Tightly reseal bag to keep out moisture. It really depends on what corals you are planning to keep. Each year, he continues to help his readers and clients with knowledge, professional builds, and troubleshooting. He has kept freshwater tanks, ponds, and reef tanks for over 25 years. I've used plain old instant ocean for reef tanks and it worked fine. Raising the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) will help solve both. If you have a fish-only saltwater tank and want to save some money, go with the sea salt mix. You will want to dose to your water change parameters. Tropic Marin is a brand you may not see regularly at the local fish store or chain stores, but they have been a major name brand all across the world, particularly in Europe. A general rule is to use cup of salt per gallon of water. You may be wondering, if the Reef Crystals are in no way harmful to fish only environments, and they are better for more complex reef based environments, why does Instant Ocean even make the Sea Salt product? This allows for ASD to promote items that are more effective to promote via Amazon versus selling on this site due to shipping costs, the vendor's choice to only carry through Amazon, or order minimums. NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. Those can easily be compensated for with very, very cheap chemical additions or you can spend a bit extra and get a salt that already has those levels elevated. Amazon.com: Reef Crystals 17 results for "reef crystals" Results Aquarium Pumps & Filters Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Sea Salt Marine Mix, 50-Gallon, New, 3.1 (2) $4299 FREE delivery Wed, Apr 12 Only 3 left in stock - order soon. The parameters out of the boxes are perfect and makes it very safe to make water changes so you dont have to worry about swings when you make a water change. It actually depends on your reef tank setup and the corals you keep. There are many things in the saltwater aquarium hobby that are considered to be a staple item and have been around for quite a long time. If too high, add more dechlorinated water. Instant Ocean salt calculator How much do you use? Should I change from my current Instant Ocean Reef Crystals to a better salt mix for my nano reef tank? Nicole is also a manager for Reef Builders social media accounts and a weekly contributor to the Reef Builders site. Any discounts on Instant Ocean: Reef Crystals? There are a few cons here though. I recommend using this refractometer. The specific gravity of 1.025 is a good target for reef tanks, while fish-only systems can be maintained at a slightly lower specific gravity as low as 1.020. Just curious as I take the next step towards adding some LPS. The N?oMarine Salt creates a marine environment so chemically-similar to natural seawater it would be hard to tell any difference between water prepared with N?oMarine and filtered natural seawater from tropical reef waters. Red Sea Coral Pro: 490: 7: 1300: Reef Crystals: 420: 12: 1260: Reefer's Best: 420: 11: 1200: SeaChem Marine Salt: 500: 10: 1400: SeaChem Reef Salt: 540: 10: 1450: Tropic Marin: 375: 10: 1230: Tropic Marin Pro Reef: 450: 8.5: . That way your parameters dont swing when you change your water. If you follow reef YouTubers around, you likely have heard of Fritz Reef Pro Mix. Customer Favorites, Marine Invertebrates - Save 25%, Popular Value Packs, Marine Invertebrates, LiveAquaria Certified Captive Grown Corals, Captive-Bred Freshwater Fish and Invertebrates. Always keep in mind that stability is one of the most important parts of the aquarium hobby. Reef Crystals scored 26 out of 100 in the S-15 Report. With over a decade of aquarium experience, Miles can be found writing about saltwater and freshwater aquariums. Optimum effectiveness. I seem to have a small cyano issue that I am hoping is the result of the excess nutrients in the Reef Crystals. Feb 19, 2010. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more, The Best Salt Mix Is The One Closest To Your Ideal Parameters, Aquarium Mix Parameters And Major Elements, 2. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Salt Mix - 200G Box $86.95 | / 15 in stock Enriched formulation. Instant Ocean: 400: 11: 1350: Reef Crystals . IO unless you have a fair amount of lps and sps building skeletons. Instant Ocean Reef Salt for Aquariums, 160-gal. 2.6 Pros & Cons. Given those reasons, I would not recommend this mix for Acroporas. 11. What do you recommend? The #1 choice of hobbyists, public aquariums, and scientific research facilities, Instant Fritz ProAquatics Reef Pro Mix (RPM) is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. Adding water after salt can cause a highly concentrated solution leading to some precipitation of ingredients. Note: 1.4 cups of Reef crystals will make 5 gallons of saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.021. Instant Ocean Top Choice For Fish Only Tanks, 7. That reading should be consistent for the rest of the salt batch. The main thing since Im going to assume that you are planning to do a reef tank or fish only with live rock setup is that you use RODI water made from an RODI System. I recommend that you do not use a calculator for this. After you order you can change the schedule in, Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. While it doesnt have the additional magnesium and calcium, its much more affordable, and you wont have to worry about a compromise in quality. If you have any thoughts or opinions about these products, feel free to share them in the comments section, and don't forget to check out our marketplace and community forum. The difference is that the Reef crystals contain a higher concentration. So I feel like Im back to square one. All content here is available for continued discussion at the new forums. 