. We have been using reef crystals, but have noticed lots of hair algae recently. 2005-2019 Monsterfishkeepers.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. Eco-Complete vs Flourite: Which Is Better? I have also seen a few mixes that have failed ICP tests with several parameters being too low. The Reef formulas of salts usually have higher, calcium, magnesium,alkalinity etc. The main issue with the Red Sea Coral Pro is its availability. There is very little difference between Reef Crystals and it's sister product Instant Ocean. 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 even tanks where people do not dose, so a mix with evaluated parameters will make the most sense for those people. The Reef Crystals would be a better choice, it has higher levels of magnesium, calcium, strontium, etc. From there each salt comes with precise mixing instructions to achieve the desired specific gravity. Stir vigorously to mix salt and water. Fritz Pro Mix Readily Available Quick Mixing Product, Chloroquine Phosphate Aquarium Dosing Calculator, How To Euthanize A Fish - 1 Humane (and 7 Others MEthods To Avoid), Freshwater Stingray Care Guide (Types, Care, and Environment), What Are Aquarium Air Stones? DIVER'S DEN WYSIWYG Store - 100's of NEW Aquatic Life Added Daily! 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. It is a top tier salt mix with a reasonable price. Instant Ocean Crystals Budget Friendly, 4. Calculating the cost of these salts can be done easily. The mix also has anti-caking agents which will turn your buckets and holding vats brown over time with crud making non-ideal to use for those who like to store saltwater. Instant Ocean® Sea Salt is the most carefully formulated and universally preferred 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. I would say the mix time is around that of Brightwells product. More Buying Choices $42.95 (3 new offers) Kraken Reef UV Coral Viewing Glasses 4.7 (418) 200+ bought in past month $1299 Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. JavaScript is disabled. It really depends on what corals you are planning to keep. 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. Copyright 2023, LiveAquaria. He started in the aquarium hobby at the age of 11 and along the way worked at local fish stores. The salt is a very small part of the puzzle given the small amount of major elements added by typical water changes. 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. One of the fastest dissolving and readily available salt mixes at local fish stores. Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the most used sea salt in the world. What difference does ten bucks make? What type of tank do you have and making sure you dose to what your salt mix is. 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. Instant Ocean Sea Salt is the best selling aquarium salt in the world. I began my saltwater expedition with Instant Ocean Sea Salt not realizing the amazing nature of Corals and there demands. Seachems Purigen vs MatrixCarbon: Which Is Better? AquaForest Probiotic The Only One That Is ICP Tested, 5. We dont spam. Increased alkalinity has been shown to increase the growth of SPS. Ive used many brands over my 30 years in the hobby. 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. Q: What is the difference between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals? The owner of AquaForest uses all his products on his tanks. 2. How do you test the salinity of Instant Ocean salt? Yes, fortunately many LFS around us supply Fritz because they have built a massive marketing machine promoting their products. I'd say most people are successful using just plain old salt like Instant Ocean. Enriched formulation. Please advise. 3.1 Red Sea Coral Pro Salt; 3.2 Instant Ocean Reef . Its a known fact in our hobby that most retailers lose money selling salt, especially online retailers as the shipping cost is very high in comparison to other dry goods. and I have yet to have anything negative to say about reef crystals. 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. . Reef Crystals also contains special additives to help detoxify excess heavy metals, such as copper, and is fully compatible with all marine aquariums. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean hydrometer. 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. Plus, it tends to be a bit more popular, so its often easier to find locally which can save you a few extra bucks in shipping costs. If you've ever been to an aquarium, you might have experienced stingrays firsthand at a touch tank. You will want to dose to your water change parameters. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. What do you recommend? Since I use water changing stations, I stay away from anything that cakes. I won't comment about the trace element part, short of there are usually more than enough in all salt mixes. The main difference between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals is that Reef Crystals contain higher levels of magnesium and calcium. Formulated specially for use in reef aquariums, Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. Red Sea 400 8 1300. It does not have the evaluatedlevels and trace elements that Reef Crystals have. The main advantage with Fritz Reef Pro Mix is that it mixes very fast. Below is a list of common questions I get asked. When it comes to filling a saltwater aquarium, most fish tank owners would agree that the choice of which salt to put in generally comes down to two big name products; Instant Oceans High Quality Sea Salt, or Instant Oceans Reef Crystals. Optimum effectiveness. Softie and LPS tanks can tolerate more swings so going with a mix with a high alkalinity isnt going to hurt you. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Nicole Helgason is a professional scuba diver and can often be found photographing corals and sharing her passion about coral reefs around the world. 