How much does your salt mix REALLY cost? | BRStv Investigates

How many gallons do you think your salt mix actually make in comparison to what it says on the label? What does that look like when compared to other salts in total cost/gallon? Today Randy seeks to answer those questions on BRStv Investigates!
#BRStvInvestigates #BRStv
Don't forget to cast your vote on our Reef2Reef Poll below!
brs.li/R2R_BRS...
Chime in on the #AskBRStv Facebook Group!
brs.li/AskBRSt...
Today on BRStv, we have a brand new episode of our series, BRStv Investigates. In this series, we explore popular reefing theories, products, methods, and what the manuals are missing, with a focus on putting them to the test!
Legal Stuff
The purpose and content of this video is to provide general information regarding the products and their applications as presented in the video. Aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents disclaim all express or implied warranties, in any way, related to the products and their application as presented in this video, make no representation or warranty regarding the products and the application as presented in this video and shall not be liable for any direct or indirect losses or damages of any type, including but not limited to punitive damages, or from personal injury or death resulting from or in any manner related to the video, and the products in and contents of the video. The viewer expressly agrees that aquatic sales solutions, inc. And its officers, directors, employees and agents shall not be liable for any damages or losses related to the products in and content of the video and hereby agrees to hold the foregoing harmless from any such losses or damages.

[@nathanthetogaman]

Thank you for always making the extra effort to keep things objective and informative for the consumers 👍

[@darylducholke4059]

That was awesome ...now test which salts are better!

[@jimjestude7454]

Icp testing would be great to understand trace elements

[@dismantlingamy]

Instant Ocean is available at plenty of places for 54.99 for a 200 gallon box. In fact right now (2/14/2019) you can snap it up off Amazon for 50 bucks shipped. Going off BRS's table that would make it more like 28 cents a gallon or $11.39/ month. Coupled with the fact that Instant Ocean has been used for literal decades on showstopper tanks it's hard to justify giving another salt a try when IO works and is almost half the cost of the next cheapest salt.

[@rpeebles]

Really wish you sold FritzPRO salt because I want to see how those Texas' boys salt works out to as well!

[@dudepros]

Been watching your live streams, when you guys say something, you mean it. Loving it !

[@SternSignatureAstrophotography]

I find this test alittle in accurate as to my local shops selling the bucket and the 200g box of reef crystals for 43.99 and 49.99 respectively

[@SternSignatureAstrophotography]

BulkReefSupplyCom yep this are every prices!

[@aver28011]

Agreed you add in the 200g Reef Crystals and it is hands down the most affordable reef tank salt. Complete miss by BRS and very surprised. As how many 5 gallon buckets do you really need.

[@pjcharlier]

That was great! Really looking forward to the results of their perimeters!!

[@wolfmanjack3451]

I got into reefing with the understanding this is not a inexpensive hobby you get what you pay for..After the last of the RS salt is used up I'm going to switch to Tropic Marin. I'm setting up a RS E-170 for my daughter this is a good time to try it see how it goes "Clean tank,happy fish & corals " so I've been told..enjoy these short subject videos Randy lots of useful information..keep them coming.

[@atfinthehouse8631]

I have a $1.50 set of plastic measuring cups 1/8 cup up to 2 cups. Instant ocean gets 5 x 1/2 cup per 5 gallons, I mix up 6-7 gallons in two containers- buckets and add 1-3 x 1/8 cup to that. In a brute 44 gallon container I put in exactly 21 cups of instant ocean. It measures out and comes up same parameters every single time.

[@MIAthe305]

I still don’t have a saltwater tank myself, but I love these videos cuz I’m a details kinda person and love absorbing all the info, hopefully it saves me headaches and $ one day

[@michaelblack4993]

Nice work BRS, really enjoyed that data. Thanks

[@BriansAquariums]

You guys a just too smart! I wish you would of used Fritz salt.

[@jessetharp9288]

Fritz damn near wiped out my tank. 5.6 alkalinity and super low calcium on a batch I got from my lfs. Apparently they had the same problem. Never again.

[@Quepiid]

But instant ocean and reef crystals are. Usually the same price for the 150 and 200 gallon box. So why didn’t you use the 200 gallon box? That’s what I use. Either way that would make instant ocean by far the cheapest and the fact my local fish stores sell it at $35 for the 200 gallon box.

[@AquaGeek]

200 gallon box of instant ocean reef crystals on amazon at 56.29 a box might be tough to beat!

[@jamesparrott2073]

I get the 160 at 37.00 at petsmart every year.... beat yaa

[@thepassionreef]

Just wow...this analysis so valuable...thanks Randy and the BRS team...

[@TheTrevor40]

Finally a new video I care to watch. Well done.

[@luluallan]

interesting, you guys should add the aquaforest line as well

[@EvanLikesCake]

Ordered a backup battery pump yesterday from you guys, for $14 including shipping. Great deal!

[@JVS_Tarnished]

Prison Mike make sure it’s the right one because if you return it they will only refund you half the price of the pump.

