IMO, you won't be sorry! I had NO reason to switch from Oceanic other than I like change... My coral is sure glad I switched!

Well, since I jumped on this bandwagon early on, I thought I'd give my 2 cents worth. I'm on my 4th bucket (small bucket) and still no problems or regrets. No issues with low Ca, ALK, or Mg and my tank is thriving. I'm perfectly happy with this salt and have no desire to change or look further. Now, that being said, I don't think there's a perfect salt that will work for everyone. All tanks are different and their requirements vary depending on stock but this salt sure works for me.

Where is all this negativity toward Seachem magnesium test kits coming from?
Can any one actually offer proof they are bad or is it all speculation?
My gut tells me its 100% speculation because I use them and they are perfectly fine.
But if proof is out there then please lay it out man.. I would appreciate being proved wrong if its truly bad.

I was suspicious of my Seachem Mg results so I had the LFS check it with a Salifert kit.
My reading was 1200 w/the Seachem kit.
Their reading was 1475 w/the Salifert kit.
To be fair, I've had my kit for over a year, so it's probably just expired.
I just ordered a Salifert replacement cause I could get it for a cheaper price than the Seachem through a Group Buy.

Yeah they are definitely not good past a year.

Okay, so I got a new Salifert Mg test kit and wanted to post an update in regards to the low Mg level as tested with my Seachem Mg test kit.
BibleSue got a new Tropic Marin Ca/Mg test kit in at the same time, so we tested with that as well.
We tested water from my tank, not freshly mixed SW.
Here are the results we got:

Seachem Mg kit-- 1200
Tropic Marin Mg kit-- 1340
Salifert Mg kit-- 1320

So in this instance I have to say that I think the Seachem Mg test kit was definitely off.
To be fair, the Seachem kit is slightly over a year old. The reference sample checked out though, but I'm still fairly certain the test kit is off.

I have a new batch of D-D salt mixing now and will test it later today and post results for everyone.

Okay, here's test results from fresh batch 'o D-D

Alk-- 9 dKh (brand new Tropic Marin test kit)
Ca-- 400 (API test kit, 1 yr. old)
Mg-- 1305 (brand new Salifert test kit, exp 09/11)

Bah, now I'm doubting the accuracy of my Ca and Mg test kits.

i recently tested a sample with salifert kits and then sent the same sample to a lab.
the results were almost the same for ca an mg, they didnt test alk, but there should be a reference solution in the alk kit

why you think its the test kit thats off and not the salt?

I'm askeered to answer, I might get NINJATATED!!!

Ordering a new bucket soon, will test that and see what I get. Pretty sure I need all new tets mine are old. There's a $100 I really don't want to spend.....

is that even english?

Part of it I think is, rest is just jibberish to me.....

I just got my second bucket & started a batch so I'll test it, too. Maybe tomorrow. Been doing web stuff all day & my eyes are about crossed. I don't think I could see the lines on the test tonight.

Finally tested the H20 water tonight with the Tropic Marin Cal/Mag test kit. I got a reading of 450 in the calcium & 1400 on the magnesium. This test kit is pretty new to me but I feel like I got it right. It doesn't take as long to do once you get used to it.

I'll be using this salt when I start my tanks. I was planning on using Tropic Marin Pro but there isn't a North American distributor for it anymore.

When did that happen? I have the phone number of a guy I talked to about 4 months ago. I have used the Tropic Marin regular salt for 2 1/2 years. I liked the salt but had to supplement with Magnesium & Calcium regularly. I also had issues with the calcium dropping out & clouding the water if I wasn't careful. Everything is happy with this salt & levels are where they should be.

May be a Canadian only thing.
"North America" Is also Canada. When dealers don't offer to them ( usually because they are US based and don't want to pay customs and import export ) some times it shows up on their end as "not available in North America" even though it is available in the US. LOL!
I have no idea why it comes up that way since Canada IS also part of north America though ?

Then again it could very well be a new development an dit could very well not be available to all countries in North American any more ?

If you are looking for TM Pro, check out mops.ca, reefsolution.com, bigalsonline.ca are just a few places in Canada that sell it. I'm sure a Big Als store probably carries it as well. Keep in mind that it is more money than DD H2O salt and I believe the H20 salt is better anyways.

Just got my third buckert this morning from gulfaquaria. Also ordered test kita but they shipped them seperatly cause the salt comes from texas and the test kits come from california. Once I mix up a batch and get the test kits will let you guys know.

For those using this salt, I'm setting up a new tank and plan on using this salt myself. I have read the instruction on the bucket, but does anyone have a cup to gallon ratio that they use???

Uh.. what ?

It doesn't say how much per gallon on the bucket ?
Or doe sit give a weight per gallon and you want a cup conversion ?

Probably looking for a cup conversion. I believe it says on the bucket 1lb to 3 US gallons or something. Still, weight is the better way to go and in the end it should be tested anyways. Just take a pound of H2O salt, put it in a measuring cup and there you go...

I use 1/2 cup / gallon.

+1

+2, but measure with refractometer after mixing

+3 I love this salt. I add it to nsw water for adjustment. Works great !

has anyone found this salt local in northern california ? If its a reasonable distance I would rather just pick it up myself

Aquarium concepts in Dublin carries it. That is where I bought mine. Where in nor-cal are you?

yea Im in fremont so pretty close. Do you remember what the cost was. I might have to take a ride out there... guess I could call them... sure liked it better when they were in hayward

What about a local place in SoCal that carries it? Preferably around the Burbank area I just paid 90ish dollars for the big bucket to have it shipped to me. Oh and I do about a 1/2 c. per gallon too.

