How do you test the salinity of Instant Ocean salt? The salt is collected from the Red Sea. Check todays price of Instant Ocean reef crystals on Amazon here. Just to be clear, "standard sea salt" is a mix like Instant Ocean, not just plain salt right? Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most used sea salt in the world. So when it comes to choosing the salt for your aquarium, keep it simple: Instant Ocean Sea Salt for fish only environments, and Instant Ocean Reef Crystal for more complex reef based environments. Thanks for reading. 1.2 Instant Ocean Salt Review; 1.3 Bright Well Salt Review; 1.4 Aquaforest Reef Salt Review; 2 Marine Salt Buying guide. The Best Salt For Saltwater Aquariums - Reef Builder Gear Guide Use cup of salt for each U.S gallon of water. Myself included. This saves some time on your end and reduces any chance of irritating the water during the mixing process. All rights reserved. Thanks everyone. Im thinking of changing salt types. Instant Ocean salt calculator How much do you use? Reef Crystals (and other reef orientated salt mixes) have higher levels or essential and trace elements that would probably benefit stony corals more. There are many other trace elements I can discuss, but for most aquarists, these are the big 3 we concern ourselves with and test for in our reef tanks. and I have yet to have anything negative to say about reef crystals. It is very expensive and hard to find locally, but if you have designer SPS corals, this is the reef salt to buy. 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. What difference does ten bucks make? AccuraSea1 is formulated to simulate natural seawater, and its packaged as a plurality of precisely weighed packs. Brightwell Aquatics Neomarine The Choice For Worldwide Corals, 3. Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. Both products have received positive feedback from hobbyists and ultimately, the choice between them comes down to personal preference. SeaChem Marine Salt 500 10 1400. 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. Perhaps you have a nano tank and buy a 10-gallon bag of reef crystals for $15. If too high, add more dechlorinated water. Check The Facts About Instant Ocean. FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquarium supplies orders $49 and up. Reef salt is the magic ingredient for your saltwater aquarium. It is affordable, easy to use, and accurate. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean hydrometer. I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. Instant Ocean salt is available in bags, boxes, and buckets. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Synthetic Sea Salt - LiveAquaria All rights reserved. The cons on caking, which Fritz doesnt and it sounds as if its for beginners. We dont spam. Both salts contain these elements but the reef crystals contain more essential ocean reef elements at greater concentrations than natural seawater. SeaChem Reef Salt 540 10 1450. Its first product was Instant Ocean, and its been used in large-scale hatcheries and aquariums ever since. Tropic Marin Pro Reef 450 8.5 1380. 1 = Instant Ocean, 2 = Tropic Marin, 3 = Marine Mix, 4 = Reef Crystals, 5 = Rea Sea Salt, 6 = Kent, 7 = Coralife, 8 = SeaChem Reef Salt, CA = carbonate alkalinity (mequiv kg-1), BA = borate alkalinity (mequiv kg-1), TA = total alkalinity (mequiv kg-1). How long do you mix it? A few corals and about 6 fish. RPM High Alkalinity Formula contains all of the necessary major and minor elements of natural sea water that are utilized by living marine and reef animals along with enhanced alkalinity. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. But lets go further into the question. +1 for reef crystals. From there each salt comes with precise mixing instructions to achieve the desired specific gravity. Contact us today to start your advertisement! Both are suitable for all saltwater tanks. instant ocean @ 1018 for 40 years aquadrome erie pa. Been using IO for longer than I'd care to admit - never had a reason to use anything else. Though we might not be able to interact with these animals in the ways we do with others, there's still a deep bond. Austin, Texas 78750. Mix Reef Crystals salt with ordinary dechlorinated water. Differences between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals, Similarities between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals. Its just not worth taking the losses to ship them. Every Order on SaltwaterAquarium.com is eligible to receive a Free Gift, just add it to your cart before checkout! Our site uses cookies. My tank does better with it. 2 Best Reef Salts For Fish Tanks | Top 10 Picks. It's the only reef salt I will ever use . Salinity: 35 ppt (1.025 sg)| Ca: 413 mg/l| Mg: 1290 mg/l|Alkalinity 7.5 dKH. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Salt Mix - 200G Box $86.95 | / 15 in stock Enriched formulation. Its mostly on here because its so readily available at local fish stores and they regularly go on sale where you can purchase boxes at huge discounts. Nicole is Reef Builders Event Manager and is responsible for running ReefStock shows in Denver and Sydney. Having said that I have yet to introduce any corals but am finally at the place where I am ready to. Instant Ocean recommends letting the saltwater mix sit overnight while mixing to allow for carbon dioxide equilibrium. The pharmaceutical grade sea salt especially for modern reef aquaria. Adding water after salt can cause a highly concentrated solution leading to some precipitation of ingredients. If you've ever been to an aquarium, you might have experienced stingrays firsthand at a touch tank. Knowing which salt is right for you comes down to the needs of your tanks livestock, your maintenance schedule, and most importantly alkalinity. No other salt on the market has the history and field results of proven usage then the Instant Ocean brand. This is really annoying to clean and can lead you to having to replace containers. Professional Sea Salt contains all of the important macro and tra. His place is a coral farm and theres no doubting his success with corals. 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. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. If you keep water changing stations or store saltwater there is a high likelihood that the agents will eventually encrust your containers with brown crud. There are a few main differences between the two. The of the most available and affordable salt mix. The Auto Delivery schedule can be changed in the cart. Aquarium Pumps & Filters Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Sea Salt Marine Mix, 50-Gallon, New, 3.1 out of 5 stars 2. Used by hobbyists, public aquariums, and research facilities. There is a cost-saving to buying salt in larger quantities. It has now been 2 years and thinks seem to be going well. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer. It's why our Sea Salt is used exclusively by many of the leading large-scale aquariums and research facilities across the country. 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. Same can be said with a FOWLR tank. In general, salt comes in two formulas standards alkalinity (7-8dkh) and high alkalinity (10-12dkh) with different manufacturers offering variations in the trace elements. NOTE: 1.4 lbs of Reef Crystals is formulated to create 5 gallons of saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.021. There are certain elements in both the Instant Ocean sea salt and Reef crystals that are important for all saltwater tanks. You may or may not be surprised by how different they actually are. If you have a bucket, mix it thoroughly prior to use, mix, then test. Reef Crystals scored 26 out of 100 in the S-15 Report. If your aquarium has been up and running for at least 6 months, we recommend Instant Ocean Sea Salt . It is formulated with pharmaceutical level ingredients and one of the fully synthetic salt mixes on this list (Brightwell being the other). 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. Aquarium Salt Mix Guide - That Pet Place 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. Reef Crystals Salt Mix - Bulk Reef Supply What is the difference between Instant Ocean sea salt and Reef Crystals? Reef Crystals, Seachem Reef or Red Sea Coral Pro - The Reef Tank The salt of choice for World Wide Corals. This salt has been trusted in some of the worlds largest public aquariums and will serve as an excellent foundation for your tank. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "addb0abe3263ece774dda48475cc2787" );document.getElementById("c8f286cabb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Get the latest on sales, new posts, and new videos! Even raising your calcium and mag won't stop the dosing requirement; which will be needed both more often and in larger volume as your tank gets filled with growing corals. I hardly ever buy salt locally because all the LFSs sell Fritz or Reef Crystals. Saltwater Mix: Instant Ocean vs Reef Crystals. If you are hoping to keep a simple saltwater fish tank that will serve only as a sanctuary for fish, than Instant Ocean themselves recommends using their classic Sea Salt. The difference is that the Reef crystals contain a higher concentration. One of the fastest dissolving and readily available salt mixes at local fish stores. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. 3. . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Mix Reef crystals with dechlorinated tap or purified water. Losing a pet is never easy, but losing a fish can really be hard! These stingrays have had their barbs removed and have been acclimated to being touched, making this a safe and fun experience for both parties. Given those reasons, I would not recommend this mix for Acroporas. (And Should You Use Them), What Are Blood Worms? While it doesnt have the additional magnesium and calcium, its much more affordable, and you wont have to worry about a compromise in quality. It is also the most readily available reef salt on the market so if you are in a rush or bind it's very easy to get locally even from a chain pet store. For example, SPS corals like Acropora are going to need different parameters and trace elements vs. say a softie tank. 5% Rewards - Buy and earn $2.97 in Reward points. They started in Europe in the late 1990s and recently entered into the US Market. Instant ocean reef crystals are easy-to-use and provide all of the necessary elements required for a healthy coral environment. #3. I like that Reef Crystals contain a lot of the excess nutrients needed for coral growth which limits the need to dose anything or at least a lot. However, it is a great aquarium salt mix for those with fish only, fish only with live rock, and soft coral dominated tanks. Every batch is ICP tested. Natural seawater has a specific gravity of 1.025 (salinity of 35ppt) and most salts are calibrated to this number. I currently have a 375 gallon aquarium, mostly soft corals to this point but Im trying to keep more sps and corals. Once you have the RODI water at the correct temperature you will want to put in circulation from an Aquarium Wavemaker or Aquarium Return Pump. Not sure if that is a plausible assumption but would make since seeing as I feed lightly, skim heavily and WC 20% a week with a dual reactor running. A have a third lfs , which in addition to Reef Crystals sells Kent. Nicole is also a manager for Reef Builders social media accounts and a weekly contributor to the Reef Builders site. 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. Ive added another phosphate reducer pad to the filter. 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. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy, The Best Salt For Saltwater Aquariums Reef Builder Gear Guide, Reef Evolution is a new salt from Aquarium Systems, Fritz Reef Pro Mix (RPM) High Alkalinity Formula, Seachem Made a Surprisingly Good 'Dual' Air Silencer, Acanthoplesiops jessicae, an Attractive New Species of Spiny Basslet from PNG, New study finds herbivore fish poo is bad for corals, Improving Carbon Dioxide and pH Management, New Coral Reef Discovered in the Galapagos, Gilmorei is the first Polylepion wrasse to be found in the Atlantic. 