[@EvanLikesCake]

Joe's Reef yeah, it’s enough power for my 24gal, and it only needs me to get d batteries

[@ShekinaS]

I can't take you seriously, I read that with Michaels voice 🤣

[@heuamu87]

I would like to know which one leaves the least amount of residue in a storage tank. Great video!

[@fmmrz5]

Current prices. Reef crystals $40 for the bucket on Amazon, 32 cents per gallon, $12.80 per month. Tropic Marin pro 65 cents per gal, $26.20 per month

[@josephpettit8572]

Most expensive tropic marin pro 22.00 a month (264 a year). Least expensive instant ocean 15.60 (187.20 a year) so 6.40 a month or 76.80 a year difference. Its good to see the long term cost as well. Keep up the great videos guys.

[@andreiisatchenko2689]

It's a much bigger difference than that. I see their comments that keep saying "salt prices are moving targets" but it's missing the point. If you buy the 200 gallon box, the price for IO is 3/4 of what they say here. Even if it's not on sale. So it's not 15.60. It's 11.70. So, 144.40 a year. 10.30 a month difference or 123.60 a year. Once you actually add in the sales that frequently drop the box price down to silly levels (I bought 3 boxes for $32 each not too long ago at my LFS), the difference is way higher. I'm not ragging on BRS here, they do awesome work and put out great videos. Just pointing out the huge flaw of using the IO and RC buckets for price comparison vs the boxes. With sales, the boxes of IO are easily less than half price of everything else and even RC is half price of the others. That said, in the scheme of things, it's not even slightly a concern. But still, good to know.

[@joegallagher5311]

awesome i switched from reef crystals to redsea blue bucket about a year ago and I am not surprised with results I didn't see my monthly spend increase that much.

[@skookumchuckreefer978]

You definitely have me thinking about changing my salt, however, I am going to Use the skid (32 buckets) I have before ordering more. Thanks BRS

[@Lukas-jo5jg]

Thank you!! I've been doing math off of the weight and zooming in on the pictures on the website!

[@jaysreef5721]

Great video idea! I have thought about using other brands n wondered if would help to use less 2 part and if would even make much of a difference with my coral n fish. Currently using reef crystals and have been in the hobby now going on 12 years. Looking forward to more videos on this. thanks

[@yuyiboy]

Great topic and info!! Very surprised that the most expensive salts could be the best deal around!! 😊👍🏽

[@PufferLover]

Im not sure about all other states, in Cali and Nevada IO salt is $30 for 200 gallon box which makes it $0.23 cost per gallon tax including (8.25% in las vegas). Which is by far cheaper than rest and still great results.

[@matthewsjoblomms]

Really good video for this subject. Especially for the avg reefer in this hobby. I’ve have and always stick to, IO:Reef Crystals for the past idk how many years.

[@balkin33]

Awesome video, I had already changed over to Tropic Marin Pro .. I love it, it mixes so damn clear!

[@lynnn7716]

Quite surprised that Fritz was not on this list. Thank you for doing these.

[@jamesparrott2073]

Could you test each of the salts mixes for alk calcium and magnesium and then the cost to have them buffered to an example of 8.6 alk and 480 to 450 calcium. I think that's the real money maker for deciding salts esp since your tests shown that most are close to the same costs initially but with time and additives could potentially make a certain brand stand out... I don't like having to test for consumption then again right at the water change to get it back to my parameters but I do because money is invested and more importantly living things are relying on me. So less steps means more time to cherish the Tank!

[@lovermansmith9082]

Yeah , plus with these daily water change things , maybe that would help buffer ?

[@jamesparrott2073]

I understand that but going by their standards of alk, calcium, and magnesium is like saying the buckets make 200 gallons is an a lie. So I understand your point to that I could figure it out but an average reefer would take years to test and use that amount of salt.

[@lovermansmith9082]

@@BRStv Thank you , , One thing I thought I liked about the standard instant ocean is the 50 gallon bags . Easy to use if you mix 50 gallons at a time . But I guess you could just fill to a line on a 50 gallon container . I would like to buy salt with 3) 50 gallon bags in a 5 gallon bucket that meet my peremeters . Really looking forward to the storage study . I do kinda wonder how much it would cost to buffer the standard instant ocean to levels that were asked ? Probably not much ?

[@Mike__B]

YES! I want to know which of these salts hold their properties when stored... but please tell me you did more than a week. Some of us have 100+ gallon reservoirs that might be a month or more worth of salt.

[@bobdenton9581]

Great review Randy! You guys get better all the time!

[@sethwilliamson]

This would necessarily be a longer-term study, but I'd be interested in some data on consistency. In other words, pull samples from different batches over time, repeat the test and look at the variance in grams/gallon. For example, maybe Salt-A took 684g/5gal this time, but next time it is 762g, and the time after that it is 713g, and so on. Multiple data points would be more predictive of future performance than a single sample of each.