It was 29.99 for the small bucket. Give them a call. You are pretty close to neptunes and such in milpitas have tried them? Anyways call them first. Good luck !

well after making a few calls Looks like the only place around here would be aquarium concepts in dublin. with TAX it would cost 97.00. so looks like ill save the gas since i can wait and order it delivered to my door for 95.00 from marine depot any better prices out there let me know please... thanks

Gulf aquaria for 94.99 shipped
http://www.gulfaquaria.com/h2proplsamix.html

or

petstore.com for 87.58 plus 8.99 shipping but if you spend more then $100 shipping is free so if you need other supplies this would be the cheapest
http://www.petstore.com/ps_searchitem-IdCategory-AQSWSA.html

Whats this I am hearing now about residue being left in the bucket and floaties during and after mixing this salt?

holy crap...100 bucks for a bucket of salt.

Any one ?

No brown residue for me...but...only mix it for a few hours at most... before dumping it in. I do have a small bit of undissolved stuff (floaties?)left in the bucket....about a pinch or less. Overall I am quite happy with it after using about 1/2 a big bucket, which is about 4 months for me. I switched from Tunze after succumbing to all the hype. It test exactly as indicated on the bucket. Honestly, if it were not for the added MG, I would say I liked Tunze more. I can’t say anything bad about either salt, most likely will stick with it long term.

Mark

I mix for 24-48 hours & have residue but no problems in my tank. I just wipe out the build up each time I make SW & rinse the build up on the pump so it doesn't get thick on the impeller. I have to dose much less now.

Have you noticed an increase in the health of your coral since using it?

Wow, you're able to do that with no issues?
I ask because they recommend on the bucket to mix for at least 24 hrs and if you read earlier in this thread, it's actually said to do best if you mix it for 48 hrs.
It's the one thing I don't like about this salt.

See.. based on that alone I think am going back to Oceanic for a while.
You get more for the money, and the calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity are there.
Well Alk is a little low but that's no biggie because I add my own any way.
Since switching to Seachem reef salt I cant say anything bad but I cant say I have seen results different then I had before in any way shape or form. And Oceanic disolved faster.
The residue in the bucket when I wa susing Oceanic was calcium and magnesium.
I never did get the brown residue. only the white like discusses here.
Its generally about $60 per bucket but you get a 200 gallon mix versus 150 -160 every one else sells. That goes a lot further.

Weet,

No, I don’t notice any problems using my salt mix right away. The corals seem to be happy with the way I do it. They expand or have greater polyp extension shortly after the change. I guess that’s a good sign.

I have noticed that most salt manufactures say the same thing…mix for 24 hours. I am not sure why (I have read D-D explanation). Somewhere I saw a test, think it was by Mr. Fosi, that concluded there was no difference between using mixes right away or waiting 24 hours. I don’t mix in a bucket. I use a jug and shake the hell out of it several times, that has always mixed any brand I have used much faster than the bucket/pump method. Not saying my way is right ….just the way I have always done it.

Mark

p.s. I think many of the manufactures instructions are more too idiot proof their product more than anything else. ...sorta like the label on the bottle of bleach I am looking at now…. “do not drink”. Darn and I am really thirsty.

Mark's Shake 'n Bake Salt Mixin', gotcha.
Reminds me of when I was in elementary school and they had us make butter out of milk by sticking the milk in a container and shaking the heck out of it for 1/2 hr. or so.
Good times.

Interestingly enough, just a few days ago I did a WC with water that had been mixed overnight only, maybe 6-8 hrs, and my corals seemed pretty happy after the WC.

I have been pretty happy wiith my results between my three tanks i have had pretty good results and since i dont need to add as much CA, Mg theres is a time saving cost. the problem i have is getting it shipped with the frieght charges it stings a bit but no more really than the tunze salt i have used for years but i got that locally. I can say that i notice better results from DD rather than Instant Ocean which i run in my fathers 300g frag and fish rubbermaid stock tank

*sigh*


I guess im tired of the salt debate. Salt mixes will be ever changing. I use d-d and am very happy with it as I had issues with the low alk with Oceanic. I still feel that there is NO true great salt mix. I have also mixed just a couple hours and mixed 24hrs with no diff.

There is nothing wrong with IO or RC etc as most public aquariums use this salt. I like the d-d cuz of the lvls it gives me for my dominate sps tank. If i didnt have sps corals I prob wouldnt use it do to the cost.

So salt mixes are better or worse and some you will need to add to, to get the lvls that you want. Every salt mix can also have a bad batch come out once in awhile.

^^^ Don't sigh dear, here, have a hug.

I spose I saw the recent posts more as informative than debating the worth of the salt.

And c'mon, the Shake 'n Bake comment was worth a LITTLE smirkle, wasn't it???

boobies would be better,


oops wrong thread.

I took some pics of the bucket after I did a WC last night. As I said, I don't have any problems in my tank from it. I didn't switch for a long time after seeing Weetie's residue but decided to switch with Drs. F&S went back to full price on the Tropic Marin & I was having to test & add all the time. This is cheaper, I use less salt to achieve the same salinity & don't have to test & dose much. My corals are growing better as a result. Win! Win! for me.



The dark streak is in the lower part of the picture is not residue.