2. Metal Detoxifier - to neutralize traces of heavy metal often present in domestic water supplies. Instant ocean vs. Reef Crystals : r/Aquariums - Reddit Two Little Fishies AcroPower Amino Acids Review, ReefWave 45 Review: Red Seas Gyre Powerhead. Instant Ocean is engineered to closely match natural seawater, and Reef Crystals are enriched to facilitate the. Optimum effectiveness. Now lets go into detail and see why each mix was picked, With pharmaceutical level ingredients and a guarantee of all 70 trace elements, Tropic Marin is ideal for tanks full of designer corals. So follow the parameters listed on the mixes and dose to those levels. I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. The More You Spend, The More You Get! That being said, Instant Ocean Sea Salt is made for fish only tanks. The salt is a very small part of the puzzle given the small amount of major elements added by typical water changes. Mixing Instant Ocean salt is straightforward and easy to do. 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. Red Sea 400 8 1300. 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. After you order you can change the schedule in, Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. More Choices Available. User Tag List View First Unread Previous Thread | Next Thread Thread Tools Amazon.com: Reef Crystals 200 Gallon Mix Its important to use a dedicated mixing vat for saltwater, and a calibrated refractometer to ensure you are getting the most accurate specific gravity measurements. 2.3 2) Instant Ocean Sea Salt For Marine Aquariums. Below is a list of common questions I get asked. This is because it is well documented that Fritz has had quality control issues in the past. The thing to get used to is measuring and dosing, as your tank grows out you will get a feel for what you need and use automated dosing, kalk, or a ca reactor. 2.1 1) Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. DIVER'S DEN WYSIWYG Store - 100's of NEW Aquatic Life Added Daily! The main advantage with Fritz Reef Pro Mix is that it mixes very fast. Aquarium Store Depot earns a commission if you make a purchase. 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. Tunze Reef Salt 420 9.5 1350. Interested in what people have to say, experience with either/both and reasons for using one over the other. Instant Ocean - Ever wonder what the difference is between - Facebook Gyre vs Powerhead: Which Should You Put in Your Reef Tank? Create listings for FREE and gain access to tools and services that can help your online aquarium business flourish. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs Reef Crystals: Similarities & Differences. It is a top tier salt mix with a reasonable price. Top 5 Refugium Lights for Growing Chaetomorpha. Reef Crystals Reef Salt Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean Best Reef Salt - Top 5 Tank Salt Ranked And Reviewed 2023 2.6 Pros & Cons. Instant Ocean reef crystals on Amazon here. Salt mixes that are mostly or 100%synthetic represent some of the highest quality and most expensive reef salt mixes in the market. 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. Is it an RO system not an RODI system? Its the same quality and field tested Instant Ocean salt we are familiar with the industry, but with a better formula designed for mixed reef tanks. Enriched formulation. But its not set in stone for every type of salt. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. Formulated by researchers and marine scientists, RPM contains all of the necessary major and minor elements of natural sea water that are utilized by living marine and reef animals. CAUTION: REEF CRYSTALS IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Hobbyists may prefer Reef Crystals if they're keeping stony corals, such as Brain Corals or Chalices since they will benefit from the additional calcium. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt Review - Petsnetic In a hurry? If you are storing saltwater for future use, I wouldnt recommend Reef Crystals because the caking. Salt formulas DO MATTER, and using the wrong salt could be doing more harm than good during your weekly water change. Every tank has different needs depending on the type of corals you have. Saltwater aquarium hobbyists who plan on keeping corals, especially stony corals, will benefit from the added Magnesium and Calcium seen in Reef Crystals . 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. The Europeans do it again with a revolutionary probiotic salt mix. The pro reef salt has the most ideal big three parameters for SPS tanks. Might even consider reverting to Standard Instant Ocean if the difference in dosing is negligible at a given saturation point. Just take the price of the salt and divide it by the amount of salt that it makes in gallons. In the list Im going to provide you will see that I label each marine salt for you as synthetic or mined. Spectrum Brands, a Wisconsin-based company with over 5 billion in revenue, owns the subsidiary Instant Ocean, a Blacksburg, VA-based business that specializes in sea salt, protein skimmers, and other aquarium-related accessories. 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. Copyright 2023 Salt Tank Report. I want to get around all the marketing fluff and just tell you what works for your tank and needs. Ever wonder what the difference is between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals? Red Sea Coral Pro Saltis about as close as you can get from natural sea water from how they formulate their mix. The first thing is the anti-caking agents in the salt mix. Mined reef salt mixes come from the mined evaporated seawater ocean deposits. It does not have the evaluatedlevels and trace elements that Reef Crystals have. 4. I like oceanic it dissolves so far and its a great salt, i was using instant ocean and kept getting ph swings.. 75 . JavaScript is disabled. Reef Crystals vs. Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Fortunately I have been taking things nice and slow and enjoying the establishing process of building a nice tank and listening to other reefers . For a mixed reef and smaller reef tanks I would say this is a great salt mix for you. 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. More Buying Choices $42.95 (3 new offers) Kraken Reef UV Coral Viewing Glasses 4.7 (418) 200+ bought in past month $1299 He swears by and only uses Reef Crystals. