Ultimate Aquarium Salt Mix Guide – Defining the Sweeter Side of Reef Salts.

In many ways, I feel the biggest hurdle novice reefers must climb is realizing their tank is wholly unique. After spending several years actively involved in a myriad of reefing forums and online communities, I’ve noticed a specific trend: reefer’s looking for “the best” of every product.

It only takes a moment of contemplation to understand why our culture has moved away from marathon research adventures and into the sprints of instantaneous information and advice.

Essentially, the popularity of “best of” inquiries stems from its usefulness in many other aspects of life. Sure, there are definitely products in the world that shine as being the best for any consumer. This, my dear reefer, doesn’t apply to us. While it can feel like reefing advice is universal among all aquarists, it’s simply untrue.

The reason is quite simple.

Your reef tank is wholly unique. The microcosm you’ve created can’t be mastered with generic guidelines and recommendations. Yes, the fundamental principles of reefing are universal. But the worlds you build atop these foundational concepts are as varied as our imaginations.

This brings us to a topic responsible for countless forum debates and lengthy opinion pieces: aquarium salt.

From online forums to offline discussions, reefers feel strongly about reef tank salt products. While learning from firsthand experiences is beneficial, when product opinions are written as universal facts, things start to get sticky. This is especially true when it comes to reef salt mixes.

But why?

The best reef salt mix isn’t a brand. It’s what your tank needs.

Want to know the fool-proof method for choosing the best reef salt mix? In order to find the best aquarium salt, don’t look to a brand. Look at the needs of your tank. Only then will you find the “best” brand.

While this may not be the most astonishing of revelations, it’s true for almost every tank component. When you realize tailored recommendations deliver greater results than generic suggestions, you’ll find achieving balance isn’t as complicated as it may seem.

Of course, there are differences between brands. This is where the forums come in handy. Even though a particular product may not be right for your reef tank, the brand itself may be. The first step in finding your best reef salt mix is researching brand reputation and product quality. I’ve found the best ways to go about this research is by searching reef forums, asking questions in online communities and speaking with any experienced reefers you may know.

What’s the big deal? Isn’t reef salt just…salt?

When buying table salt, more than likely you simply grab whatever brand is available. After all, the bulk of salt behaves pretty much the same. So, what’s so important about reef salt that it requires an entire guide?

Two words: Water Stability.

Basically, low quality aquarium salt negatively impact water parameter balance. Whether caused by poor salt preparation or questionable ingredients, you’re destined for headaches and wavering parameter readouts when you use an inferior product.

To understand why brand reputation and aquarium salt quality matters, let’s take a brief journey into exactly what compounds are used in standard reef salt mixes.

Aquarium Salt Ingredients for Serene Salinity.

Think reef tank salt is nothing more than repurposed sodium chloride? Think again!

Its name sounds like it’s a simplistic product, but don’t let that fool you. Reef salts provide dozens of minerals and trace elements, at least, some of them do. When looking for your ideal brand, answer the following questions:

• Where was the salt harvested?
• How are the major elements (calcium, magnesium, carbonate) prepared and emulsified? Or better, what’s the ratio of these three elements?
• Is the product tailored to satisfy tank alkalinity parameters?

These are only a few of the questions capable of pointing you to the perfect salt mix bran and product. Now that you know where to begin your research, let’s dive a little deeper into the compounds that power reef salt benefits.

Aquarium Salt Major Elements.

• Calcium - Essentially, calcium is the building blocks of coral. Through what’s known as biomineralization, coral skeletons are created via a natural phenomenon that’s both well-studied, and yet still mysterious. It’s believed the ionic communication between corals and seawater components support skeletal growth. Maintaining calcium concentration balance is paramount for success in both new corals and in established tanks.

• Alkalinity - Most closely related to water acidity, or pH levels, alkalinity refers to several parameters. First, measuring alkalinity offers an insight into available bicarbonate. This may help understand whether corals have ample fuel to create their stoney skeletons. Secondly, alkalinity acts as a pH buffer. Maintain a specific alkalinity level and the risk of fluctuating pH levels is reduced. Thirdly, alkalinity is an important parameter to maintain acroporids, which “feed” on alkalinity to grow. We’ll touch on alkalinity levels in the next section.