3 Instant ocean reef crystals vs red sea coral pro. (And Should You Use Them), What Are Blood Worms? NEVER mix salt in an aquarium containing animals. We seek to promote and sell equipment that works and understand that sometimes these will be products we do not carry so we are happy to part folks in the right direction :). Fritz RPM Reef Pro Mix is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. Its first product was Instant Ocean, and its been used in large-scale hatcheries and aquariums ever since. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Check todays price of Instant Ocean reef crystals on Amazon here. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer. I dont have a hardcore acro tank, but if I did I would be running Tropic Marin or AquaForest. 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. What is the proper way to mix Instant Ocean salt? So think of it this way. Saltwater aquarium hobbyists who plan on keeping corals, especially stony corals, will benefit from the added Magnesium and Calcium seen in Reef Crystals . No more back and forth adding salt, mixing, waiting, testing and adjusting until you get it right. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Eheim 2215 vs 2217: Which Canister Filter Is Better for You? They offer a basic sea salt variety and reef crystal variety formulated for reef aquariums. In New Aquariums: Its just not the best for hard corals because of the batch consistency. Formulated specially for use in reef aquariums, Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. If you follow reef YouTubers around, you likely have heard of Fritz Reef Pro Mix. Ever wonder what the difference is between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals? Anti-caking agents tend to turn your saltwater holding buckets and vats brown over time. Copyright 2023 Salt Tank Report. At the recommendation of one lfs, Im using Fritz (blue box), only salt he sells. Unfortunately, fish die. I recommend Tropic Marine Pro Reef Salt! There is a quick list for you depending on your needs below: I hope this article helps with figuring out what salt mix works best for you. Which way should I go? +1 for reef crystals. Instant Ocean at Petsmart- I just ordered 3. Optimum effectiveness. Reef Crystals (and other reef orientated salt mixes) have higher levels or essential and trace elements that would probably benefit stony corals more. Instant Ocean reef crystals on Amazon here. The pro reef salt has the most ideal big three parameters for SPS tanks. Top 5 Refugium Lights for Growing Chaetomorpha. Although the Reef Crystals solution may be used immediately, we suggest aerating the water until it achieves oxygen/carbon dioxide equilibrium. Whether this is due to stress, illness, injury, or old age, there will come a time when you are with your fish in its last days. The cons on caking, which Fritz doesnt and it sounds as if its for beginners. It has now been 2 years and thinks seem to be going well. It is affordable, easy to use, and accurate. 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. Air in reefer 900 seam should I be worried. You could purchase a 50-gallon bag of Instant Ocean sea salt for around $25. Might even consider reverting to Standard Instant Ocean if the difference in dosing is negligible at a given saturation point. 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. Reefer's Best 420 11 1200. 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. I don't think there is a good reason to run levels outside of that range but we all have our preferences. 2.6 Pros & Cons. 2389 Air Park Road, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501. Instant Ocean salt calculator How much do you use? Aquarium Store Depot earns a commission if you make a purchase. I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. I use reef crystals. You are using an out of date browser. 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. Salinity: 35 ppt (1.0264 sg)| Ca: 420 mg/l| Mg: 1300 mg/l|Alkalinity 8 dKH. 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. Salt formulas DO MATTER, and using the wrong salt could be doing more harm than good during your weekly water change. Recommended Specific Gravity Range: 1.020-1.026 at 77F. For example, lets say you buy a 200-gallon box of reef crystals for $70. Have you tested your water parameters or your water after its been mixed to see if you are getting high phosphates or nitrates? Both are very affordable and are most times cheaper than other brands on the market. Ive recommended Brightwell Aquatics products in the past like their Neophos and Mircobacter 7. Recommended specific gravity range: 1.020 to 1.023 at 75F. The salt of choice for World Wide Corals. Some fish store recommended me to get a dosing which is pretty expensive. It doesnt make the #1 pick because of its price, not because of its quality. (Everything You Need To Know), A Complete Care Guide for German Blue RamsFeeding, Housing, Breeding, and More, Freshwater Crabs - 15 Great Selections (With Pictures), Freshwater Angelfish - A Complete Care Guide, Tropical Fish Species - 30 Popular Types (With Pictures! Instant Ocean Aquarium Sea Salt, 200-gal. 100+ viewed in past week. Given those reasons, I would not recommend this mix for Acroporas. These extra measures reduce the need for constant supplements and additives to replenish essential substances quickly depleted in thriving reef aquariums. Austin, Texas 78750. Professional Sea Salt contains all of the important macro and tra. Saltwater sunbeam: Do you have a Yellow Tang? ), 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. Salinity 35 ppt | Ca 400-450 ppm|Mg 1300-1400 ppm|Alkalinity10 11.5dkh. So I was all ready to switch until I read your article. You will want to wait at least 20-30 minutes every time you have to add salt in when testing your salinity. Those can easily be compensated for with very, very cheap chemical additions or you can spend a . Discussing the best reef salt mixes is always a passionate discussion among reefers and saltwater aquarists. $42.99 $ 42. While they are everywhere, this is not the best reef salt mix on the list. This is where we start getting into details. Brightwell Aquatics NeoMarine Salt providing all major elements, minor and trace elements, and elements known to be in natural seawater. No matter what size your aquarium, science-based Instant Ocean products offer the . Red Sea Salt contains moderately elevated and balanced levels of thefoundation elements(Calcium, Magnesium, Bicarbonates) necessary for sustainable coral growth. Raising the salinity to 35 ppt (sg = 1.0264) will help solve both. Two Little Fishies AcroPower Amino Acids Review, ReefWave 45 Review: Red Seas Gyre Powerhead. 