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals; Instant Ocean is a legacy aquarium product found at most local fish stores. This high alkalinity mixture tests between 9.5-13 DKh . Manufacturer's Mixing Instructions: Remember: 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. Unfortunately, fish die. This includes the amount or quantity of elements in the salt. (I recommend using a refractometer). What do you recommend? Formulated specially for use in reef aquariums, Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. Its actually easier than you think. Hi I am a very beginner to have a SPS tank. There are other differences which I explain below. IO unless you have a fair amount of lps and sps building skeletons. However, for a Acropora heavy tank, many reefers like to keep their alkalinity lower in order to keep it more stable and closer to natural sea water. At a salinity of S = 35, AccuraSea1 produces the following target parameters: calcium 420 mg/l, magnesium 1300 mg/l, strontium 8 mg/l, potassium 400 mg/l, Alkalinity 8 dKH. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals So when it comes to choosing the salt for your aquarium, keep it simple: Instant Ocean Sea Salt for fish only environments, and Instant Ocean Reef Crystal for more complex reef based environments. We earn from qualifying purchases.*. Hopefully these answer your questions. I have also seen a few mixes that have failed ICP tests with several parameters being too low. Fritz Reef Pro Mix (RPM) High Alkalinity Formula is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. 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. . USAGE NOTE: NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. Instant Ocean - Free shipping | Chewy We're sorry, oversized items on this page cannot be shipped by air. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Amazon.com: Reef Crystals I dont have a hardcore acro tank, but if I did I would be running Tropic Marin or AquaForest. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)| Ca: 400-450 ppm| Mg: 1300-1400 pp|Alkalinity: 8.0-9.0 dKH. 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. This means that those who already dose 2-part, use kalkwasser, a calcium reactor or other similar dosing regimes can conduct a water change with D-Ds new salt without experiencing a spike in their KH or Calcium levels. Your cost per gallon each month would be 0.50 cents. Thats what I will show you in this article. There is very little difference between Reef Crystals and it's sister product Instant Ocean. We do frequent water changes and have a RO system. NOTE: 1.4 lbs of Reef Crystals is formulated to create 5 gallons of saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.021. Curious as to what constitutes/tips the use of Reef Crystal Salt over say standard Sea Salt? Now lets talk about the reef salt mixes themselves. What type of tank do you have and making sure you dose to what your salt mix is. Reef Crystals is intended for use in a reef environment. Tropic Marin 375 10 1230. Always use the recommendations from the manufacturer to determine how much salt to use. if You have a significant population of growing stony corals, you will have to dose ALK and Ca or do heroic water changes. The advantages of this packing are many: You can mix up a batch without ever having to check the salinity. Reef salt is made up of all the salts and trace elements that you find in seawater such as chloride, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. Now I am in the process of turning my 4 month old 210 Gallon w/40 Gallon Sump into a Fish and Coral Reef Aquarium. 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: . This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. Fritz RPM Reef Pro Mix is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. If you have a reef tank, go with the Reef crystals. In New Aquariums: Ive recommended Brightwell Aquatics products in the past like their Neophos and Mircobacter 7. Optimum effectiveness. . Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most carefully formulated and universally preferred sea salt in the world. Saltwater Mix: Instant Ocean vs Reef Crystals - Aqua Life Hub There are many incredible looking reef tanks that use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals and you will save some money using it over the other brands. 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. Every 4 months you would have enough salt leftover for an extra month. This is where we start getting into details. Aqua Life Hub is 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. Water Changes: Because water conditions at different locations vary tremendously, a commercial dechlorinator is recommended to completely neutralize any concentrations of chlorine and/or chloramines. The owner of AquaForest uses all his products on his tanks. 1 Overview. All content here is available for continued discussion at the new forums. Wow, I learned so much about salt from reading your article. If you plan on using these salts to set up a new aquarium, go with Instant Ocean Sea Salt . Below is a video from Raising Reef with better visual introductions and with directions for those of you who like to use water changing stations or store water. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is an Enriched formulation made especially for use in reef aquariums. You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tank's requirements. So its Brightwell for me. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Salinity 35 ppt | Ca 400-450 ppm|Mg 1300-1400 ppm|Alkalinity10 11.5dkh. His site was created to share his knowledge and unique teaching style on a larger scale. Reefer's Best 420 11 1200. 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. Keep reading. Gaby Summrs Ig, Pat Fairley Obituary, Articles I
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instant ocean sea salt vs reef crystals

