Instant Ocean salt...which one?

allendehl · 10/14/2017, 11:30 AM

Did a bit of a research and many here recommend the "regular " IO salt for mixing. I found the 2 options below at Amazon but can't tell which one is "regular" and why.
Help!

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billdogg · 10/14/2017, 11:40 AM

The top one (purple box, less expensive) is "regular" instant ocean (IO). The orange box is IO reef crystals (IORC). I use both, depending on just where my parameters are at the time.

Starting out with a newish tank and few if any corals, IO will be more than enough. Down the road, if you get a heavy coral load (LPS/SPS) and start using more calcium and alkalinity, then you might switch to IORC.

allendehl · 10/14/2017, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

The top one (purple box, less expensive) is "regular" instant ocean (IO). The orange box is IO reef crystals (IORC). I use both, depending on just where my parameters are at the time.

Starting out with a newish tank and few if any corals, IO will be more than enough. Down the road, if you get a heavy coral load (LPS/SPS) and start using more calcium and alkalinity, then you might switch to IORC.

Thanks a lot bill! In your experience is this a good price or should I continue to shop around?

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billdogg · 10/14/2017, 12:15 PM

I buy mine from Foster and Smith when they have a sale, and then I buy as much as I can. Usually 6-8 boxes. The FedEx guy hates me! My LFS will have it on sale about once a year as well. I'll buy as much as he'll sell me.

ROlympia · 10/14/2017, 12:25 PM

I used IO and got good results. Couldn't really tell any difference between it and Reef Crystals. I'm trying Tropic Marin Pro Reef this water change because I'm tired of the fluctuation in alk every water change. Rather add 20 ml soda ash to raise it than several ml's muriatic acid to bring it down.

homer1475 · 10/14/2017, 04:14 PM

I use regular IO(the purple box). Over the course of 5 200G boxes(what I've used since switching from RC), the parameters mix up almost exactly the same everytime.

I add a tiny bit of muratic acid to bring the ALK down to 8.5, and a small amount of calcium to bring that up.

The small amount of dosing needed doesn't negate the cheaper price then RC, and I can dose it to match my tank so doing WC's doesn't throw anything off.

10/14/2017, 11:30 AM	#1
allendehl Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 692	Instant Ocean salt...which one? Did a bit of a research and many here recommend the "regular " IO salt for mixing. I found the 2 options below at Amazon but can't tell which one is "regular" and why. Help! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk __________________ [Newbie here so please take my opinions carefully] Current Tank Info: Red Sea Reefer 350 (72G) \| Jebao DCT 4000 (1056 GPH Max) \| Reef Octopus 152-S \| 2 X Jebao PP8 (2100 GPH Max)

10/14/2017, 11:40 AM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	The top one (purple box, less expensive) is "regular" instant ocean (IO). The orange box is IO reef crystals (IORC). I use both, depending on just where my parameters are at the time. Starting out with a newish tank and few if any corals, IO will be more than enough. Down the road, if you get a heavy coral load (LPS/SPS) and start using more calcium and alkalinity, then you might switch to IORC. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/14/2017, 12:15 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I buy mine from Foster and Smith when they have a sale, and then I buy as much as I can. Usually 6-8 boxes. The FedEx guy hates me! My LFS will have it on sale about once a year as well. I'll buy as much as he'll sell me. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/14/2017, 04:14 PM	#6
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I use regular IO(the purple box). Over the course of 5 200G boxes(what I've used since switching from RC), the parameters mix up almost exactly the same everytime. I add a tiny bit of muratic acid to bring the ALK down to 8.5, and a small amount of calcium to bring that up. The small amount of dosing needed doesn't negate the cheaper price then RC, and I can dose it to match my tank so doing WC's doesn't throw anything off. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/14/2017, 12:25 PM	#5
ROlympia Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 138	I used IO and got good results. Couldn't really tell any difference between it and Reef Crystals. I'm trying Tropic Marin Pro Reef this water change because I'm tired of the fluctuation in alk every water change. Rather add 20 ml soda ash to raise it than several ml's muriatic acid to bring it down.