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. Aquarium Pumps & Filters Instant Ocean Reef Crystal Sea Salt Marine Mix, 50-Gallon, New, 3.1 out of 5 stars 2. Measure specific gravity with an Instant Ocean Hydrometer. Mix as directed above. 1.2 Instant Ocean Salt Review; 1.3 Bright Well Salt Review; 1.4 Aquaforest Reef Salt Review; 2 Marine Salt Buying guide. ssmallville June 19, 2012. In a hurry? CAUTION: REEF CRYSTALS IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. Any discounts on Instant Ocean: Reef Crystals? Instant Ocean is a legacy aquarium product found at most local fish stores. It is also available in different quantities from 10 gallons to 200 gallons which is great for all sizes of tanks. This is the main reason I stopped selling salt mixes online. 5. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals can be as high as 13, which can be disastrous to an SPS tank after a water change. All content here is available for continued discussion at the new forums. You can also use it for reef tanks provided you add the additional amount of elements needed to meet a reef tanks requirements. I started my tank with the intent of adding LPS and possibly SPS so from the get go I have been using Reef Crystals. Reef Crystals Reef Salt Box (Makes 200 Gallons) - Instant Ocean. Andrew. 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. Thank you for visiting! If you are just getting started out, you cannot go wrong with the Instant Ocean Reef Crystals salt as this will work for most reef tanks including mixed reefs. If you have a bucket, mix it thoroughly prior to use, mix, then test. The pro mix has higher alkalinity while the regular Red Sea mix has lower alkalinity. Want to grow your business and reach a wider audience? This salt has been trusted in some of the worlds largest public aquariums and will serve as an excellent foundation for your tank. . That salt will cost you $1.50 for each gallon you make. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Reef Salt is the budget friendly reef salt for many of us with reef tanks. The main difference between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals is that Reef Crystals contain higher levels of magnesium and calcium. There's something about watching koi swimming slowly in a pond that just relaxes us and drowns out all the unnecessary noise in our lives. Keep in mind that the temperature of your water matters when measuring your salinity so try to make sure your temperature is close to the ideal temperature using an Aquarium Heater to bring the water inside your home if you need to cool it down. Chain stores do not carry it and you will mostly see higher end local fish stores that specialize in marine livestock carry them. Buy and sell with other aquarium hobbyists. This salt mix is neither the best nor the worst, more of the middle of the road type mix. By the way any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon and other stores/partners are affiliate links. Scouts honor . 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. Customer Favorites, Marine Invertebrates - Save 25%, Popular Value Packs, Marine Invertebrates, LiveAquaria Certified Captive Grown Corals, Captive-Bred Freshwater Fish and Invertebrates. Because water conditions at different locations vary tremendously, a commercial dechlorinator is recommended to completely neutralize any concentrations of chlorine and/or chloramines. Its not cheap and you will need dosing as your SPS grows unless you want to be a slave to water changes. The of the most available and affordable salt mix. This relates most to reef tank owners. /TM/ 2023 Spectrum Brands, Inc. or one of its affiliates. A: 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. Instant Ocean Top Choice For Fish Only Tanks, 7. If youre shopping on a budget, go with Instant Ocean Sea Salt . 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). Specially formulated for use in reef aquariums contains essential ocean reef elements in greater concentrations than natural sea water, Contains extra calcium to ensure stony coral and coralline algae growth, extra trace elements to provide vital nutrients and extra vitamins to support vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment, Neutralizes trace heavy metals often found in tap water. Then there is fish only and fish only with live rock (FOWLR) setups. There are a few main differences between the two. Myself included. Tropic Marin PRO-REEF Sea Salt has been designed to meet the special requirements of reef aquariums with optimized Enriched formulation. It is not available locally, but you can order it in bulk online. Nicole has a Bachelors degree in Coastal Geography from the University of Victoria, and is originally from Vancouver Canada. A general rule is to use cup of salt per gallon of water. 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. Metal Detoxifier - to neutralize traces of heavy metal often present in domestic water supplies. Fish only saltwater aquariums are not going to need an expensive or advanced salt mix so a budget mix will do the job. The founder of Brightwell is the former owner of Kent Marine and their products are extensively researched and tested over a multi-year period. Ive added another phosphate reducer pad to the filter. 