There are a few main differences between the two. If specific gravity is too low, add more Reef Crystals salt. If you like levels that are higher, Reef Crystals is probably an easier option for you. Should I use Fritz, Reef Crystals or do I try to find Tropic Marin which nobody around me sells. The other issue is the evaluated alkalinity of the mix. Optimum effectiveness. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If your soft corals are doing fine you can stick with the salt you have. Features Extra Calcium to help ensure the growth of large and small polyp stony corals as well as coralline algae Extra Trace Elements to provide an additional measure of vital . Reef Crystals 490 13 1440. He has kept freshwater tanks, ponds, and reef tanks for over 25 years. You can then use these numbers to figure out how much its going to cost you each month to purchase salt for your tank. D-D The Aquarium Solution has added a second formulation to its popular H2Ocean salt brand. Any discounts on Instant Ocean: Reef Crystals? How do you test the salinity of Instant Ocean salt? The salt is collected from the Red Sea. Check todays price of Instant Ocean reef crystals on Amazon here. Just to be clear, "standard sea salt" is a mix like Instant Ocean, not just plain salt right? Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most used sea salt in the world. So when it comes to choosing the salt for your aquarium, keep it simple: Instant Ocean Sea Salt for fish only environments, and Instant Ocean Reef Crystal for more complex reef based environments. Thanks for reading. 1.2 Instant Ocean Salt Review; 1.3 Bright Well Salt Review; 1.4 Aquaforest Reef Salt Review; 2 Marine Salt Buying guide. The Best Salt For Saltwater Aquariums - Reef Builder Gear Guide Use cup of salt for each U.S gallon of water. Myself included. This saves some time on your end and reduces any chance of irritating the water during the mixing process. All rights reserved. Thanks everyone. Im thinking of changing salt types. Instant Ocean salt calculator How much do you use? Reef Crystals (and other reef orientated salt mixes) have higher levels or essential and trace elements that would probably benefit stony corals more. There are many other trace elements I can discuss, but for most aquarists, these are the big 3 we concern ourselves with and test for in our reef tanks. and I have yet to have anything negative to say about reef crystals. It is very expensive and hard to find locally, but if you have designer SPS corals, this is the reef salt to buy. 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. What difference does ten bucks make? AccuraSea1 is formulated to simulate natural seawater, and its packaged as a plurality of precisely weighed packs. Brightwell Aquatics Neomarine The Choice For Worldwide Corals, 3. Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. Both products have received positive feedback from hobbyists and ultimately, the choice between them comes down to personal preference. SeaChem Marine Salt 500 10 1400. 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. Perhaps you have a nano tank and buy a 10-gallon bag of reef crystals for $15. If too high, add more dechlorinated water. Check The Facts About Instant Ocean. FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquarium supplies orders $49 and up. Reef salt is the magic ingredient for your saltwater aquarium. It is affordable, easy to use, and accurate. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean hydrometer. I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. Instant Ocean salt is available in bags, boxes, and buckets. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Synthetic Sea Salt - LiveAquaria All rights reserved. The cons on caking, which Fritz doesnt and it sounds as if its for beginners. We dont spam. Both salts contain these elements but the reef crystals contain more essential ocean reef elements at greater concentrations than natural seawater. SeaChem Reef Salt 540 10 1450. Its first product was Instant Ocean, and its been used in large-scale hatcheries and aquariums ever since. Tropic Marin Pro Reef 450 8.5 1380. 1 = Instant Ocean, 2 = Tropic Marin, 3 = Marine Mix, 4 = Reef Crystals, 5 = Rea Sea Salt, 6 = Kent, 7 = Coralife, 8 = SeaChem Reef Salt, CA = carbonate alkalinity (mequiv kg-1), BA = borate alkalinity (mequiv kg-1), TA = total alkalinity (mequiv kg-1). How long do you mix it? A few corals and about 6 fish. RPM High Alkalinity Formula contains all of the necessary major and minor elements of natural sea water that are utilized by living marine and reef animals along with enhanced alkalinity. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. But lets go further into the question. +1 for reef crystals. From there each salt comes with precise mixing instructions to achieve the desired specific gravity. Contact us today to start your advertisement! Both are suitable for all saltwater tanks. instant ocean @ 1018 for 40 years aquadrome erie pa. Been using IO for longer than I'd care to admit - never had a reason to use anything else. Though we might not be able to interact with these animals in the ways we do with others, there's still a deep bond. Austin, Texas 78750. Mix Reef Crystals salt with ordinary dechlorinated water. Differences between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals, Similarities between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals. Its just not worth taking the losses to ship them. Every Order on SaltwaterAquarium.com is eligible to receive a Free Gift, just add it to your cart before checkout! Our site uses cookies. My tank does better with it. 2 Best Reef Salts For Fish Tanks | Top 10 Picks. It's the only reef salt I will ever use . Salinity: 35 ppt (1.025 sg)| Ca: 413 mg/l| Mg: 1290 mg/l|Alkalinity 7.5 dKH. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Salt Mix - 200G Box $86.95 | / 15 in stock Enriched formulation. Its mostly on here because its so readily available at local fish stores and they regularly go on sale where you can purchase boxes at huge discounts. Nicole is Reef Builders Event Manager and is responsible for running ReefStock shows in Denver and Sydney. Having said that I have yet to introduce any corals but am finally at the place where I am ready to. Instant Ocean recommends letting the saltwater mix sit overnight while mixing to allow for carbon dioxide equilibrium. The pharmaceutical grade sea salt especially for modern reef aquaria. Adding water after salt can cause a highly concentrated solution leading to some precipitation of ingredients. If you've ever been to an aquarium, you might have experienced stingrays firsthand at a touch tank. Knowing which salt is right for you comes down to the needs of your tanks livestock, your maintenance schedule, and most importantly alkalinity. No other salt on the market has the history and field results of proven usage then the Instant Ocean brand. This is really annoying to clean and can lead you to having to replace containers. Professional Sea Salt contains all of the important macro and tra. His place is a coral farm and theres no doubting his success with corals. 