instant ocean sea salt vs reef crystals

The of the most available and affordable salt mix. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. Fast dissolving. One extra caveat is to test every single batch of salt you buy. Post Here. Just take the price of the salt and divide it by the amount of salt that it makes in gallons. 2389 Air Park Road, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501. Optimum effectiveness. We earn from qualifying purchases.*. Same can be said with a FOWLR tank. Saltwater is only as good as the equipment you use to maintain it. 5. Brightwell Aquatics NeoMarine Salt providing all major elements, minor and trace elements, and elements known to be in natural seawater. WheresTheReef If you keep clams or SPS, you're going to need to dose regardless. Reef Crystals also contains special additives to help detoxify excess heavy metals, such as copper, and is fully compatible with all marine aquariums. The main difference between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals is that Reef Crystals contain higher levels of magnesium and calcium. 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. (I recommend using a refractometer). Should I change from my current Instant Ocean Reef Crystals to a better salt mix for my nano reef tank? Saltwater Mix: Instant Ocean vs Reef Crystals. I use IO instead of Reef Crystals. Adjust salt level accordingly. Check todays price of Instant Ocean sea salt on Amazon here. Instant Ocean sea salt will be cheaper to purchase versus reef crystals. Perhaps you have a nano tank and buy a 10-gallon bag of reef crystals for $15. These are controlled systems where visitors can extend their hands into the water with the hopes that a stingray will swim by to be touched. All Rights Reserved. 2.1 Choosing salt mixes; 2.2 Use a safe water supply; 2.3 Maintaining your tank; 2.4 How much marine salt is necessary? Anyway, my parameters are as follows: Salinity: 1.025 Temperature: 78 Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: .25 They started in Europe in the late 1990s and recently entered into the US Market. Used by hobbyists, public aquariums, and research facilities. Discussing the best reef salt mixes is always a passionate discussion among reefers and saltwater aquarists. Hobbyists may prefer Reef Crystals if theyre keeping stony corals, such as Brain Corals or Chalices since they will benefit from the additional calcium. I recommend using this refractometer. I began my saltwater expedition with Instant Ocean Sea Salt not realizing the amazing nature of Corals and there demands. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "addb0abe3263ece774dda48475cc2787" );document.getElementById("c8f286cabb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Get the latest on sales, new posts, and new videos! Nicole is Reef Builders Event Manager and is responsible for running ReefStock shows in Denver and Sydney. You could purchase a 50-gallon bag of Instant Ocean sea salt for around $25. Optimum effectiveness. 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. Are Ghost Shrimp and Tetras Good Tank Mates? Instant Ocean Reef Crystals can be as high as 13, which can be disastrous to an SPS tank after a water change. Reef salt is the magic ingredient for your saltwater aquarium. All content here is available for continued discussion at the new forums. Instant Ocean salt is one of those items. You can learn more about their process in the video below: Red seacoral pro salt is one of the more trusted mixes used by frag sellers and SPS stick heads. Tropic Marin PRO-REEF Sea Salt has been designed to meet the special requirements of reef aquariums with optimized Enriched formulation. This salt will work great for softy and LPS tanks that can take the swings better, but you run the risk of problems after water changes with this mix with sensitive SPS corals like Acros. FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquarium supplies orders $49 and up. Tropic Marin 375 10 1230. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Air in reefer 900 seam should I be worried. However, the main benefit of Reef Crystals over Instant Ocean are elevated calcium and magnesium concentrations. Fortunately I have been taking things nice and slow and enjoying the establishing process of building a nice tank and listening to other reefers . However, if you are hoping to establish a more complex reef based ecosystem with live rock and corals, they recommend using the Reef Crystals.The main reason for this is that the additional living organisms that come with a full on reef based ecosystem require more nutrients from their salt to grow than fish do. Mix Reef crystals with dechlorinated tap or purified water. 