• Magnesium - Not including sodium chloride, magnesium ions are the most concentrated element in natural seawater. I like to think as magnesium as being a conduit for both water parameter balancing and biological activities. Essentially, this compound is needed to ensure alkalinity, calcium and a myriad of other biochemical interactions work. It’s safe to say, if your magnesium levels aren’t balanced, the rest of your tank will soon follow suit.

Aquarium Salt Brands That We Are Using.

Instead of listing off specifications and formulation tips, I think it’s best to demonstrate these features in actual products. Keep in mind, the following brands are both companies I’ve used and those with solid reputations among reefers. As always, use this information as a reference to guide you toward the ideal product.

Red Sea Salt - Blue Bucket. 

If you’re curious about the reef salt mix we use, then you’ll find this product most interesting. Currently, we’re using the Red Sea Salt / Blue Bucket. While this brand is popular among a variety of reefers, our decision was due, at least in part, by our preference.

To put it simply, we love low alkalinity aquarium salt. Ideally, with an alkalinity of 7.5 to 9 (it’s actually our primary criteria when choosing an aquarium salt). This decision came after years of watching SPS thrive in alkalinity ranging from 7 to 8, which is why the aforementioned alkalinity range is preferred. I’m sure we will talk soon about Alkalinity levels in details in another article.

Beyond our alkalinity preference, Red Sea Salt offers a laundry list of impressive features. Of course, the most obvious is where the salt originates. As its name suggests, Red Sea Salt harvests its salt directly from the infamous Red Sea. What does this mean for your tank?

• Enhanced biochemical distribution of minor and trace elements.

• Fortifies your tank with a total of 45 elements, which helps maintain seawater-quality environments for optimum growth and health.

• Reduces the risk of coral shock or stress due to water changes. Essentially, the complex elemental symphony of Red Sea Salt maintains parameter balance after a water change. This is huge when it comes to safeguarding coral.

• If you like your Alkalinity levels around 12 °dKH, they have also Red Sea Corals PRO version which is also amazing.

TropicMarine PRO-REEF Sea Salt.

Although we’re currently using Red Sea Salt, TropicMarine PRO has been our go-to salt mix for many years, including our last system. We’ve always been happy with the results, and is a frequent recommendation for reefers of all types.

The most noteworthy feature is its quality. Because your tank is an isolated ecosystem, what you put into it is incredibly important. TropicMarine PRO-REEF Sea Salt claims to offer pharmaceutical grade salt, which is just a fancy way of saying that its purity and quality is above-average. However, it’s worth pointing out that the actual salt meets the chemical purity needed to be labeled “pharmaceutical grade.” So it’s not simply a marketing gimmick.

Here’s some quick info about PRO-REEF Sea Salt:

• Specifically formulated to work with calcium reactors.
• Integrates nicely when dosing your tank with mineral-based additives.
• Enhances biochemical stability and robustness by introducing 70 trace elements.
• Dissolves quickly and easily due to its mixed-crystal formulation .

Reef Hack: Make sure to always measure and pour the salt into a container AFTER adding water (pouring water on the salt increases the risk of calcium carbonate precipitate formation).

Honorable Mentions.

As I’ve mentioned several times before, there isn’t just one recommended reef salt mix. While the aforementioned are our personal favorites, they aren’t the “top 2” or “best.”

FaunaMarine Professional Sea Salt

For example, we’re currently testing FaunaMarine Professional Sea Salt in our frag tank. If you haven’t heard of this brand, don’t worry, you aren’t left out of the loop. FaunaMarine may not be a common brand in the United States, but it’s among the leading reef salt mix suppliers in Germany. I’m not going to dive into too much detail, since we’re still in the testing phase, but so far our results are greater than anticipated.

If you’re looking for something new, I definitely recommend checking out FaunaMarine. It’s important to note that, as of now, only 20kg boxes of Professional Sea Salt are available for sale in the US. Read more about it here.