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. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. If you keep water changing stations or store saltwater there is a high likelihood that the agents will eventually encrust your containers with brown crud. There are a few main differences between the two. The of the most available and affordable salt mix. The Auto Delivery schedule can be changed in the cart. Aquarium Pumps & Filters Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Sea Salt Marine Mix, 50-Gallon, New, 3.1 out of 5 stars 2. Used by hobbyists, public aquariums, and research facilities. There is a cost-saving to buying salt in larger quantities. It has now been 2 years and thinks seem to be going well. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer. It's why our Sea Salt is used exclusively by many of the leading large-scale aquariums and research facilities across the country. 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. Same can be said with a FOWLR tank. In general, salt comes in two formulas standards alkalinity (7-8dkh) and high alkalinity (10-12dkh) with different manufacturers offering variations in the trace elements. NOTE: 1.4 lbs of Reef Crystals is formulated to create 5 gallons of saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.021. There are certain elements in both the Instant Ocean sea salt and Reef crystals that are important for all saltwater tanks. You may or may not be surprised by how different they actually are. If you have a bucket, mix it thoroughly prior to use, mix, then test. Reef Crystals scored 26 out of 100 in the S-15 Report. If your aquarium has been up and running for at least 6 months, we recommend Instant Ocean Sea Salt . It is formulated with pharmaceutical level ingredients and one of the fully synthetic salt mixes on this list (Brightwell being the other). 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.com. Aquarium Salt Mix Guide - That Pet Place 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. Reef Crystals Salt Mix - Bulk Reef Supply What is the difference between Instant Ocean sea salt and Reef Crystals? Reef Crystals, Seachem Reef or Red Sea Coral Pro - The Reef Tank The salt of choice for World Wide Corals. This salt has been trusted in some of the worlds largest public aquariums and will serve as an excellent foundation for your tank. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "addb0abe3263ece774dda48475cc2787" );document.getElementById("c8f286cabb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Get the latest on sales, new posts, and new videos! Even raising your calcium and mag won't stop the dosing requirement; which will be needed both more often and in larger volume as your tank gets filled with growing corals. I hardly ever buy salt locally because all the LFSs sell Fritz or Reef Crystals. Saltwater Mix: Instant Ocean vs Reef Crystals. If you are hoping to keep a simple saltwater fish tank that will serve only as a sanctuary for fish, than Instant Ocean themselves recommends using their classic Sea Salt. The difference is that the Reef crystals contain a higher concentration. One of the fastest dissolving and readily available salt mixes at local fish stores. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. 3. . To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Mix Reef crystals with dechlorinated tap or purified water. Losing a pet is never easy, but losing a fish can really be hard! These stingrays have had their barbs removed and have been acclimated to being touched, making this a safe and fun experience for both parties. Given those reasons, I would not recommend this mix for Acroporas. (And Should You Use Them), What Are Blood Worms? While it doesnt have the additional magnesium and calcium, its much more affordable, and you wont have to worry about a compromise in quality. It is also the most readily available reef salt on the market so if you are in a rush or bind it's very easy to get locally even from a chain pet store. For example, SPS corals like Acropora are going to need different parameters and trace elements vs. say a softie tank. 5% Rewards - Buy and earn $2.97 in Reward points. They started in Europe in the late 1990s and recently entered into the US Market. Instant ocean reef crystals are easy-to-use and provide all of the necessary elements required for a healthy coral environment. #3. I like that Reef Crystals contain a lot of the excess nutrients needed for coral growth which limits the need to dose anything or at least a lot. However, it is a great aquarium salt mix for those with fish only, fish only with live rock, and soft coral dominated tanks. Every batch is ICP tested. Natural seawater has a specific gravity of 1.025 (salinity of 35ppt) and most salts are calibrated to this number. I currently have a 375 gallon aquarium, mostly soft corals to this point but Im trying to keep more sps and corals. Once you have the RODI water at the correct temperature you will want to put in circulation from an Aquarium Wavemaker or Aquarium Return Pump. Not sure if that is a plausible assumption but would make since seeing as I feed lightly, skim heavily and WC 20% a week with a dual reactor running. A have a third lfs , which in addition to Reef Crystals sells Kent. Nicole is also a manager for Reef Builders social media accounts and a weekly contributor to the Reef Builders site. 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. Ive added another phosphate reducer pad to the filter. 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. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy, The Best Salt For Saltwater Aquariums Reef Builder Gear Guide, Reef Evolution is a new salt from Aquarium Systems, Fritz Reef Pro Mix (RPM) High Alkalinity Formula, Seachem Made a Surprisingly Good 'Dual' Air Silencer, Acanthoplesiops jessicae, an Attractive New Species of Spiny Basslet from PNG, New study finds herbivore fish poo is bad for corals, Improving Carbon Dioxide and pH Management, New Coral Reef Discovered in the Galapagos, Gilmorei is the first Polylepion wrasse to be found in the Atlantic. 2. Metal Detoxifier - to neutralize traces of heavy metal often present in domestic water supplies. Instant ocean vs. Reef Crystals : r/Aquariums - Reddit Two Little Fishies AcroPower Amino Acids Review, ReefWave 45 Review: Red Seas Gyre Powerhead. Instant Ocean is engineered to closely match natural seawater, and Reef Crystals are enriched to facilitate the. Optimum effectiveness. Now lets go into detail and see why each mix was picked, With pharmaceutical level ingredients and a guarantee of all 70 trace elements, Tropic Marin is ideal for tanks full of designer corals. So follow the parameters listed on the mixes and dose to those levels. I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. The More You Spend, The More You Get! That being said, Instant Ocean Sea Salt is made for fish only tanks. The salt is a very small part of the puzzle given the small amount of major elements added by typical water changes. Mixing Instant Ocean salt is straightforward and easy to do. 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. Red Sea 400 8 1300. 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. After you order you can change the schedule in, Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. More Choices Available. User Tag List View First Unread Previous Thread | Next Thread Thread Tools Amazon.com: Reef Crystals 200 Gallon Mix Its important to use a dedicated mixing vat for saltwater, and a calibrated refractometer to ensure you are getting the most accurate specific gravity measurements. 2.3 2) Instant Ocean Sea Salt For Marine Aquariums. Below is a list of common questions I get asked. This is because it is well documented that Fritz has had quality control issues in the past. The thing to get used to is measuring and dosing, as your tank grows out you will get a feel for what you need and use automated dosing, kalk, or a ca reactor. 2.1 1) Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. DIVER'S DEN WYSIWYG Store - 100's of NEW Aquatic Life Added Daily! The main advantage with Fritz Reef Pro Mix is that it mixes very fast. Aquarium Store Depot earns a commission if you make a purchase. 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. Tunze Reef Salt 420 9.5 1350. Interested in what people have to say, experience with either/both and reasons for using one over the other. Instant Ocean - Ever wonder what the difference is between - Facebook Gyre vs Powerhead: Which Should You Put in Your Reef Tank? Create listings for FREE and gain access to tools and services that can help your online aquarium business flourish. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs Reef Crystals: Similarities & Differences. It is a top tier salt mix with a reasonable price. Top 5 Refugium Lights for Growing Chaetomorpha. Reef Crystals Reef Salt Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean Best Reef Salt - Top 5 Tank Salt Ranked And Reviewed 2023 2.6 Pros & Cons. Instant Ocean reef crystals on Amazon here. Salt mixes that are mostly or 100%synthetic represent some of the highest quality and most expensive reef salt mixes in the market. 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. Is it an RO system not an RODI system? Its the same quality and field tested Instant Ocean salt we are familiar with the industry, but with a better formula designed for mixed reef tanks. Enriched formulation. But its not set in stone for every type of salt. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. Formulated by researchers and marine scientists, RPM contains all of the necessary major and minor elements of natural sea water that are utilized by living marine and reef animals. CAUTION: REEF CRYSTALS IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Hobbyists may prefer Reef Crystals if they're keeping stony corals, such as Brain Corals or Chalices since they will benefit from the additional calcium. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt Review - Petsnetic In a hurry? If you are storing saltwater for future use, I wouldnt recommend Reef Crystals because the caking. Salt formulas DO MATTER, and using the wrong salt could be doing more harm than good during your weekly water change. Every tank has different needs depending on the type of corals you have. Saltwater aquarium hobbyists who plan on keeping corals, especially stony corals, will benefit from the added Magnesium and Calcium seen in Reef Crystals . 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. The Europeans do it again with a revolutionary probiotic salt mix. The pro reef salt has the most ideal big three parameters for SPS tanks. Might even consider reverting to Standard Instant Ocean if the difference in dosing is negligible at a given saturation point. Just take the price of the salt and divide it by the amount of salt that it makes in gallons. In the list Im going to provide you will see that I label each marine salt for you as synthetic or mined. Spectrum Brands, a Wisconsin-based company with over 5 billion in revenue, owns the subsidiary Instant Ocean, a Blacksburg, VA-based business that specializes in sea salt, protein skimmers, and other aquarium-related accessories. 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. Copyright 2023 Salt Tank Report. I want to get around all the marketing fluff and just tell you what works for your tank and needs. Ever wonder what the difference is between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals? Red Sea Coral Pro Saltis about as close as you can get from natural sea water from how they formulate their mix. The first thing is the anti-caking agents in the salt mix. Mined reef salt mixes come from the mined evaporated seawater ocean deposits. It does not have the evaluatedlevels and trace elements that Reef Crystals have. 4. I like oceanic it dissolves so far and its a great salt, i was using instant ocean and kept getting ph swings.. 