1.2 Instant Ocean Salt Review; 1.3 Bright Well Salt Review; 1.4 Aquaforest Reef Salt Review; 2 Marine Salt Buying guide. This is because it is well documented that Fritz has had quality control issues in the past. If youre shopping on a budget, go with Instant Ocean Sea Salt . Instant Ocean Crystals Budget Friendly, 4. Yes, fortunately many LFS around us supply Fritz because they have built a massive marketing machine promoting their products. Table 3 presents the results of the analysis of fifteen trace elements for eight brands of synthetic sea salts (SSS): Instant Ocean (IO), BioSea Marine Mix (BSMM), Crystal Seas Marine Mix Bioassay (CSMMB), Coralife (CL), Tropic Marin (TM), Reef Crystals (RC), Red Sea (RS) and Oceanic Sea Salt (OSS). The Reef Crystals contain additional vitamins and calcium that are crucial for the life within these complex environments to grow.While the additional calcium and vitamins included in the Reef Crystals are in no way beneficial to the growth and development of your fish, they are also by no means harmful in any sense. Softie and LPS tanks can tolerate more swings so going with a mix with a high alkalinity isnt going to hurt you. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer. Rated 4.5439 out of 5 stars . I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. You can then use these numbers to figure out how much its going to cost you each month to purchase salt for your tank. 5% Rewards - Buy and earn $2.97 in Reward points. I recommend Tropic Marine Pro Reef Salt! It is readily available at the local fish stores and online though, meaning you wont have to worry about getting your normal salt mix in a pinch if you need to get it locally. Axolotl vs Mudpuppy: What's the Difference? For a tank that large, I imagine you are using some type of water reserve or water changing station to keep saltwater mixed to be at the ready. There are a few cons here though. Check The Facts About Instant Ocean. 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. 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. In a hurry? The #1 choice of hobbyists, public aquariums, and scientific research facilities, Instant Our Reef Cleaner Packages are Wild Collected they let you naturally control algae, maintain crystal clear water, and keep your sand bed sifted. This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. If specific gravity is too low, add more Reef Crystals salt. Many successful reefs use this salt. It has now been 2 years and thinks seem to be going well. Instant Ocean sea salt is perfect for fish only and FOWLR tanks just the way it is out of the box. 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. Both are suitable for all saltwater tanks. Correct pH and buffering capacity, essential minerals and trace elements have been added in precise ratios to ensure a correctly blended mix for the health and longevity of your livestock. If you have a reef tank, go with the Reef crystals. Salinity 35 ppt | Ca 400-450 ppm|Mg 1300-1400 ppm|Alkalinity10 11.5dkh. It is the thing that makes the water in your aquarium salty and helps you replicate natural reef waters. This is the very first statement Im going to lay out for you. Rated 4.6757 out of 5 stars . It may not display this or other websites correctly. Formulated specially for use in reef aquariums, Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. Metal Detoxifier - to neutralize traces of heavy metal often present in domestic water supplies. Many tropical fish have long lifespans which means they share a lot of time with us. His place is a coral farm and theres no doubting his success with corals. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Every batch is ICP tested. If youre looking to create saltwater at home, youll need a few things, a mixing bucket, RO/DI water, a heater, and the most important part - reef salt. FREE 1-3 day shipping on this item. When hes not writing about fish, you can find him going for a run or building websites, such as this one! Every Order on SaltwaterAquarium.com is eligible to receive a Free Gift, just add it to your cart before checkout! 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. 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.. Since I use water changing stations, I stay away from anything that cakes. My tank does better with it. This post may have affiliate links, which means we may receive commissions if you choose to purchase through links I provide (at no extra cost to you). JavaScript is disabled. Its just not the best for hard corals because of the batch consistency. Stir vigorously to ensure a good mix. Mix Reef Crystals salt with ordinary dechlorinated water. It really depends on what corals you are planning to keep. The salt of choice for World Wide Corals. Any discounts on Instant Ocean: Reef Crystals? Enriched Reef Crystals Reef Salt is formulated especially for reef aquariums. I currently have a 375 gallon aquarium, mostly soft corals to this point but Im trying to keep more sps and corals. I dont have a hardcore acro tank, but if I did I would be running Tropic Marin or AquaForest. Its first product was Instant Ocean, and its been used in large-scale hatcheries and aquariums ever since. If you perform 2 water changes each month at 20 gallons each, you will need to make 40 gallons of saltwater each month. In fact, you can look up the test results online with every salt bucket you purchase. /TM/ 2023 Spectrum Brands, Inc. or one of its affiliates. You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tank's requirements. There is very little difference between Reef Crystals and it's sister product Instant Ocean. Every 4 months you would have enough salt leftover