Red Sea salt

[shr00m]

can anyone share some experience with this salt mix? i have used it for the past 3 months, and i really prefer it to IO, i always used IO before but this dissolved much faster, and my few soft corals that i have are in very good health, i was just wondering if theres any reason to not use it or if anyone has had a bad experience with it.

 

[Dubge]

How is the price compared to IO?

 

[shr00m]

its a little cheaper but not much, the main reason i like it is because it comes in bags for 7.00 that mix exactly the size of the trash can i use to mix up water in, so i dont have scoop it out, its just dump it in and mix, much easier....

it says the salt comes from the red sea... like its actually taken out, but it says it also has trace elements added. it seems to be good, i was just wondering if theres any reason not to use it.

 

[JennM]

I didn't like it. Took too long to dissolve, was cloudy. I didn't notice a good/bad effect on my tank, but I didn't buy it again.

Jenn

 

[hillbilly]

I have never heard of anyone having animals die
from using it. If it works for you, use it. I think it
is a good practice to use one brand and stick with it
rather than switching brands all the time. I have
used IO for many years, and have never had a salt
related problem.

 

[fungia]

i dont like it too. nothing died but things dont look as good compare to instant ocean. it also doesnt mix as fast and complete as io. i think it is ok but io is a safe bet.

 

[Anonymous]

I use whatever salt is cheaper. I have not noticed any difference.

 

[Len]

I use Tropic Marin, IO or Reef Crystals (the latter two are essentially the same thing). I've never had a bad reaction with these salts and they mix very thoroughly, not to mention quickly. I've used some salts like Crytal Sea and Bio-sea Marine Mix that my corals did not like (excess mucus on some of the corals, for example). IMHO, they are not all the same in quality. Scientific analysis clearly proves their composition is defintely not the same.

 

[ChrisRD]

As Len said, I've always used IO and Tropic Marin over the years and never had a problem with either of them. I know people who have used Kent and Red Sea with no apparent problems but I've never tried them myself.

This year, I tried a small water change with Crystal Sea Bio-Assay Mix. I lost several SPS corals within 24 hours and the rest of my SPS corals in a few days. Salt mixes are definitely not all created equal IME! I'd recommend sticking with something tried-n-true...

 

[shr00m]

i know there def not the same in quality, my problem with io is it ALWAYS bunches up in to huge clumps, even in the buckets ... i dont get moisture in it. but if its longer than a few months it will clump up, i get the boxes of red sea and it never bunches up..... i know IO is def good but im just speaking from my experience with it, after it bunches up i cant get it all to fully dissolve, the main reason i use red sea is becuase it seems to dissolve so much quicker, i do 25 gallon water changes, i dump the red sea in all at once, within stirring for about 2-3 mins its completely dissolved. I would not want to use it of course if it isnt good for the fish... so far it seems everything really likes it ... i was just wondering if anyone had bad experiences... thanks everyone for the replies!