Which of these two salt mixes?

[captmicha]

This is weird, but I still need help from some one who knows their stuff please. I don't need to be called an idiot or flamed, like I was at another unnamed forum...

 

Right now, I'm using salt for land hermit crabs and for cichlid salt for fresh water aquariums. At some point in the near future, when I've done all my research and have the money, I'm going to have a marine tank, hopefully a reef tank, and will use the salt for that too. I've only had a brackish tank and that was for a very short time so I know basically nothing about marine stuff, besides what little I remember from Marine Aquariums for Dummies... :/ The hermit crabs' salt water dish doesn't really count as marine experience.

 

I am considering Instant Ocean Reef Crystals or Oceanic.

 

I heard that Instant Ocean (I'm unsure of whether they mean the salt mix, the reef crystals or both) has a lot of heavy metals in it. That would be a concern for sensitive hermit crabs and any other inverts. is that true? I also hear that it has more nutrients than other mixes.

 

I hear a lot of good things about Oceanic and that it's just as good as marine salt (because it has all the added nutrients and stuff like marine salt would), even though it's called sea salt (which doesn't have all the extra stuff?). It's what I've been using thus far. For my hermit crabs, I use it at a specific gravity of 1.021.

 

Of the two, which is better? Can some one who knows their stuff maybe compare and contrast them in terms that a newb would understand or just tell me which one I should use? I would prefer to use the better of the two.

 

I have acidic water, low KH and low to moderate GH (haven't tested in a while). I can report back with the exact numbers if that's pertinent.

 

I want to buy a box or a bucket to make 200 gallons instead of having to keep buying more. Is it a bad idea to stock the salt? What air proof container would be good for storing it in (if I go with the one without a bucket)? Buckets from Home Depot maybe? Right now I'm keeping my five gallon worth of salt in a freezer bag.

 

Thanks for any advice.

[mrcoral.com]

I vote Reef Crystals

[DaveS]

A the end of the day, the salt(ty) water that these animals want is the same as the salt water from the ocean that reef tanks try to duplicate. Any of these mixes for salt water fish will work. Now the differences among the salt mixes is geared toward the high end reefer regarding corals and other stuff that doesn't matter to you now. If you do reefs later, you can look into the differences then. Fr now just go with something like regular Instant Ocean. It's economical, more than adequate for your needs now a I've seen plenty of people have high end reef tanks with it.

 

As far as how much to buy, the 200g boxes come in 4 sealed bags of 50g each. So you only need to worry about keeping 50g of salt fresh at a time. The buckets are not as good cause they would mean larger amounts of salt mix open. If you are using 5g of mix at a time, I think buying a box or even a bucket at a time is overkill. Yea you'll save a few bucks from quantity but if it takes you 2 years to use it, you'll lose the savings on interest not to mention having to store it for that long. It's like going to Costco and saving $10 by buying 20 lbs of chicken at a time, only to have to spend $500 on a new freezer to keep it while you eat it. If you want, I or probably any member would be more than willing to split a 200g box with you by just selling you a 50g bag.

 

Hope this info helps.

[matt bills]

Ive been using reef crystal from day one and this site for help. I have received alot if help and there is alot of info on here. Welcome

[flowerseller]

I've been using Instant Ocean (IO), which also makes Reef Crystals, since about 1985.

 

One thing that most will agree upon is do not simply change from one salt brand to another, do it in stages.

It's also best to make the salt water ahead, let it mix for a day or more before using. Use rodi water

 

Welcome, good luck.

You might want to join our club, the best $20 you'll spend on the hobby.

We have a whole ocean of info in our member area forums and you'll also be able to participate in group buys from our vendor sponsors, often salt group buys.

[onux20]

Plus 1 on IO.

There was a salt comparison at aquarium water testing. Google their web site and check out their comparisons. Would link it but my thumbs are tired...

[Big Country]

For Hermit crabs and a brackish tank I'd just use whatever you can get the best price on. Don't really need something higher end like Reef Crystals. 50 gallons of Instant Ocean can be had for $10 at Congressional Aquarium in Rockville or a member here might sell you a bag, only problem is that it's a bag and not resealable so you'd need something to put it in. Oceanic salt comes in a Blue plastic container which has a screw on lid and can be bought for around the same price.

 

If it was me, with your current needs, I'd just get a container of Oceanic 50g, if you do decide to set up a saltwater tank later you can use it in it also, there are many people that use Oceanic in their saltwater tanks with no problems.

[johnnybv]

I use and reccomend Reef crystals, but whatever you decide make sure it is something that is readily available! I have a few customers that use the D&D H2ocean which is expensive, but it doesnt come from my normal sources so I am sometimes out of it, and when you NEED to do a water change think stinks.

john

[Origami]

IO has improved their formulation over the past few years, boosting both their calcium and alkalinity parts. Reef Crystals is even higher in each. IO is a staple in the industry. Forget the heavy metal study that you read. It's either inaccurate or not applicable to your situation (it measured mortality of some larvae as I recall).

 

For a general purpose salt, I would have suggested Instant Ocean. It's what I use.

 

However, since you run your hermit tanks at a lower salinity (1.021) than you would your reef tank, I would change my recommendation, in your specific case, to Reef Crystals. The reason being that you will get relatively high levels of calcium and alkalinity ions even at this lower salinity.

[captmicha]

Thanks guys! I think I'll go with the RC, no offense to anyone who suggested different. I just want the best of the best.

 

I had no idea that Congressional in Rockville sold ANYTHING that cheap!

 

I'm totally going to buy a membership when I can afford it but by that time, I'll probably be ready to start annoying people with millions of questions about reef tanks (yes, even AFTER doing all the research on my own since I tend to confuse and complicate things, if you couldn't already tell!).

 

I guess I'd have to have a paid membership to access the hidden forum to buy salt from members?

Edited August 15, 2011 by captmicha

[flowerseller]

Just another perk, WAMAS members get special deals at many of the shops around and the members forum side is where you can find all kinds of info about products we've all used and not trying to sell you.

[BowieReefer84]

Just another perk, WAMAS members get special deals at many of the shops around and the members forum side is where you can find all kinds of info about products we've all used and not trying to sell you.

+1

[rrbigdog]

Well I am a newbie (new member)....but I will add my 2cents.  I started a tank this year and started with regular Instant Ocean.  While I was testing my water I decided to test newly mix water and it tested phosphates....So I ended up changing to Reef Crystals.  Now I have not made it to Congressional yet but the LFS around me couldn't come close to what I paid on Amazon with free shipping.  Reef Crystals 200g box was $50 shipped.

 

Again, just a newbie with an opinion.....

[Djplus1]

Thanks guys! I think I'll go with the RC, no offense to anyone who suggested different. I just want the best of the best.

 

I had no idea that Congressional in Rockville sold ANYTHING that cheap!

 

I'm totally going to buy a membership when I can afford it but by that time, I'll probably be ready to start annoying people with millions of questions about reef tanks (yes, even AFTER doing all the research on my own since I tend to confuse and complicate things, if you couldn't already tell!).

 

I guess I'd have to have a paid membership to access the hidden forum to buy salt from members?

Funny that this clown's 2 year old thread got revived the day he/she got all high and mighty, huh?