1 Overview. Use cup of salt for each U.S gallon of water. Even so, water changes likely will not be enough in a full blown SPS tank. A have a third lfs , which in addition to Reef Crystals sells Kent. Others will be pulled from the ocean like Red Sea Salt. If specific gravity is too low, add more Reef Crystals. You may or may not be surprised by how different they actually are. Prices may vary slightly depending on the retailer, but both salts are usually available in 10-gallon, 50-gallon, 160-gallon, and 200-gallon options. When they first went to market, there were some batches with different Alkalinity numbers. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. This high alkalinity mixture tests between 9.5-13 DKh . 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 seen his Instagram channel, you can see how incredible his tanks look. Hi I am a very beginner to have a SPS tank. If specific gravity is too low, add more Reef Crystals salt. Testing the salinity of your Instant Ocean salt can be done using a refractometer. Gyre vs Powerhead: Which Should You Put in Your Reef Tank? Each year, he continues to help his readers and clients with knowledge, professional builds, and troubleshooting. There are certain elements in both the Instant Ocean sea salt and Reef crystals that are important for all saltwater tanks. 2.3 2) Instant Ocean Sea Salt For Marine Aquariums. If your aquarium has been up and running for at least 6 months, we recommend Instant Ocean Sea Salt . Should I change from my current Instant Ocean Reef Crystals to a better salt mix for my nano reef tank? It is the thing that makes the water in your aquarium salty and helps you replicate natural reef waters. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Just to be clear, "standard sea salt" is a mix like Instant Ocean, not just plain salt right? 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. Always keep in mind that stability is one of the most important parts of the aquarium hobby. Mined reef salt mixes come from the mined evaporated seawater ocean deposits. 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. Natural seawater has a specific gravity of 1.025 (salinity of 35ppt) and most salts are calibrated to this number. The Reef Central Forums are now located at https://forums.reefcentral.comThe old forum is closed to new activity. Create listings for FREE and gain access to tools and services that can help your online aquarium business flourish. *This post contains affiliate links. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals Salt Mix - 200G Box $86.95 | / 15 in stock Enriched formulation. Many tropical fish have long lifespans which means they share a lot of time with us. Contact in dry form may cause skin or eye irritation. Thats what I will show you in this article. Adding water after salt can cause a highly concentrated solution leading to some precipitation of ingredients. Used by hobbyists, public aquariums, and research facilities. This high alkalinity mixture tests between 9.5-13 DKh depending on the water temperature. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. There is also mainly synthetic made salt, which tends to be very popular in Europe. Differences between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals, Similarities between Instant Ocean Sea Salt and Reef Crystals. Rated 4.5439 out of 5 stars . Figure a 200 gallon box of Reef Crystals is about $0.27/gal and the smaller bags are like $0.36/gal. Instant Ocean Reef Crystals; Instant Ocean is a legacy aquarium product found at most local fish stores. All rights reserved. They started in Europe in the late 1990s and recently entered into the US Market. 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? 5% Rewards - Buy and earn $2.97 in Reward points. We earn from qualifying purchases.*. 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. This is one of the more detailed videos on the net that describes the process so give him a sub and like if you like the video. Further, why wouldnt you just buy the Reef Crystals to save the time and hassle of deciding which one to purchase? But lets go further into the question. Rated 4.6757 out of 5 stars . If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. You can be confident that whichever option you choose, you're getting a product that has been a favorite among hobbyists for many years. My tank does better with it. If you have a Ca reactor or a good dosing pump system you could still use IO but Reef Crystals probably makes it a little easier to maintain Ca, alk and Mg levels. Just take the price of the salt and divide it by the amount of salt that it makes in gallons. Contact us today to start your advertisement! There have been questions regarding using a salt calculator to figure out how much salt you need to add. AccuraSea1 is formulated to simulate natural seawater, and its packaged as a plurality of precisely weighed packs. The #1 choice of hobbyists, public aquariums, and scientific research facilities, Instant Fritz ProAquatics Reef Pro Mix (RPM) is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. Social Share:- 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. 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. If you keep clams or SPS, you're going to need to dose regardless. There are a few cons here though. Brightwell Aquatics Neomarine The Choice For Worldwide Corals, 3. Instant Ocean has been around since the 1960s, when William Kelley, the former director of the Cleveland aquarium founded the business. Saltwater is only as good as the equipment you use to maintain it. Either way works just fine. Reef Crystals 490 13 1440.

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