75 . JavaScript is disabled. Reef Crystals vs. Red Sea Coral Pro Salt Fortunately I have been taking things nice and slow and enjoying the establishing process of building a nice tank and listening to other reefers . For a mixed reef and smaller reef tanks I would say this is a great salt mix for you. 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. More Buying Choices $42.95 (3 new offers) Kraken Reef UV Coral Viewing Glasses 4.7 (418) 200+ bought in past month $1299 He swears by and only uses Reef Crystals. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals; Instant Ocean is a legacy aquarium product found at most local fish stores. This high alkalinity mixture tests between 9.5-13 DKh . Manufacturer's Mixing Instructions: Remember: 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. Unfortunately, fish die. This includes the amount or quantity of elements in the salt. (I recommend using a refractometer). What do you recommend? Formulated specially for use in reef aquariums, Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. Its actually easier than you think. Hi I am a very beginner to have a SPS tank. There are other differences which I explain below. IO unless you have a fair amount of lps and sps building skeletons. However, for a Acropora heavy tank, many reefers like to keep their alkalinity lower in order to keep it more stable and closer to natural sea water. At a salinity of S = 35, AccuraSea1 produces the following target parameters: calcium 420 mg/l, magnesium 1300 mg/l, strontium 8 mg/l, potassium 400 mg/l, Alkalinity 8 dKH. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals So when it comes to choosing the salt for your aquarium, keep it simple: Instant Ocean Sea Salt for fish only environments, and Instant Ocean Reef Crystal for more complex reef based environments. We earn from qualifying purchases.*. Hopefully these answer your questions. I have also seen a few mixes that have failed ICP tests with several parameters being too low. Fritz Reef Pro Mix (RPM) High Alkalinity Formula is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. 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. . USAGE NOTE: NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. Instant Ocean - Free shipping | Chewy We're sorry, oversized items on this page cannot be shipped by air. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Amazon.com: Reef Crystals I dont have a hardcore acro tank, but if I did I would be running Tropic Marin or AquaForest. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)| Ca: 400-450 ppm| Mg: 1300-1400 pp|Alkalinity: 8.0-9.0 dKH. 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. This means that those who already dose 2-part, use kalkwasser, a calcium reactor or other similar dosing regimes can conduct a water change with D-Ds new salt without experiencing a spike in their KH or Calcium levels. Your cost per gallon each month would be 0.50 cents. Thats what I will show you in this article. There is very little difference between Reef Crystals and it's sister product Instant Ocean. We do frequent water changes and have a RO system. NOTE: 1.4 lbs of Reef Crystals is formulated to create 5 gallons of saltwater at a specific gravity of 1.021. Curious as to what constitutes/tips the use of Reef Crystal Salt over say standard Sea Salt? Now lets talk about the reef salt mixes themselves. What type of tank do you have and making sure you dose to what your salt mix is. Reef Crystals is intended for use in a reef environment. Tropic Marin 375 10 1230. Always use the recommendations from the manufacturer to determine how much salt to use. if You have a significant population of growing stony corals, you will have to dose ALK and Ca or do heroic water changes. The advantages of this packing are many: You can mix up a batch without ever having to check the salinity. Reef salt is made up of all the salts and trace elements that you find in seawater such as chloride, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. Now I am in the process of turning my 4 month old 210 Gallon w/40 Gallon Sump into a Fish and Coral Reef Aquarium. 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: . This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. Fritz RPM Reef Pro Mix is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. If you have a reef tank, go with the Reef crystals. In New Aquariums: Ive recommended Brightwell Aquatics products in the past like their Neophos and Mircobacter 7. Optimum effectiveness. . Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most carefully formulated and universally preferred sea salt in the world. Saltwater Mix: Instant Ocean vs Reef Crystals - Aqua Life Hub There are many incredible looking reef tanks that use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals and you will save some money using it over the other brands. 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. Every 4 months you would have enough salt leftover for an extra month. This is where we start getting into details. Aqua Life Hub is 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. Water Changes: Because water conditions at different locations vary tremendously, a commercial dechlorinator is recommended to completely neutralize any concentrations of chlorine and/or chloramines. The owner of AquaForest uses all his products on his tanks. 1 Overview. All content here is available for continued discussion at the new forums. Wow, I learned so much about salt from reading your article. If you plan on using these salts to set up a new aquarium, go with Instant Ocean Sea Salt . Below is a video from Raising Reef with better visual introductions and with directions for those of you who like to use water changing stations or store water. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is an Enriched formulation made especially for use in reef aquariums. You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tank's requirements. So its Brightwell for me. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Salinity 35 ppt | Ca 400-450 ppm|Mg 1300-1400 ppm|Alkalinity10 11.5dkh. His site was created to share his knowledge and unique teaching style on a larger scale. Reefer's Best 420 11 1200. 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. Keep reading.

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