubting his success with corals. You will want to use at least a Refractometer along with 35 PPM calibration fluid to ensure you have the right salinity. I recommend using this refractometer. It is affordable, easy to use, and accurate. This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. You should always add salt into the water and not the other way around. I like that Reef Crystals contain a lot of the excess nutrients needed for coral growth which limits the need to dose anything or at least a lot. They offer a basic sea salt variety and reef crystal variety formulated for reef aquariums. These are controlled systems where visitors can extend their hands into the water with the hopes that a stingray will swim by to be touched. Both of these products are top end choices that youll find recommended in just about any forum across the web, and maintaining an aquarium can be tricky enough without having to nitpick between products on every decision you make. Might even consider reverting to Standard Instant Ocean if the difference in dosing is negligible at a given saturation point. Its mostly on here because its so readily available at local fish stores and they regularly go on sale where you can purchase boxes at huge discounts. Fritz has a big marketing machine that sponsors a lot of YouTubers and they tend to be everywhere at the local fish stores. If you you use Reef Crystal Salt how much Coral Life is required to consume the excess nutrients that comes in that type of salt? Both salts contain these elements but the reef crystals contain more essential ocean reef elements at greater concentrations than natural seawater. They make Instant Ocean sea salt and Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most carefully formulated and universally preferred sea salt in the world. Salt Mix Box (55 lbs - Makes 200 Gallons) - Fritz Aquatics, MarcoRocks Shelf Premium Dry Rock (by the lb) - Marco Rock, 1/4" Mur-lok Polyethylene ORANGE RO Tubing (by the Foot), HI782-25 Nitrate High Range Reagents (25 tests) - Hanna Instruments, SaltwaterAquarium.com Tank Parameter Reference Card, HI713-25 Phosphate Low Range Checker Reagent (25 Tests) - Hanna Instruments, Sea Salt Mix Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean, (Germany) Pro Reef Salt Bucket (200 Gallon) - Tropic Marin, Reef Crystals Salt Mix Bucket (Makes 160 Gallons) - Instant Ocean, Large Bucket Coral Pro Sea Salt Mix (Makes 175 Gallons) - Red Sea, Small Bucket Coral Pro Sea Salt Mix (Makes 55 Gallons) - Red Sea, Fritz PRO RPM Salt Mix Bucket (48 lbs - Makes 180 Gallons) - Fritz Aquatics, Extra Calcium to help ensure the growth of large and small polyp stony corals as well as coralline algae, Extra Trace Elements to provide an additional measure of vital nutrients, Extra Vitamins to ensure vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment. There are other differences which I explain below. There are a few main differences between the two. Its possible you are introducing some nutrients from your water changes as RO water will still have TDS in the water. In a hurry? Always keep in mind that stability is one of the most important parts of the aquarium hobby. Every batch is ICP tested. 1 Overview. Instant Ocean Crystals Budget Friendly, 4. Ive added another phosphate reducer pad to the filter. This may not seem like much of a difference, but given that the added benefits of Reef Crystals make practically no difference in a fish only tank, why not save a few bucks? 2.1 1) Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt. One of the great reasons why Instant Ocean salt is so great is that you can choose between using a salt for both fish only tanks and full reef tanks. At a salinity of S = 35, AccuraSea1 produces the following target parameters: calcium 420 mg/l, magnesium 1300 mg/l, strontium 8 mg/l, potassium 400 mg/l, Alkalinity 8 dKH. Recommended Specific Gravity Range: 1.020-1.026 at 77F. Its the same quality and field tested Instant Ocean salt we are familiar with the industry, but with a better formula designed for mixed reef tanks. Thats what I will show you in this article. That reading should be consistent for the rest of the salt batch. Just to be clear, "standard sea salt" is a mix like Instant Ocean, not just plain salt right? For starters the Sea Salt is slightly cheaper than the Reef Crystals. It is not available locally, but you can order it in bulk online. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. AquaForest Probiotic The Only One That Is ICP Tested, 5. Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. Brightwell Aquatics NeoMarine Salt not only has all the essential elements of a salt mix, but also does not have anti-caking agents. These stingrays have had their barbs removed and have been acclimated to being touched, making this a safe and fun experience for both parties. Specially formulated for use in reef aquariums contains essential ocean reef elements in greater concentrations than natural sea water, Contains extra calcium to ensure stony coral and coralline algae growth, extra trace elements to provide vital nutrients and extra vitamins to support vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment, Neutralizes trace heavy metals often found in tap water. Enriched formulation. Contains extra calcium, select trace elements, and vitamins above natural seawater concentrations. However, this is the best salt money can buy today. This is really annoying to clean and can lead you to having to replace containers. Reef Crystals (and other reef orientated salt mixes) have higher levels or essential and trace elements that would probably benefit stony corals more. Gyre vs Powerhead: Which Should You Put in Your Reef Tank? It is also the most readily available reef salt on the market so if you are in a rush or bind its very easy to get locally even from a chain pet store. 1 = Instant Ocean, 2 = Tropic Marin, 3 = Marine Mix, 4 = Reef Crystals, 5 = Rea Sea Salt, 6 = Kent, 7 = Coralife, 8 = SeaChem Reef Salt, CA = carbonate alkalinity (mequiv kg-1), BA = borate alkalinity (mequiv kg-1), TA = total alkalinity (mequiv kg-1). Its just not the best for hard corals because of the batch consistency. (And Should You Use Them), What Are Blood Worms? Advertise today. Although the Reef crystals can be used right away, we suggest aerating the water until it achieves oxygen/carbon equilibrium. . Formulated by researchers and marine scientists, RPM contains all of the necessary major and minor Red Sea’s Coral Pro Salt contains biologically balanced, elevated levels of the foundation elements (Calcium, Magnesium, Carbonates) necessary for sustainable, accelerated coral growth. No more back and forth adding salt, mixing, waiting, testing and adjusting until you get it right. When they first went to market, there were some batches with different Alkalinity numbers. