[nige]

2^ PARTE

John Dalley from Leeds recently changed over to Reef Crystals. “I noticed that with my old salt, when making up water for water changes, which I do in 50 l. black plastic mausers, a white film would appear on the bottom and sides of the mauser. If left uncleaned, this would build up and flake off causing the water to go cloudy. I presumed this was undissolved salts. I get it to a far lesser degree with Reef crystals.”

Size/cost: 2kg/60 l. £9.99, 4kg/120 l. £17.75, 8kg/240 l. £32.95, 20kg/600 l. £79.99, and 30kg/900 l. £113.97. This equates to 12.5p-16.5p per l.

Verdict
> What’s Hot
High in calcium and magnesium
A great, economical salt for RO users
> What’s Not
Alkalinity a little low
Price 8/10
Value for money 8/10
Composition 8/10
Nutrient content 8/10
Dissolvability 7/10
Overall 8/10


Instant Ocean

Instant Ocean from Aquarium Systems is a well-established brand with a fairly large following in the USA.

Hawaii Marine Institute’s research: Their research found it to have the lowest levels of inorganic phosphate of any of the salts tested, with just a quarter of the amount found in natural seawater. Nitrate levels were also among the lowest tested, at just five times the amount seen in natural seawater. However, ammonia levels were high (second only to Kent Marine), at about 51 times higher than seawater.

Sodium, magnesium, calcium, calcium carbonate, potassium, chlorine and sodium levels were all slightly lower than natural seawater, but were a little higher than the concentrations measured in the Tropic Marin. Strontium and boron levels were a little higher.

The composition was broadly similar to that of Reef Crystals, with the only marked differences being a little more strontium and ammonia in the Instant Ocean, and a little more phosphate and nitrate in the Reef Crystals. It mixed to a good pH at around 8.35.

Our tests: Like the Reef Crystals from the same company, we found a few large un-dissolved particles were present after dissolving the majority of the salt, although it did dissolve very quickly. Again, we couldn’t detect any nutrients (other than 0.2 ppm of nitrate), and again the specific gravity was 1.024 at 25°C. The calcium level was measured at 412ppm and the magnesium as 1230ppm.
At 8.6 the pH was a little high, but the alkalinity was the highest recorded.

You say: Reader Martin Ward of Northamptonshire was recommended Instant Ocean by a friend and changes about 20% of his water every week. He rates the salt highly, giving it almost top marks for dissolvability.

One leading retailer suggested that it seems to cause a slight blue haze when viewing through very large tanks.

Size/cost: 2kg/60 l. £8.75, 4kg/120 l. £15.40, 8kg/240 l. £28.75, 20kg/600 l. £65.99, and 30kg/900 l. £94.03. Exceptionally good value at between 10.5p-14.5p per litre. A great all-round salt.

Verdict
> What’s Hot
Well respected. Lowest phosphate and nitrate levels measured in independent analyses.
> What’s Not
pH a little high
Price 9/10
Value for money 9/10
Composition 8/10
Nutrient content 7/10
Dissolvability 7/10
Overall 8/10


Tropic Marin

Tropic Marin salt, distributed by Tropical Marine Centre (TMC), is one of the most popular and widely used salts in the UK with a reputation for producing good quality water at a consistently high standard between different batches.

It’s made from the highest grade pharmaceutical grade ingredients which include over 70 trace elements. Interestingly, these are added to the salt as ‘solid solutions’, which means that unlike other salts, they shouldn’t precipitate when the salt is dissolved. It’s guaranteed to be free of nitrate and phosphate.

Hawaii Marine Institute’s research: Tropic Marin came out top for producing water with the salinity closest to natural seawater, suggesting that it contains less hydrated chemicals than other marine salts and making it one of the best salts to purchase weight for weight.

The independent research showed sodium, magnesium, calcium, calcium carbonate, chlorine, boron and potassium levels were all close to the levels found in seawater. However, organic phosphate concentrations were the highest at around six times that seen in natural seawater at the time of the tests, but by contrast, silicate levels were among the lowest. Nitrate levels, although some 11 times higher than those seen in natural seawater, are about average among the salts on review here. And at just two to three times higher, ammonia levels were one of the lowest recorded. At 8.9, it was found to mix to a rather high pH.

