Husbandry has nothing to do with the quality of a salt. That's like saying you keep your Honda Civic in prisinte condition, While it looks nice it will never perform like a Lambo. ESV salt is by far the best salt I have used in 16 years. An by the way Reef Crystals, Instant Ocean and Seachem are all the same exact salt, Produced in the same factory. With the exception of the Salinity by Seachem.
What salts do you use to maintain your Reef
- Thread starter ROGERWILCO357
- Start date
Anthony.Luciano710
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Bronx 10461
some people like reef crystals but i think its horrible. and i have the same problem that many others have. theres a lot of bad batches that cause cyano. i used salts before and was fine and i tried reef crystals and in like a week i had cyano so now im getting a box of ESV today or tomorrow.
- Location
- Old Bethpage
Diamond Crystal:biglaugh:
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
Esv
- Location
- Flushing, NY
I'm still using IO. Its the cheapest by the box, and its been proven to be successful with me so I saw no reason to change. Although I know the Ca is a bit on the low side, which I dose a little Ca with each w/c to make up for it which is a minor hassle IMO.
But honestly, there's probably been successful results with all salt brands as long as its not mortons. :lol2:
But honestly, there's probably been successful results with all salt brands as long as its not mortons. :lol2:
- Location
- Garden city
I'm using tropic marine but it's too expensive to do 10 gal wc a week going back too instant ocean
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
Very true. I think ESV is a cut above, but I used IO for more than a decade without issue.
Anthony.Luciano710
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Bronx 10461
@people using IO. are you using instant ocean the regular one or reef crystals?
- Location
- whitestone
I normally use esv, but will occasionally by oceanic. Its mostly for the bucket, but its not a bad salt.
Anthony.Luciano710
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Bronx 10461
is esv hard to mix. i never used it before but im going to be getting a box tomorrow. so can you give me some tips and stuff?
- Location
- NY
:tired: Follow the directions. The mixing cups/utensils are included. Not difficult to mix at all. If you're a reefer you've done much more difficult things in this hobby.
Russ
- Location
- Flushing, NY
I was helping out with the mixing at the previous swap and the ESV from what I seen mixes the most quickest, although there are multiple parts. Its not complicated, just gotta follow directions.
As for the IO, I'm using the regular. My theory, and keep in mind I'm no scientist, is that the mixing process causes some of the Ca to precipitate because it might be super high concentration in 1 spot of the mixing bucket before its fully dissolved evenly which is why the Ca is lower. This might explain why my mixing bucket usually has some white residue on the bottom after I'm done. Although I could be completely wrong.
As for the IO, I'm using the regular. My theory, and keep in mind I'm no scientist, is that the mixing process causes some of the Ca to precipitate because it might be super high concentration in 1 spot of the mixing bucket before its fully dissolved evenly which is why the Ca is lower. This might explain why my mixing bucket usually has some white residue on the bottom after I'm done. Although I could be completely wrong.
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- Location
- White Plains
What I have learned is one put less water then what you need so if you wanna make 20 gal of water only put about 16 gal mix everything and then adjust it a gallon at a time testing after each one added next is I don't use the scoops that come with it I bought a food scale and do it by weight it is much easier then trying to figure out if the clump in the measure scoop is part of it or not does are the things I do hope it helps
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Anthony.Luciano710
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Bronx 10461
u gotta mix it 1 gallon at a time. if so then forget it because i have a 55 gallon bin i just mix salt whenever i have free time and i just keep it full and do water changes every sunday. but if i gotta mix it 1 gallon at a time then thats to much work i would rather get cheaper salt and just dose more.
You are right about hot spots in the buckets, But Calcium is very light and will normaly be at the top of the bucket rather than the bottom. Although mixed well at the factory, The rides in the trucks and airplanes are enough to vibrate the lighter elements to the top.
You don't have to make it a gallon at a time, what you want to do is mix it so the salinity is a little high and bring the salinity down by adding RO until the proper level is reached. With ESV you mix all of the components separately which is another reason why ESV is great you will always have the same parameters because there is no settling of the different elements within the bucket, yes it is a little more work but well worth the time and it mixes up clear very quick and can be used within an hour of mixing it. You don't want to go with the cheap stuff, you'll regret it. JMO
- Location
- White Plains
+1.... and idk about that 1 gallon at a time that would be crazy
- Location
- Highland lakes, Nj
Esv! is the best salt ive used my tank has never looked better
Reef Crystals for years, then Tropic Marin Pro Reef, then ESV Bionic Sea Salt and back to Reef Crystals. Stopped wasting my money on a more expensive salt and didn't see any improvements. Reef Crystals has been around for years and seems to be pretty consistent, so I'm sticking with it.
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