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean hydrometer. Both products have received positive feedback from hobbyists and ultimately, the choice between them comes down to personal preference. Ever wonder what the difference is between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals? Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs Reef Crystals: Similarities & Differences. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "addb0abe3263ece774dda48475cc2787" );document.getElementById("c8f286cabb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Get the latest on sales, new posts, and new videos! I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. More Choices Available. We seek to promote and sell equipment that works and understand that sometimes these will be products we do not carry so we are happy to part folks in the right direction :). For SPS, especially high end SPS like Acros you will need salt that is not only high quality, but also has proper QC. 2.1 Choosing salt mixes; 2.2 Use a safe water supply; 2.3 Maintaining your tank; 2.4 How much marine salt is necessary? To prepare small quanities of Reef Crystals salt, use 1/2 cup of Reef Crystals salt for each U.S. gallon of water. Use cup of salt for each U.S gallon of water. They have created the benchmark for the industry and quality control standards. Mined reef salt mixes come from the mined evaporated seawater ocean deposits. #3. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Nicole Helgason is a professional scuba diver and can often be found photographing corals and sharing her passion about coral reefs around the world. Instant Ocean salt is one of those items. Hobbyists may prefer Reef Crystals if they're keeping stony corals, such as Brain Corals or Chalices since they will benefit from the additional calcium. No other salt on the market has the history and field results of proven usage then the Instant Ocean brand. Reef Crystals is intended for use in a reef environment. Water Changes: I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. Chain stores do not carry it and you will mostly see higher end local fish stores that specialize in marine livestock carry them. Rated 4.5439 out of 5 stars . I'd say most people are successful using just plain old salt like Instant Ocean. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Reef Crystals 490 13 1440. A have a third lfs , which in addition to Reef Crystals sells Kent. (Everything You Need To Know), A Complete Care Guide for German Blue RamsFeeding, Housing, Breeding, and More, Freshwater Crabs - 15 Great Selections (With Pictures), Freshwater Angelfish - A Complete Care Guide, Tropical Fish Species - 30 Popular Types (With Pictures! Saltwater sunbeam: Do you have a Yellow Tang? Yes I was referring to standard Instant Ocean Salt vs Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. Those can easily be compensated for with very, very cheap chemical additions or you can spend a . You might have 10 gallons extra leftover from the bag which you can keep for next month. After all, this hobby can get rather pricey. These extra measures reduce the need for constant supplements and additives to replenish essential substances quickly depleted in thriving reef aquariums. Both are very affordable and are most times cheaper than other brands on the market. If your goal is to maximize coral growth, then Coral Pro combined with ourreef care recipeswill enhance growth up to four times their natural rate. Typically, a bucket of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals capable of creating 200 gallons of saltwater will run you around $60 , while the same amount of Instant Ocean Sea Salt will be a bit cheaper at around $50 Both products go on sale frequently, which is great for those of us looking to snag a good deal. Mix Reef Crystals salt with ordinary dechlorinated water. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals; Instant Ocean is a legacy aquarium product found at most local fish stores. This saves some time on your end and reduces any chance of irritating the water during the mixing process. Instant Ocean Reef Salt for Aquariums, 160-gal. Learn how to properly mix saltwater with various brands of aquarium salt from the experts at That Fish Place - That Pet Place & thatpetplace.com. If too high, add more dechlorinated water. How do you test the salinity of Instant Ocean salt? built-in metal detoxifier goes a step farther to neutralize traces of heavy metals often . This high alkalinity mixture tests between 9.5-13 DKh depending on the water temperature. A general rule is to use cup of salt per gallon of water. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. However, for a Acropora heavy tank, many reefers like to keep their alkalinity lower in order to keep it more stable and closer to natural sea water. When all your gear is dialed in, your dosers are working overtime, and your acro garden is ready to thrive thats when its time to switch to the higher alkalinity formulas. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It's why our Sea Salt is used exclusively by many of the leading large-scale aquariums and research facilities across the country. It actually depends on your reef tank setup and the corals you keep. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals can be as high as 13, which can be disastrous to an SPS tank after a water change. Its actually easier than you think. Below is a list of common questions I get asked. However, it is a great aquarium salt mix for those with fish only, fish only with live rock, and soft coral dominated tanks. 3 Instant ocean reef crystals vs red sea coral pro. Hi I am a very beginner to have a SPS tank. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The pharmaceutical grade sea salt especially for modern reef aquaria. Knowing which salt is right for you comes down to the needs of your tanks livestock, your maintenance schedule, and most importantly alkalinity. Check The Facts About Instant Ocean. It is important to always mix your salt as per the manufacturers instructions. ssmallville June 19, 2012. I usually let it mix overnight and test the salinity again because I do my water changes. I have also seen a few mixes that have failed ICP tests with several parameters being too low. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt is the budget friendly reef salt for many of us with reef tanks. Austin, Texas 78750. It's the only reef salt I will ever use . Thanks for your kind words. NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. Recommended specific gravity range: 1.020 to 1.023 at 75F.

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