Our tests: Our tests however detected no phosphate, ammonia or nitrite, but we did find a trace of nitrate at 0.2ppm.

The salt mixed to a pH of 9.0 in our tests, which is rather high. Calcium and magnesium were both rather low, as were the KH and alkalinity. The salt dissolved quickly, with no precipitation and no residue.

You say: Our reader survey suggests that Tropic Marin is the most widely used salt, and that you’re all happy with it. Most of you were recommended it by friends and shop staff, and you rate it highly for dissolvability.

Tropic Marin is also quite widely used and well respected in the aquatic trade. When asked why he used Tropic Marin over other salts, Jason Scott, of the WaterZoo in Peterborough, said: "First, TMC keep all their livestock in it, so there’s less of a transition for them to make when they’re acclimatised to our tanks. Second, we make regular visits to TMC so we can collect it when we’re there, and third, other brands seemed to cause us to have a very high calcium level (500ppm+)".

Size/cost: 1kg/30 l. £8.99, 4kg/120 l. £15.60, 10kg/300 l. £34.28, 20kg/600 l. £70.62, 25 kg/750 l. bucket £89.87.
At 12pp per litre, Tropic Marin is the most expensive salt here. You can make considerable savings by buying in bulk.

Verdict
> What’s Hot
Good reputation for reliability
> What’s Not
Mixed to a high pH
Requires additional boosting if used with RO
Price 5/10
Value for money 6/10
Composition 6/10
Nutrient content 8/10
Dissolvability 7/10
Overall 7/10


Kent Marine

Kent Marine salt is often available at very competitive prices, and has a pretty good reputation for quality and reliability, so it’s little wonder that it’s becoming more popular in the UK. It contains additional calcium, strontium, iodine and trace elements, which means that it’s one of the best salts to use if you use demineralised water, like RO.

Hawaii Marine Institute’s research: Kent Marine salt came out well with magnesium, calcium, calcium carbonate, strontium and boron all present at levels slightly above those found in natural seawater. Similarly, calcium and buffering levels were the highest seen in any salt. Sodium, potassium and chlorine levels were all slightly lower than in natural seawater.

In these independent tests nitrate levels were found to be 10 times higher than the level found in natural seawater, which is about the norm, and ammonia levels were nearly 60 times higher, which is rather high.

It may contain more hydrated chemicals than some of the other salts here, because 35g produced a salinity of around 28.85ppt – one of the lowest found, which means that by weight it doesn’t go as far as some other salts on review here. It mixed to a pH of 8.08 – the lowest recorded in the independent analyses.

Our tests: Our results were broadly similar, but showed no phosphate, ammonia or nitrite, and just 0.2ppm of nitrate. It mixed to a pH of 8.4 and dissolved quickly leaving no residue.

At over 440ppm, the calcium level measured was one of the highest recorded and is a good level for coral growth. Magnesium levels were also very high, although the alkalinity was a little low.
You say: Ian Abraham of Berkshire chose Kent because of its price. He changes about 10% of his water every week. He gave it nearly top marks for dissolvability and doesn’t add trace elements.

Kent Marine is another very popular salt according to our survey. You rated it very highly for price and dissolvability, and again you all seem very happy with it.

It’s an impressive all-round salt, well suited to the modern reefkeeper and excellent value for money.

Size/cost: 25 US gal. (94 l.) £13.99, 50 US gal. (189 l.) £23.99 and 200 US gal. (757 l.) bucket £86.99. Price per litre varies between 11.5pp.

Verdict
> What’s Hot
High in calcium and magnesium
Informative packaging
Enriched formula ideal for use with RO
> What’s Not
Alkalinity a little low
Price 9/10
Value for money 8/10
Composition 8/10
Nutrient content 8/10
Dissolvability 7/10
Overall 8/10