Done with Reef Crystals

[Scythanith]

I second mseepman, AF reef salt is great and every batch is tested with results viewable online.

[lastlight]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Avoiding alk spikes def trumps savings. I'll look into your recommendations. Who sells blue bucket and AF in town? I only recall seeing red seas other 'pro' salt before.

[rayjay]

As there are many people using any of the salts available successfully, while others using the same salts have problems, it leads me to think the problems lie somewhere OTHER than the salt. If it was the salt, most people using that specific salt would have problems.

[FishyFishy!]

I have also used all of the above listed salts. The best i've found to mix and the happiest my tanks were, was with Fritz and Red Sea Blue Bucket. Red Sea also hits the parameters that i'm striving for right on the button.

AF - It's just ok, but I saw a noticeable decline in my tank after using it for a couple of months. Switched over to Red sea, and everything looked happy again. It also dosn't mix the best. Water stays cloudy for a while and the bucket lid rip[s your fingers to shreds.

Red Sea Blue Bucket - Mixes well, great parameters for LPS/SPS and now comes in a screw top bucket! (What I use Currently) - And Wai's in Calgary always has it, as well as other stores.

AV Salinity - Great bucket! But mixes poorly and burns your hands. The water also got crazy hot right after dumping in a large amount. Results in the tank were decent though. Corals seemed to like it. More on the expensive side.

Fritz - Crappy box, no bucket, can't ever find it in Calgary, but mixes awesome (crystal clear in seconds) and tank really seemed to like it. I used this on my old tank through 2 X 200 gallon boxes and corals seemed very happy.

IO and/or RC - Used this early in my reefing days and found the parameters to bounce all over the place, so I had to test them and adjust in my mixing barrels before adding it to the tank. The bucket lids also rip your fingers to shreds.

All in all, i'd say try out Red Sea Blue Bucket. Wai's in town always carries it.

[Piscez]

I switched to good old Kent approx 1 year ago and have had great results since, never will go back to IO, that being said I don't grow SPS.

[lastlight]

Originally Posted by rayjay

As there are many people using any of the salts available successfully, while others using the same salts have problems, it leads me to think the problems lie somewhere OTHER than the salt.

To be fair I'm not complaining about anything other than the incredibly high Alk in the mix... and not every bucket I've had mixed super high to boot. I'd like consistency and parameters that match my own as closely as possible. The goal is stability and large swings (especially with Alk) aren't good. At least my corals tell me they aren't good. If I ran my tank at 11 dKH RC would be perfect most times I've mixed it.

Originally Posted by FishyFishy!

All in all, i'd say try out Red Sea Blue Bucket. Wai's in town always carries it.

I think I'll give it a shot thanks =)