Which Salt Should I use..
- Tropic N Reef
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
Choosing the Right Salt Mix for Your Reef Aquarium:
Maintaining a thriving reef aquarium begins with one of the most essential elements: salt. Not all salt mixes are created equal, and each brand offers unique formulations tailored to different types of reef systems. In this blog, we'll dive into the most popular marine salts available to hobbyists today, with a closer look at Fauna Marin and Tropic Marin—two brands renowned for their precision and quality in reefkeeping.
1. Understanding What Makes a Good Reef Salt
A quality reef salt mix should:
Maintain stable salinity (around 1.025 SG or 35 ppt)
Provide balanced levels of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium
Include a complete profile of essential trace elements
Dissolve cleanly without residue
Avoid harmful contaminants like heavy metals or excess nitrates
Salt choice can influence coral coloration, skeletal growth, polyp extension, and even algae control.
Fauna Marin Professional Sea Salt
Overview: Fauna Marin Professional Sea Salt is engineered for modern reef tanks with demanding SPS and LPS corals. It offers laboratory-tested precision with pharmaceutical-grade ingredients.
Key Features:
High-purity raw materials
Balanced calcium (~430 ppm), alkalinity (~7.5-8.0 dKH), and magnesium (~1300 ppm)
Optimized trace elements like iodine, strontium, and potassium
Minimal unwanted organics and metals
Pros:
Exceptionally clean and fast-dissolving
Formulated for ultra-low nutrient systems (ULNS)
Great for coral coloration and growth
Includes a free ICP test voucher with every bucket
Cons:
Slightly more expensive
Designed for experienced hobbyists or heavily stocked coral tanks
Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt
Overview: Tailored for reef aquariums with high biological loads, Pro Reef Salt is ideal for mixed coral tanks including SPS, LPS, and softies.
Key Features:
Balanced calcium (~440 ppm), magnesium (~1350 ppm), and dKH (~7.5)
Bioactive trace elements
Low in phosphate and nitrate
Highly stable pH
Pros:
Very clean mix with consistent results
Supports long-term coral health
Excellent for maintaining water chemistry stability
Cons:
Can take longer to mix compared to others
Slightly more costly than general-use salts
Tropic Marin Classic Salt
Overview: A balanced salt designed for fish-only or lightly stocked reef systems.
Pros:
Cost-effective for beginner setups
Still maintains essential trace elements
Cons:
Lower calcium and magnesium levels; may require supplementation for coral-heavy systems
4. Other Popular Salts in the Hobby
High in calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium
Best for new tank setups and fast-growing coral
May spike parameters if not monitored
Economical
Good for soft corals and fish-only tanks
May have residue and uneven mixing
Brightwell Aquatics NeoMarine Salt
Carefully balanced for modern reef systems
No detectable ammonia, nitrate, or phosphate
AquaForest Reef Salt
Formulated with trace elements for SPS corals
Dissolves quickly and cleanly
5. Comparative Summary Table
Salt Brand | Target Use | Ca / Mg / dKH | Trace Elements | Dissolve Quality | Price Range | Notes |
Fauna Marin Pro | SPS, ULNS | 430 / 1300 / 7.8 | Enhanced | Excellent | $$$ | Precision-based, clean mix; includes ICP test |
Tropic Marin Pro Reef | Mixed Reef | 440 / 1350 / 7.5 | Enhanced | Very Good | $$$ | Stable for long-term reefkeeping |
Tropic Marin Classic | Fish, Light Reef | Lower values | Standard | Good | $$ | Best for beginner setups |
Red Sea Coral Pro | New, fast-growth tanks | 450 / 1340 / 12 | Enhanced | Good | $$ | May raise alk too fast for ULNS |
Instant Ocean RC | Budget Reef, FOWLR | 405 / 1230 / 11 | Moderate | Moderate | $ | Reliable but needs fine-tuning |
Brightwell NeoMarine | SPS, Balanced Tanks | 420 / 1300 / 8 | Balanced | Excellent | $$$ | High-quality, lab-tested |
AquaForest Reef Salt | SPS-focused | 440 / 1380 / 8 | Enhanced | Excellent | $$ | Clean, fast dissolving |
6. The Importance of ICP Testing in Reef Aquariums
Maintaining stable water chemistry is crucial in reef aquariums, especially those with sensitive corals. While hobby-grade test kits are useful for basic parameters (like alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate), they often lack accuracy or the ability to detect a broad spectrum of elements.
ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma) testing offers a highly precise, laboratory-level analysis of your aquarium's water, measuring over 30 elements including trace elements and potential contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, lithium, vanadium, and iodine).
Benefits of ICP testing include:
Detecting trace element deficiencies or toxic accumulations
Providing exact data for supplementation or corrective action
Verifying salt mix quality over time
Fine-tuning ultra-low nutrient systems
7. Why Fauna Marin Salt + ICP is a Game Changer
Fauna Marin's Professional Sea Salt not only delivers exceptional mixing quality and elemental balance—it also comes with a free ICP test voucher. This unique feature allows reef keepers to:
Monitor how the salt mix is affecting their tank chemistry
Confirm trace element delivery is consistent and accurate
Diagnose issues early and with confidence
Align their dosing strategy with lab-level precision
By combining premium salt with high-end diagnostics, Fauna Marin empowers reefers to reach new levels of stability, coral health, and coloration.
8. Conclusion: Which Salt is Right for You?
Fauna Marin Pro Salt is ideal for high-end SPS systems and ULNS tanks where precision and purity are critical, made even more powerful with its included ICP test.
Tropic Marin Pro Reef is the go-to for mixed reefs with demanding coral, offering reliable long-term stability.
Tropic Marin Classic works well for simpler or fish-only systems.
Other salts like Red Sea Coral Pro or AquaForest are good for fast coral growth but may need careful monitoring.
Choosing the right salt is about understanding your tank’s needs, livestock, and maintenance goals. No matter which brand you choose, consistency and stable parameters will always be key to reefing success.
Tip: Always test a new salt batch before doing large water changes and store salt in a dry, airtight container to preserve its quality.
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