Choosing my salt

[BeachBum2012]

I'm a week or two from getting things plumbed and wet in my new 40b setup. I'm trying to decide on salt at this point. What information do I need to make this decision easier? I'm leaning towards Instant Ocean, as I find nothing but good reviews and the price is right. I'm not sure which I should go with though. Do I use the standard or the Reef Crystals? I'm planning a mixed reef system so it seems that I should go with the Reef Crystals, but do I use that from the get go? Or switch to that after I've cycled and start introducing corals to the tank.

Thanks a bunch,
Brian

 

[solitude127]

If you're planning on dosing, regular IO is fine but if you're doing w/c's to replenish your elements, then use RC

 

[BeachBum2012]

If you're planning on dosing, regular IO is fine but if you're doing w/c's to replenish your elements, then use RC

I'll most likely be doing water changes every other week, and dosing as needed in between.

 

[s2k]

I switched from d2d to instant ocean on this new start up and everything seems to be ok. IO salt is the most affordable so u can do more water changes

 

[BeachBum2012]

I switched from d2d to instant ocean on this new start up and everything seems to be ok. IO salt is the most affordable so u can do more water changes

The affordability really helps move me in that direction too. I was mostly interested in which IO salt to go with. I suppose I could just start with the standard and see how my parameters change as my system runs for a bit to see if it is worth it to switch to the Reef Crystals, or if its more effective to just dose regularly.

 

[pciscott]

I have used IO for over a year and it is doing well in my Reef, consistent and the price has me doing more water changes. I am now doing 1 gallon every other hour, 12 gallons a day in a 600 gallon system. In my 125 I do 20 gallons a week. I have found that weekly water changes work the best as it makes you look at everything once a week. I do my water changes on Wednesday, except for big tank which is on auto for the last month. Look for sales on the Salt and sometimes Group Buys, SCMAS did a group buy a few months back and it was $30 per box of 200.

 

[BeachBum2012]

I have used IO for over a year and it is doing well in my Reef, consistent and the price has me doing more water changes. I am now doing 1 gallon every other hour, 12 gallons a day in a 600 gallon system. In my 125 I do 20 gallons a week. I have found that weekly water changes work the best as it makes you look at everything once a week. I do my water changes on Wednesday, except for big tank which is on auto for the last month. Look for sales on the Salt and sometimes Group Buys, SCMAS did a group buy a few months back and it was $30 per box of 200.

So, do you recommend the standard IO and dosing as required over the IO Reef Crystals? I'd much prefer to do weekly changes, but my schedule may not allow it at this point. I have every other friday off work, so its easy to get everything done then.

 

[xmas_one]

I run plain Instant Ocean and dose two part using a Jebao doser. Dosing a reef is a lot different than dosing a planted setup. You can really screw things up quick if your alk level is swinging up and down because you are dosing manually. Best way to keep it stable is to use an automated doser, or set up a calcium reactor. On a tank your size the doser is your best bet.

 

[BeachBum2012]

I run plain Instant Ocean and dose two part using a Jebao doser. Dosing a reef is a lot different than dosing a planted setup. You can really screw things up quick if your alk level is swinging up and down because you are dosing manually. Best way to keep it stable is to use an automated doser, or set up a calcium reactor. On a tank your size the doser is your best bet.

Thanks Dan. I actually have a Bubble Magnus dosing pump to use on this setup. Hell, my next planted setup is going to be auto dosing too. I'm digging this whole automation thing.

 

[Smite]

With a 40b, a 200g box of either is gonna last you a long time. The price difference isn't going to add up like on a larger tank. Every other week a 20% wc, with a 200g box will be a years worth of salt. $15-20 over a year ain't nothing and it'll help keep numbers up with water changes.
2 part and mag is where your money will end up going, just that much more with low levels to start off with.
Edit:
I'd go with reef crystals. Ran it for the life of my 66 and everything did well.

 

[BeachBum2012]

With a 40b, a 200g box of either is gonna last you a long time. The price difference isn't going to add up like on a larger tank. Every other week a 20% wc, with a 200g box will be a years worth of salt. $15-20 over a year ain't nothing and it'll help keep numbers up with water changes.
2 part and mag is where your money will end up going, just that much more with low levels to start off with.
Edit:
I'd go with reef crystals. Ran it for the life of my 66 and everything did well.

Also a very valid point.

Leads me to another question. How well does it keep once mixed? Can I mix up a 50 gallon batch, keep it heated, irritated, and moving and use what I need when I need it? Will it keep well for a month or two like that as I use it?

 

[All Delight]

I've been using d&d for years. Great salt.

 

[will21xl]

I'd say tropic Marine.. I like it better then d&d and red sea

 

[s2k]

Tropic marine is for the wealthy....

 

[BeachBum2012]

Tropic marine is for the wealthy....

I'm not wealthy. I used to have some extra money, and then my daughter watched Finding Nemo. Now I'm here.

 

[solitude127]

Also a very valid point.

Leads me to another question. How well does it keep once mixed? Can I mix up a 50 gallon batch, keep it heated, irritated, and moving and use what I need when I need it? Will it keep well for a month or two like that as I use it?

There's a vitamin in RC which requires it to be used within a couple of days, otherwise it'll start to precipitate.

 

[BeachBum2012]

There's a vitamin in RC which requires it to be used within a couple of days, otherwise it'll start to precipitate.

Ah. That's what I was wondering about. Thanks.

 

[tofucube]

Instant Ocean. Save your money for fish and corals.

 

[will21xl]

Tropic marine is for the wealthy....

Lmao..

 

[Smite]

Also a very valid point.

Leads me to another question. How well does it keep once mixed? Can I mix up a 50 gallon batch, keep it heated, irritated, and moving and use what I need when I need it? Will it keep well for a month or two like that as I use it?

For some reason when I let my water mix for more that a few day, or even a week my alk seems to drop. I have no idea why and it may be unique to my situation/ setup.

I ran into this problem when I'd mix 25g for my 66g tank. I'd plan on using 10g at a time, but by the second week the alk would be way low around 7. Constantly mixed and heated too.

Hopefully someone can chime in on this for you.

I now do all 25g in my 180g. I mix what I use. Reef crystals at 78-80 degrees mixes to about 1.024-1.025 @ 1/2 cup per gallon.