for an extra month. D-D The Aquarium Solution has added a second formulation to its popular H2Ocean salt brand. Figure a 200 gallon box of Reef Crystals is about $0.27/gal and the smaller bags are like $0.36/gal. This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. Both of these products are top end choices that youll find recommended in just about any forum across the web, and maintaining an aquarium can be tricky enough without having to nitpick between products on every decision you make. I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. While both products are renowned as being the best on the market, they are notably different, and its very important to know these differences before deciding which one you want to fill your tank with.The first thing you need to think about when deciding between the two is exactly what kind of aquarium you have or hope to have. Red Sea Coral Pro 490 7 1300. All rights reserved. He has worked on making aquarium and pond keeping approachable. Fritz has a big marketing machine that sponsors a lot of YouTubers and they tend to be everywhere at the local fish stores. We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. A 25% change of aquarium water, done on a monthly basis, is recommended to maintain water quality. These stingrays have had their barbs removed and have been acclimated to being touched, making this a safe and fun experience for both parties. DIVER'S DEN WYSIWYG Store - 100's of NEW Aquatic Life Added Daily! Most reefers should choose a standard alkalinity mix and aim for stability to avoid alkalinity highs or lows. This includes the amount or quantity of elements in the salt. If your aquarium has been up and running for at least 6 months, we recommend Instant Ocean Sea Salt . Thanks for reading. It is also available in different quantities from 10 gallons to 200 gallons which is great for all sizes of tanks. #3. This produces an all natural eco-friendly mix that is one of the best mixes in the industry. This mix is perfect as you can dose to 7.5 8.0 and not worry about a water change completely throwing off your key parameters. It is formulated with pharmaceutical level ingredients and one of the fully synthetic salt mixes on this list (Brightwell being the other). He started in the aquarium hobby at the age of 11 and along the way worked at local fish stores. Amazon.com: Reef Crystals 17 results for "reef crystals" Results Aquarium Pumps & Filters Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Sea Salt Marine Mix, 50-Gallon, New, 3.1 (2) $4299 FREE delivery Wed, Apr 12 Only 3 left in stock - order soon. Brightwell Aquatics Neomarine The Choice For Worldwide Corals, 3. 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. Reef Crystals (and other reef orientated salt mixes) have higher levels or essential and trace elements that would probably benefit stony corals more. JavaScript is disabled. Just to be clear, "standard sea salt" is a mix like Instant Ocean, not just plain salt right? . We're sorry, oversized items on this page cannot be shipped by air. They make Instant Ocean sea salt and Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. Below is a list of the best reef salt mixes available today. Fish only saltwater aquariums are not going to need an expensive or advanced salt mix so a budget mix will do the job. You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tanks requirements. with cool water and seek medical attention. 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. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. The salt is collected from the Red Sea. Instant Ocean Reef Salt for Aquariums, 160-gal. That salt will cost you 0.35 cents per gallon to make. Change 20% of aquarium water every two weeks to maintain optimum water quality. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer. Instant Ocean is engineered to closely match natural seawater, and reef crystals is enriched to facilitate the growth of corals and other invertebrates in a reef aquarium. *This post contains affiliate links. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It is not available locally, but you can order it in bulk online. Enriched formulation. Reef salt is made up of all the salts and trace elements that you find in seawater such as chloride, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. So I feel like Im back to square one. While it doesnt have the additional magnesium and calcium, its much more affordable, and you wont have to worry about a compromise in quality. Typically, a bucket of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals capable of creating 200 gallons of saltwater will run you around $60 , while the same amount of Instant Ocean Sea Salt will be a bit cheaper at around $50 Both products go on sale frequently, which is great for those of us looking to snag a good deal. Instant Ocean Sea Salt vs Reef Crystals: Similarities & Differences. But here is a direct quote from Instant Ocean themselves. It does not have the evaluatedlevels and trace elements that Reef Crystals have. That salt will cost you $1.50 for each gallon you make. Mixing Instant Ocean salt is straightforward and easy to do. There are actually two mixes Red Sea