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. This is the main reason I stopped selling salt mixes online. Fish only saltwater aquariums are not going to need an expensive or advanced salt mix so a budget mix will do the job. Instant Ocean salt is available in bags, boxes, and buckets. Scouts honor . User Tag List View First Unread Previous Thread | Next Thread Thread Tools #3. Copyright 2023 Salt Tank Report. Eheim 2215 vs 2217: Which Canister Filter Is Better for You? But sea water is not just "salty"; it contains a precise mix of trace elements, all of which should be present in an artificial replacement. In fact, you can look up the test results online with every salt bucket you purchase. One extra caveat is to test every single batch of salt you buy. 100+ viewed in past week. I always see great deals on Instant Ocean salt. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)| Ca: 465 ppm| Mg: 1390 ppm|Alkalinity: 12.0 dKH. You should always add salt into the water and not the other way around. There is very little difference between Reef Crystals and it's sister product Instant Ocean. Curious as to what constitutes/tips the use of Reef Crystal Salt over say standard Sea Salt? This saves some time on your end and reduces any chance of irritating the water during the mixing process. lf too high, add more dechlorinated water. As you can see, the main difference between these two products is that Reef Crystals contain additional calcium and magnesium and Instant Ocean Sea Salt does not. There are other differences which I explain below. This includes the amount or quantity of elements in the salt. Both are suitable for all saltwater tanks. Reef Crystals is intended for use in a reef environment. It is not available locally, but you can order it in bulk online. It is the thing that makes the water in your aquarium salty and helps you replicate natural reef waters. Many reef salt mixes you will see on this list will have evaluated Alkalinity. Two Little Fishies AcroPower Amino Acids Review, ReefWave 45 Review: Red Seas Gyre Powerhead. Check The Facts About Instant Ocean. We do frequent water changes and have a RO system. This salt contains high levels of potassium and trace amounts of calcium in addition to the important micronutrients that help keep the pH balance in check, all without any additives or other substances. 2.5 3) ATM Aquarium Products Hot Salt Reef Mix Bucket. Austin, Texas 78750. No more back and forth adding salt, mixing, waiting, testing and adjusting until you get it right. Rated 4.6757 out of 5 stars . I use reef crystals. Q: What is the difference between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals? Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. They started in Europe in the late 1990s and recently entered into the US Market. Should I use Fritz, Reef Crystals or do I try to find Tropic Marin which nobody around me sells. 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. Fortunately I have been taking things nice and slow and enjoying the establishing process of building a nice tank and listening to other reefers and learning in the process instead of jumping all in. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)| Ca: 430 ppm| Mg: 1290 ppm|Alkalinity: 8.0 dKH. Aquarium Pumps & Filters Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Sea Salt Marine Mix, 50-Gallon, New, 3.1 out of 5 stars 2. Contact in dry form may cause skin or eye irritation. . Its not cheap and you will need dosing as your SPS grows unless you want to be a slave to water changes. Although the solution of Reef Crystals premium sea salt can be used immediately, it is suggested that you aerate the water until it reaches oxygen/carbon dioxide equilibrium before use. Well, despite all thats been mentioned, there are still a few good reasons to choose the Sea Salt if you have a fish only aquarium. When hes not writing about fish, you can find him going for a run or building websites, such as this one! The purpose of this post today is to just lay out the facts and finding what salt mix will work for you and your budget. I began my saltwater expedition with Instant Ocean Sea Salt not realizing the amazing nature of Corals and there demands. The of the most available and affordable salt mix. WheresTheReef They offer a basic sea salt variety and reef crystal variety formulated for reef aquariums. Same can be said with a FOWLR tank. 134 g per 1 US-gallon (3.785 L) of purified water yields a specific gravity of ~1.025 g/cm3, with a pH of ~8.30 and alkalinity of ~7.5 dKH. Below is a list of common questions I get asked. Having said that I have yet to introduce any corals but am finally at the place where I am ready to. This is one of the more detailed videos on the net that describes the process so give him a sub and like if you like the video. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. If you are storing saltwater for future use, I wouldnt recommend Reef Crystals because the caking. 