Other Trusted Aquarium Salt Brands

Here’s a small list of some other great aquarium salt brands worth investigating:

• Brightwell Aquatics NeoMarine
• Fritz RPM Reef Pro Mix.
• Seachem Vibrant Sea.
• Instant Ocean - Original.
• E.S.V B-Ionic Seawater.
• D-D H2Ocean Magnesium Pro PLUS Salt Mix.
• Aquaforest Sea Salt.
  

Reef Salt Mix - Hacks to Remember.

As a general rule, no matter what brand you choose make sure the mix easily and fully dissolves. Trust me, you don’t want a reef salt that clumps or leaves undissolved particles. Actually, there’s a lot of hacks worth learning about when it comes to choosing and preparing reef salt. Here’s the most important:

Spend Time Researching Brands.

Remember, the most important rule when it comes to reef salt is choosing a brand and sticking with it. Stability forms the cornerstone of reefing. Constantly changing brands is the worst thing you can do in terms of achieving balance and water parameter equilibrium.

Mixing Reef Salt - Our Top Hacks.

Preparing salt mixes is paramount for success. Even if you have a quality brand, improper mixing can cause far more problems than you may think. Don’t sabotage your tank. Follow these easy and straightforward mixing hacks:

• Ideal Water Temperature - Think hot water is best to dissolve salt? Think again! While this hack is debatable among many reefers, experience shows that room temperature water works best. If your water is too warm, it can cause the salt elements to precipitate. Cold water may be fine for some, but again, it’s not ideal. I’ve always used room temperature water and I’ve never had any mixing issues.

• Flow Pump Mixing - Using a flow pump in the mixing bucket is a lifesaver. This process ensures all particles are completely dissolved and dispersed. My mixing routine includes using a PVC pipe to mix the salt in the bucket. I swirl it around for roughly 60 seconds, or until most larger particles are dissolved. Next, I plop a small Hydor powerhead into the bucket and let it do its thing until the water is crystal clear. In some cases, such as with Red Sea Salt Mix, this process happens surprisingly fast. Regardless, I always run the flow pump for 1 hour before adding the water into the tank.

• Container Size - The appropriate sized mixing bucket for you depends on the volume of your tank and brand-specific recommendations. As a guide, here’s what I use:
  • 5 Gallon Bucket (filled room temperature water)
  • 695 Grams of Salt Mix (Red Sea/Blue Bucket)

• Container Material - You don’t want to brew the perfect saltwater mix only to have toxic compounds from the container infiltrate your aquarium. Avoid this by only using High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) containers.

• Test Water Parameters - The new saltwater should be as closely matched to existing water parameters as possible. Make sure that the salinity, temperature and other important parameters are almost identical. Adding water with vastly different parameters can shock your system and stress corals and other marine inhabitants. Use a quality digital refractometer like Milwaukee.

• Gentle Pouring - If you’re using a pump and tube to pour freshly mixed saltwater into your display tank, prevent the stream of water entering the tank from disturbing delicate corals and/or disturbing sand with a plastic cup or pour water 2-3 inches in front of your powerhead. This keeps a direct stream from hitting inhabitants or sand.

• RO/DI System - Test RO/DI water before using to make sure that it’s been properly treated. Using a qulity TDS, or Total Dissolved Solids, meter, make sure the reading is zero. If the water is ready, pour it into your mixing bucket followed by adding the salt mix. Remember: Water (first), Salt (second). Want to learn more about RO/DI Systems? Stay tuned and check out our next article, which tells you everything you need to know about RO/DI water treatment systems.

Imitating seawater is part science & part passion.

Now you understand, at least somewhat, why the topic of reef salt mixes is so popular. In many ways, salt quality and preparation procedures are what your entire underwater universe is built upon. No wonder there’s so many differing opinions and impassioned monologues. After all, the very essence of saltwater is…salt.

Regardless of your experience or tank setup, continue to check back with us at Reef Hacks for the latest equipment reviews and updated reefing guides. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page, and while you’re there, send us a message! As always,

Happy Reefing!

by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.