sells. The Europeans do it again with a revolutionary probiotic salt mix. ), Salt mix package is measure at 35 PPM you will actually get the volume stated on the box, Low ALK can be a disadvantage for those who dont dose (e.g. I usually let it mix overnight and test the salinity again because I do my water changes. It's the only reef salt I will ever use . Unfortunately, fish die. How do you test the salinity of Instant Ocean salt? If your soft corals are doing fine you can stick with the salt you have. Salt Mix Box (55 lbs - Makes 200 Gallons) - Fritz Aquatics, MarcoRocks Shelf Premium Dry Rock (by the lb) - Marco Rock, 1/4" Mur-lok Polyethylene ORANGE RO Tubing (by the Foot), HI782-25 Nitrate High Range Reagents (25 tests) - Hanna Instruments, SaltwaterAquarium.com Tank Parameter Reference Card, HI713-25 Phosphate Low Range Checker Reagent (25 Tests) - Hanna Instruments, Sea Salt Mix Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean, (Germany) Pro Reef Salt Bucket (200 Gallon) - Tropic Marin, Reef Crystals Salt Mix Bucket (Makes 160 Gallons) - Instant Ocean, Large Bucket Coral Pro Sea Salt Mix (Makes 175 Gallons) - Red Sea, Small Bucket Coral Pro Sea Salt Mix (Makes 55 Gallons) - Red Sea, Fritz PRO RPM Salt Mix Bucket (48 lbs - Makes 180 Gallons) - Fritz Aquatics, 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 nutrients, Extra Vitamins to ensure vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment. After you order you can change the schedule in, Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. A main competitor close by tells me Fritz is too unreliable because of the alk swings from batch to batch, as you too pointed out. You do not have to follow that guideline if you purchase a mix with an evaluated level of Alkalinity, but you will likely want to still regularly check your levels and make sure you do not drop below 8 DKH. I seem to have a small cyano issue that I am hoping is the result of the excess nutrients in the Reef Crystals. Adding water after salt can cause a highly concentrated solution leading to some precipitation of ingredients. For SPS, especially high end SPS like Acros you will need salt that is not only high quality, but also has proper QC. 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. This salt contains high levels of potassium and trace amounts of calcium in addition to the important micronutrients that help keep the pH balance in check, all without any additives or other substances. Water Changes: *FREE SHIPPING on qualifying aquatic life orders $229 and up. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt is the budget friendly reef salt for many of us with reef tanks. Instant Ocean is engineered to closely match natural seawater, and Reef Crystals are enriched to facilitate the. Reef Crystals is intended for use in a reef environment. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Salt Mix - 200G Box $86.95 | / 15 in stock Enriched formulation. Like I mentioned the tank is going on 2 years and is humming along. Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. Tropic Marin Pro Reef 450 8.5 1380. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.025 sg)| Ca: 413 mg/l| Mg: 1290 mg/l|Alkalinity 7.5 dKH. So follow the parameters listed on the mixes and dose to those levels. Have you tested your water parameters or your water after its been mixed to see if you are getting high phosphates or nitrates? If you follow reef YouTubers around, you likely have heard of Fritz Reef Pro Mix. Hopefully these answer your questions. Instant Ocean recommends letting the saltwater mix sit overnight while mixing to allow for carbon dioxide equilibrium. Mined reef salt mixes come from the mined evaporated seawater ocean deposits. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more, The Best Salt Mix Is The One Closest To Your Ideal Parameters, Aquarium Mix Parameters And Major Elements, 2. Calculating the cost of these salts can be done easily. Others will be pulled from the ocean like Red Sea Salt. That way your parameters dont swing when you change your water. SeaChem Reef Salt 540 10 1450. AquariaCentral.com, a division of Monster Aquaria Network, LLC. 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. 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. We dont spam. Keep in mind that you should test the levels of magnesium and calcium in your display tank and in the water that you have mixed with reef crystals. Optimum effectiveness. This salt has been trusted in some of the worlds largest public aquariums and will serve as an excellent foundation for your tank. Wow, I learned so much about salt from reading your article. Recommended Specific Gravity Range: 1.020-1.026 at 77F. USAGE NOTE: NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. However, if you are serious about Acropora corals, I would steer away from this mix. The Reef formulas of salts usually have higher, calcium, magnesium,alkalinity etc. Reef Crystals is underweight to produce 50 US gallons at aquarium needs. Reef Crystals Reef Salt Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean. 