4. Its a known fact in our hobby that most retailers lose money selling salt, especially online retailers as the shipping cost is very high in comparison to other dry goods. It has now been 2 years and thinks seem to be going well. The Sea Salt simply packs a much smaller list of chemical properties that are suited to provide your fish only with what they need to thrive. Its just not the best for hard corals because of the batch consistency. if You have a significant population of growing stony corals, you will have to dose ALK and Ca or do heroic water changes. All Rights Reserved. What is the recommended specific gravity range? 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? Flawed logic IMO. DIVER'S DEN WYSIWYG Store - 100's of NEW Aquatic Life Added Daily! Even so, water changes likely will not be enough in a full blown SPS tank. However, it is a great aquarium salt mix for those with fish only, fish only with live rock, and soft coral dominated 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. Buy and sell with other aquarium hobbyists. If you keep clams or SPS, you're going to need to dose regardless. Tropic Marin PRO-REEF Sea Salt has been designed to meet the special requirements of reef aquariums with optimized Enriched formulation. USAGE NOTE: NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. (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! Adjust salt level accordingly. This salt has been trusted in some of the worlds largest public aquariums and will serve as an excellent foundation for your tank. How long do you mix it? Recommended Specific Gravity Range: 1.020-1.026 at 77F. Because water conditions at different locations vary tremendously, a commercial dechlorinator is recommended to completely neutralize any concentrations of chlorine and/or chloramines. SeaChem Marine Salt 500 10 1400. Coral FREE WITH ANY ORDER.  JUST ADD TO YOUR CART WITH MERCHANDISE AND IT WILL BE FREE. Mixing Instant Ocean salt is straightforward and easy to do. In new aquariums, transfer animals to the aquarium after salt is completely mixed and aerated and specific gravity is adjusted correctly. This is the very first statement Im going to lay out for you. /TM/ 2023 Spectrum Brands, Inc. or one of its affiliates. I am very confused now what the salt should I get for my tank. Personally on a tank that size, I think it's better to just buy water from your LFS. Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most used sea salt in the world. What is the difference between Instant Ocean sea salt and Reef Crystals? Lets talk about the main parameters that make up a reef salt mix. Thats what I will show you in this article. NeoMarine has a lower Alkalinity, which is great for SPS tanks. 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. Instant Ocean has been a mainstay in the industry for over 50 years. 2 Best Reef Salts For Fish Tanks | Top 10 Picks. At your local fish store, where your fish store gets salt in pallets so they dont lose money or on an online merchant like Amazon where you know you are not making the retailer lose money shipping the box or bucket of salt to you. *FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquatic life orders $229 and up. Used by hobbyists . (And Should You Use Them), What Are Blood Worms? Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. Stir vigorously to ensure a good mix. Transfer animals to the aquarium AFTER salt is completely mixed and aerated and specific gravity has been adjusted. Since I use water changing stations, I stay away from anything that cakes. Always like to learn from other reefers. Used by public aquariums and research facilities. SPS tanks need to have extremely stable levels in the aquarium and having a mix with evaluated ALK can be catastrophic as the Alkalinity levels can spike after a water change. Water Changes: You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tank's requirements. with cool water and seek medical attention. The first thing is the anti-caking agents in the salt mix. Most reefers should choose a standard alkalinity mix and aim for stability to avoid alkalinity highs or lows. However, if you are serious about Acropora corals, I would steer away from this mix. Thanks for your help. 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. Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most carefully formulated and universally preferred sea salt in the world. You can also use a hydrometer but they are less accurate and reliable. This post may have affiliate links, which means we may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). Plus, it tends to be a bit more popular, so its often easier to find locally which can save you a few extra bucks in shipping costs. Fritz has a big marketing machine that sponsors a lot of YouTubers and they tend to be everywhere at the local fish stores. Tunze Reef Salt 420 9.5 1350. 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. You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tanks requirements. The salt is collected from the Red Sea. (I recommend using a refractometer). 3 Instant ocean reef crystals vs red sea coral pro. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Andrew. When used correctly, Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals will set the pH of a tank between 8.0 to 8.3, and kH levels between 7-10 dKH. It does not have the evaluatedlevels and trace elements that Reef Crystals have. Its first product was Instant Ocean, and its been used in large-scale hatcheries and aquariums ever since. If youre shopping on a budget, go with Instant Ocean Sea Salt . 