Instant Ocean Reef Crystals is an Enriched formulation made especially for use in reef aquariums. Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water. Sizes Available:
- Mixes 160 Gallons - Bucket
- Mixes 200 Gallons - Box
Enriched formulation. Optimum effectiveness. Formulated specially for use in reef aquariums, Reef Crystals contains essential ocean reef elements in concentrations greater than those found in natural sea water:
- Extra Calcium to help ensure the growth of large and small polyp stony corals as well as coralline algae
- Extra Trace Elements to provide an additional measure of vital nutrients
- Extra Vitamins to ensure vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment
- Metal Detoxifier - to neutralize traces of heavy metal often present in domestic water supplies.
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Works well By Greg12 on 9/24/2018
Greg12 would recommend this product to a friendBeen using this for quite a while. I like the box vs the bucket as I have many buckets. Good value and the water is nice and clear after mixing. -
Great salt, but it has a residue By Scott on 8/6/2018
Scott would recommend this product to a friendI've been using Reef Crystals for quite a while and it's served me well. It does leave a brownish residue in the mixing container if left for more than a few days, which is why I've knocked off a star, but it seems to test out ok, and it works well. I just can't help but wonder what the leftover gunk is... -
Instant Ocean Reef Crystals By vapor160 on 7/9/2018
vapor160 would recommend this product to a friendJust recently switched over to this product. I am getting great results with this mix. Steady parameters on each water change. -
My tank is thriving! By The Reef Rocket on 6/29/2018
The Reef Rocket would recommend this product to a friendBeen using this mix for years.. 20% water change every two weeks.. I never have problems and my levels stay consistent all the time.
Great Product -
GREAT By Brandon on 5/31/2018
Brandon would recommend this product to a friendmy calcium stays at 450ppm, Magnesium Stays at 1350ppm so thats 2 things i dont dose for. Over all GREAT salt. does take a few to get it mixed right. but never had cloudy water over it.
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Decent salt mix By Neal on 4/22/2018
Neal would recommend this product to a friendI habe used Io and Reef Crystals in the past on my reef tanks. RC worked well for years and I love the price. I started having issues with really high alk 14 dkh and brown water wirh newly mixed saltwater and 0 tds RODI. 3 buckets in a row had this issue for me and LFS. Maybe just a bad batch but I stopped using it after that. Considering trying it again to fill my new reef tank. Gave it 4 stars becuase of the years I used it with success. -
Great product By Chicago reefer on 3/3/2018
Chicago reefer would recommend this product to a friendI like this salt and have used it for years. It mixes quick, is not clumpy and I get good results using it. -
Been using this for ten years By richard on 10/16/2017
richard would recommend this product to a friendBeen using it in my reef for ten years I'm currently going to try out Red Sea just because it was on sale but I'm sure I will be going back tho -
No problem with IO ReefCrystals have always used it never used anything else I give it a10 plus By Copperhead on 3/12/2017
Copperhead would recommend this product to a friendIf it ant broke don't fix it thank my hobbies friends -
Great value By Kevin on 9/20/2016
Kevin would recommend this product to a friendThis is the only salt mix I've never used, and I've never had any issues with coral or fish health. Plenty of calcium. But the bucket first then refill the bucket with the bags from the 200 gal box. Only gave 4 stars because it takes several hours after mixing for the water to become clear. I mix my water in a barrel with a heater and pump and if I wait more than a few days to do a water change, this light brown build up starts coating the heater and pump. I assume it is calcium precipitation. I have never tried another salt brand, so I don't know if this is normal. If you are not a procrastinator, than this shouldn't affect you -
Fine Salt, Poor Value By jwestwood on 5/19/2016
jwestwood wouldn't recommend this product to a friendI used about all of the salts out there and have had good results with Reef Crystals. The biggest reason that I stopped using it is that you get less per bag then other brands. A singe 50 gallon bag makes between 40-45 gallons of water for me. With Kent, I get a solid 50 gallons. In addition, the RC bags do not have a zip-lock feature which tends to be messier and absorbs more moisture from the air. Just not a good value IMO. -
Switch to Red Sea Coral Pro Salt By RJS6711 on 5/4/2016
RJS6711 wouldn't recommend this product to a friendYears ago, when I first got into the marine aquarium-keeping hobby, there weren't many choices in salt mixes available to marine aquarists - Instant Ocean, being one of the very few I was aware of. So, when I recently got involved in reef aquarium keeping, I naturally gravitated to the brand that was familiar to me, and started with IO - Reef Crystals. While I don't want to be unfair to IO, which is one of the lowest-priced options on the market, the hardest part of getting my aquarium readied for reef livestock has been achieving targeted water chemistry parameters to adjust for the types of animals I hope to stock my tank with. It has been a huge source of frustration - constantly trying to balance the effects of one additive after another in order to mimic the animals' natural habitats as closely as possible. I have had to use magnesium supplements as well as buffers (Reef Buffer and Eight . four). And my pH would be at 8.3 for approximately 30 - 45 mins, until it again dropped to around 8.09. In all fairness, I'm using a couple of other new-to-me products (reef saver rock, and Ocean Direct Live Sand). I'm not sure if either or both of those products may have contributed to my issues. However, I have recently switched to Red Sea Coral Pro Salt. In my short time in this genre of the marine aquarium keeping hobby, I have tried several Red Sea products and have come to love and trust them. The RS Coral Pro salt mix is one of my favorites. Thank you, Red Sea!!!
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Water Changes - EP 1: Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance
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Week 7: How to produce the best water possible | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160
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FAQ #41: Does aquarium salt mix ever go bad?
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Choosing the correct salt, water and ATO for Ultra Low Maintenance | BRStv Tank Trials EP7
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How to set up a nano reef tank with the Red Sea Max Nano - BRStv
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Reliable & Low Maintenance Dosing Options | BRStv Tank Trials Ep14
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A simple & stable reef tank starts with water! - The BRS/WWC System Ep6 - BRStv
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Long term success for your reef tank? Try water changes - The BRS/WWC System Ep16 - BRStv
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How much does your salt mix REALLY cost? - BRStv Investigates
I have never added Mg to my tank and this is the only brand of salt I have ever used. My Magnesium is at 1700. I check it regularly and do a 10% wc weekly. Is this a defect in the salt? My specific gravity is consistently kept at 1.025. The side of the box says at 1.026 it should be 1345. I can't help but think this is why I keep losing snails and crabs. What can be done to lower Magnesium?
Question posted on Nov 22, 2017 1:30:00 PM
There are claims that Reef Crystals can be high in magnesium and by switching to a salt like Red Sea or how you will see more consistent elemental levels. Lower magnesium will just take time. You can do a couple of water changes that has more moderate magnesium levels, but it may take a few to get the levels down under 1400. I would suggest looking into the blue buckets of Red Sea Salt.
Answer by: Charlie (Admin) on Nov 22, 2017 2:12:00 PM
What do you reccomend I use to mix the salt? I'm thinking of using a brute 55 gal trashcan for mixing in. Also how many watts for a heater to heat the newly mixed saltwater. Thanks.
Question posted on Dec 1, 2016 7:20:00 PM
Hey, great question! Generally any untreated plastic container is fairly safe to mix saltwater in, but many plastics will leach some amount of phosphate into the water over time from the plasticizers. #2 HDPE and #5 Polypropylene without added chemicals are usually considered the safest and best for reef purposes. The Brute trash cans should be totally fine to use and are a popular solution in the reefing community. Have a great day!
Answer by: Zack (Admin) on Dec 9, 2016 11:22:00 AM
