I'm changing salt

Snappy · #1 01-04-2011, 07:58 PM

I have decided I need to change salt for several reasons. Over the years I've tried many of the salts on the market. Years ago I started with Sea Crystals but it often had too many inconsistencies for my liking, same goes for Instant Ocean which is also low on several elements. I have also tried a few others like H2Ocean, Seachem & Oceanpure Pro but in my opinion all the above brands I've mentioned are not really geared for sps dominant tanks and I've never had good luck with them. I have used Reefer's Best Salt for several years with good results but it is expensive and getting hard to find locally Calgary. In my opinion "Aquavitro - Salinity" made by Seachem is ok but in my experience mixes on the cloudy side and although they "guarantee" it is batch specific I found the buckets that I just bought on Boxing day have an ALK value way too high and caused a big spike in my system so I am not happy.

Fairly recently I found out about another high end salt that is popular in Europe and is now available in Canada called Royal Nature. It looks quite impressive and I am seriously considering making the switch to it ASAP. I know every manufacturer says they are the best but I think we all know that is not the case. Here is a link to the website, check out their video.
http://www.royalnature-reef.com/inde...tpage&Itemid=1

Here is some other info about it.

Aquattro · #2 01-04-2011, 08:06 PM

Greg, where is this available from?

xiaan · #3 01-04-2011, 08:10 PM

I have been using Royal Nature now for 6 months and I have had no problems with it before I was using Reef crystals and I was seeing really low ALK (6.5) now I sit nicely at around 7.5. I find it has a nicer more balanced solution.

Myka · #4 01-04-2011, 08:19 PM

I have been thinking of trying something else too. I have tried pretty much everything on the market until about 5 years ago I quit experimenting and went back to good ole IO. I was tempted to experiment again with H2Ocean seeing as it is a natural salt, so I figured if there is ever a different this should be it. I just did a year of H2Ocean, and the only difference between H2Ocean and IO in my opinion is that H2O has lower alkalinity (8-9 dKH compared to IO's 11-12 dKH), also with H2O I don't have to add calcium to the water change mix (although with both I have to add magnesium and potassium), oh and the price! I'm just finishing up my last bucket of H2Ocean, and I'm wondering if I should bother buying another bucket of it or not.

I really don't think it matters. I haven't found a bucket of salt yet that I don't have to supplement before I even use it, and why pay more for one that is more complete when it's cheaper to just supplement while mixing it up?

Argh...I wish there was a simple answer.

globaldesigns · #5 01-04-2011, 08:25 PM

Greg, I agree that Reefer's Best is very hard to find... I have told Kevin @ Red Coral to get me 2-3 boxes, but he is waiting, and from what I understand the wholesaler just doesn't have any.

Now that I am on my last box now, got enough for a couple more water changes, I too need to reconsider things... Do you really think this new salt is good? And can Kevin @ red coral get it?

Skimmerking · #6 01-04-2011, 08:42 PM

Why not just use IO and then Dose what you need, if you are dosing now , CAL RX then its not going to be a problem. and very easy to get. I have been using IO since 2002 and never had any problems with it. just my thought thou.

Lampshade · #7 01-04-2011, 08:53 PM

I use IO, add some MgCl/MgSO4, and it's pretty much good to go, my calcium reactor picks up the lower calc pretty quick. I do agree though, Salt is supposed to be a synthetic reef salt, why not have values actually match?

VFX · #8 01-04-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Greg, where is this available from?

Paul (Oceanic) was recommending this salt when I dropped by there the other day. He didn't have any in stock but has a load on the way.

I currently use Seachem Reef Salt but I might switch over & see.

.

mseepman · #9 01-04-2011, 09:02 PM

Right now, the only place I know of that sells Royal Nature is Oceanic Corals in Aldergrove. I was planning to pick some up when my current Reefer's Best box runs low. They don't list it on their site yet, but their blog talks about having it in stock.

Myka · #10 01-04-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skimmer King

Why not just use IO and then Dose what you need, if you are dosing now , CAL RX then its not going to be a problem. and very easy to get. I have been using IO since 2002 and never had any problems with it. just my thought thou.

The only sucky thing about IO is the high alkalinity. Better suited to FOWLRs imo. Who wants an alkalinity spike in their SPS tank on every watechange? That's the main reason I switched away from IO. H2Ocean is easy to find, it's kinda like one step up from IO I figure.