99. Check todays price of Instant Ocean sea salt on Amazon here. Fast dissolving. Its the one of most expensive marine salts on the list, but if you have prized designer SPS corals, Tropic Marine Pro is what you will want in your reef tank. 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. Air in reefer 900 seam should I be worried. Are you guilty of just using whatever salt you can find, or have you ever really given much thought to the salt you are using and why? He has worked on making aquarium and pond keeping approachable. Red Sea Coral Pro Made From the Actual Red Sea, 6. Yes I was referring to standard Instant Ocean Salt vs Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. extra calcium, trace elements and vitamins promote growth and support the health of a variety of corals; including stony corals, coralline algae, anemones and other invertebrates. Many successful reefs use this salt. So its Brightwell for me. Softie and LPS tanks can tolerate more swings so going with a mix with a high alkalinity isnt going to hurt you. That salt will cost you $1.50 for each gallon you make. (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. Recommended Specific Gravity Range: 1.020-1.026 at 77F. Another reason to choose the Sea Salt in your fish only tank is that it dissolves much quicker and easier than the Reef Crystals do. Advertise today. What is the proper way to mix Instant Ocean salt? Mark has been featured in two books about aquarium keeping both best sellers on Amazon. You will want to use at least a Refractometer along with 35 PPM calibration fluid to ensure you have the right salinity. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is an Enriched formulation made especially for use in reef aquariums. Some people swear by one brand of salt mix while others will go out of their way to talk about why this salt mix brand is way better than others. Aquarium Store Depotis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is important to always mix your salt as per the manufacturers instructions. Reef tank equipment and automation is key to maintaining a stable saltwater tank, and a refugium can help keep nutrients in check. The Best Corals for the Bottom of a Reef Tank. There have been questions regarding using a salt calculator to figure out how much salt you need to add. I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. Those 2 salts are the only one that Triton is recommending. This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. Red Sea Coral Pro mix contains elevated and balanced levels of thefoundation elements(Calcium, Magnesium, Bicarbonates) necessary for sustainable, accelerated coral growth. A: Instant Ocean is engineered to closely match natural seawater, and Reef Crystals is enriched to facilitate the growth of corals and other invertebrates in a reef aquarium. All rights reserved. If you have a Ca reactor or a good dosing pump system you could still use IO but Reef Crystals probably makes it a little easier to maintain Ca, alk and Mg levels. You could purchase a 50-gallon bag of Instant Ocean sea salt for around $25. The stability and quality control of this mix makes this pretty much a must for those with the most demanding corals like Acroporas. Tropic Marin Pro Reef 450 8.5 1380. Every 4 months you would have enough salt leftover for an extra month. 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. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt For 200 Gallons, Enriched Formulation For Aquariums, 25600 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) 4.8 out of 5 stars 5,537. . Keep in mind that you should test the levels of magnesium and calcium in your display tank and in the water that you have mixed with reef crystals. A 25% change of aquarium water, done on a monthly basis, is recommended to maintain water quality. After you have the salt at the correct salinity, let it mix in the container. New to Saltwater & Reef Aquariums? Hobbyists may prefer Reef Crystals if theyre keeping stony corals, such as Brain Corals or Chalices since they will benefit from the additional calcium. In New Aquariums: Reef Crystals Reef Salt Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean. The main issue with the Red Sea Coral Pro is its availability. Every tank has different needs depending on the type of corals you have. Chain stores do not carry it and you will mostly see higher end local fish stores that specialize in marine livestock carry them. The Reef Crystals contain additional vitamins and calcium that are crucial for the life within these complex environments to grow.While the additional calcium and vitamins included in the Reef Crystals are in no way beneficial to the growth and development of your fish, they are also by no means harmful in any sense. Reef Crystals vs. Red Sea Coral Pro Salt - Reef Central Online Community The Reef Central Forums are now located at https://forums.reefcentral.com The old forum is closed to new activity. Mix as directed above. By the way any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon and other stores/partners are affiliate links. Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt is the best salt mix you can purchase for your reef tank available on the market today period. 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.