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. Use an accurate hydrometer, such as the SeaTest Hydrometer full range specific gravity meter, to adjust salinity. Every time I walk into the fish store to buy my critters more salt, I've always wondered what the difference between IO Sea Salt and IO Reef Crystals. The main difference between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals is that Reef Crystals contain higher levels of magnesium and calcium. Curious as to what constitutes/tips the use of Reef Crystal Salt over say standard Sea Salt? A have a third lfs , which in addition to Reef Crystals sells Kent. Eheim 2215 vs 2217: Which Canister Filter Is Better for You? Coral FREE WITH ANY ORDER.  JUST ADD TO YOUR CART WITH MERCHANDISE AND IT WILL BE FREE. In new aquariums, transfer animals to the aquarium after salt is completely mixed and aerated and specific gravity is adjusted correctly. Instant Ocean has been around since the 1960s, when William Kelley, the former director of the Cleveland aquarium founded the business. 2.2 Pros & Cons. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 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. Login or register now to maximize your savings and access profile information, order history, tracking, shopping lists, and more. By the way any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon and other stores/partners are affiliate links. Learn how to properly mix saltwater with various brands of aquarium salt from the experts at That Fish Place - That Pet Place & thatpetplace.com. Those 2 salts are the only one that Triton is recommending. +1 for reef crystals. When all your gear is dialed in, your dosers are working overtime, and your acro garden is ready to thrive thats when its time to switch to the higher alkalinity formulas. Feb 19, 2010. Use cup of salt for each U.S gallon of water. Tropic Marin is a brand you may not see regularly at the local fish store or chain stores, but they have been a major name brand all across the world, particularly in Europe. This high alkalinity mixture tests between 9.5-13 DKh . A general rule is to use cup of salt per gallon of water. 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. There is a cost-saving to buying salt in larger quantities. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)| Ca: 430 ppm| Mg: 1290 ppm|Alkalinity: 8.0 dKH. Nicole is also a manager for Reef Builders social media accounts and a weekly contributor to the Reef Builders site. This is the main reason I stopped selling salt mixes online. Even so, water changes likely will not be enough in a full blown SPS tank. However, this is the best salt money can buy today. Always use the recommendations from the manufacturer to determine how much salt to use. If you have a bucket, mix it thoroughly prior to use, mix, then test. So think of it this way. You might have 10 gallons extra leftover from the bag which you can keep for next month. Flawed logic IMO. It will build up in your containers over time and those containers can be expensive to replace. Reef Crystals is intended for use in a reef environment. Testing the salinity of your Instant Ocean salt can be done using a refractometer. Hi I am a very beginner to have a SPS tank. When they first went to market, there were some batches with different Alkalinity numbers. Mark has been featured in two books about aquarium keeping both best sellers on Amazon. Myself included. In New Aquariums: What is the recommended specific gravity range? Because water conditions at different locations vary tremendously, a commercial dechlorinator is recommended to completely neutralize any concentrations of chlorine and/or chloramines. I don't think there is a good reason to run levels outside of that range but we all have our preferences. When used correctly, Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals will set the pH of a tank between 8.0 to 8.3, and kH levels between 7-10 dKH. At the end of the day either is great (But I reccomend consitancy) because you are going to need to dose alk, ca, and mag in a thriving reef anyway. Is it an RO system not an RODI system? More Choices Available. At your local fish store, where your fish store gets salt in pallets so they dont lose money or on an online merchant like Amazon where you know you are not making the retailer lose money shipping the box or bucket of salt to you. Knowing which salt is right for you comes down to the needs of your tanks livestock, your maintenance schedule, and most importantly alkalinity. I use reef crystals. Raising the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) will help solve both. AquaForest Probiotic The Only One That Is ICP Tested, 5. More Buying Choices $42.95 (3 new offers) Kraken Reef UV Coral Viewing Glasses 4.7 (418) 200+ bought in past month $1299 The cons on caking, which Fritz doesnt and it sounds as if its for beginners. 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 . I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. and I have yet to have anything negative to say about reef crystals. User Tag List View First Unread Previous Thread | Next Thread Thread Tools The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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.

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