[@gabe5476]

Fritz pro RPM! Been using it forever nothing but good things!

[@aaronsharp6271]

wish aquaforest was on your list... Great info though, I had know idea that they would be so close in price when broke down to gallons!

[@theroyalreef9858]

Can't wait for the follow up!!!

[@skzion2]

Excellent video.

[@lovermansmith9082]

You Guys really blew the lid off of that Caper ! Well I Never !

[@darylducholke4059]

Seriously...what this video taught me was how cheep water changes are!! The money we spend on tanks ,equipment ,livestock, utilities, etc...… and we question doing water changes???? Just hooked up DOS to do 31 gallon a day water change for one week...roughly 5% per day...then will go at 1% per day...already notice changes in tank...crystal clear water:)..Fish that are not shy and have amazing colors and vitality! No corals yet. But coming this week! I don't think cost is stopping us from water changes...its time and its just not fun:) Best thing anyone can do for their tank is hookup auto water change:)!!!!

[@darylducholke4059]

Yes:)! ...every box of salt should come with auto water change!!!

[@flsharkvictim1652]

Randy, great vid as always mate! I have been using Neo for a long time and it HAS worked great for me, plus, it never leaves any sort of residue on my saltwater barrels on my mixing station. So everyone over at BRS jump ship to this Tropic Marin Reef Pro A?? Personally, I am not a fan of any REDSEA products at all. Very overrated in my opinion. Also not a fan of Brightwell aquatics additives either but my coral and fish seem to like Neo Reef salt. I am a firm believer of it's not broke don't fix it and keep it simple. Hope to see you all at RAP in Otwn in a few months??

[@flsharkvictim1652]

@@BRStv who is all heading down to RAP in Otwn?

[@ThaBiznessReefTank]

I am surprised at the results. The cheapest salt really not the cheapest. Since I do a continuous water change seeing how long the salt remains stable is HUGE for me and with that information it may cause me to change salts. I really wish you would have measured Fritz.

[@jamesparrott2073]

You can get reef crystals at 37.00 a bucket... so still the cheapest, just not the cheapest on their site

[@tsurro8086]

Great vid, but even better, when mixing how fast does the water clear up? And how fast does the manufacturer recommend mixing before using.. some say 24 hours, that’s not always convenient!

[@tsurro8086]

BulkReefSupplyCom I mix the same amount of salt every week, with the same pump, I’ve tried many salt mixes, Red Sea-fast, aquaforest and tropic Marin pro even faster and can use immediately, brightwells must mix for 24 hours, hwreefer stays cloudy for a longer time and usually the box is a solid block of salt!

[@fost125]

Now that we know the mixing values and also how they hold up in a mixing tank, I would like to know what the trace elements look like from each right after mixing. Have you already done these tests, if not would sending a sample of each to Triton Labs be out of the question?

[@coreygood4350]

Is it fair to say reef Crystal's cost more when the 200 gallon price is the same as 160?

[@jamesparrott2073]

I buy my reef crystals at 35.00 per bucket, so I'd have to argue they still have me.

[@blackdesertnewb7547]

I feel like this severely overprices the cost of using instant ocean and reef crystals by using the price of the bucket instead of the 200g box. Assuming that the bucket and box cost the same and that the box has exactly 1/4 more salt in it, IO would cost 29.25 cents per gallon and RC 37.5 cents. Those differences are highly significant

[@Bhodges9582]

I wish you guys carried fritz rpm salt. I’d like to know how it compares.

[@HarryESwan]

Thanks for the video...I use Seachem, too bad it wasn't in this video.

[@Fr0ntSight]

@brstv I thought there was going to be a second part to this?

[@chriscoffel7909]

I use aqua vitro salinity by seachem. A bucket says 220 gallon. They don’t lie 1/2 cup per gallon stated in the directions = 1.026. Every time 88$ on sale over 100 off. I always by on sale.

[@jonathanbivens2451]

Great info I’ve always used IO due to cost but when you look at the price differential you could make the argument it’s the most expensive.

[@jamesparrott2073]

I buy it when it's on sell for 35$

[@joevillavicencio6548]

@@jamesparrott2073 when is that? And where?

[@mnelson10000]

@@joevillavicencio6548 We have multiple LFS's sell IO buckets for $25 a few times a year. On top of that, Instant Ocean often has a $10 mail in rebate!!

[@lamont22222]

I buy IO on sale at pet smart for a whopping $26 which is usually twice a year.

[@mnelson10000]

@@lamont22222 Yup, that's right, Pet Smart runs the sale, too. The trick is to stock up enough to make it to the next sale. ;)

[@nigelbayguy465]

The Tropic Marine is not over 40 gals more than the other salts tested as you stated - its between 20-30 Gals more according to your spreadsheet results. Just keeping it real. Thanks for the calculations though.

[@ryanbatcheller394]

I think he was referring to the max of 173 vs min of 125 but that’s almost 50 gallons more :)

[@cl6854]

I just wish you could do more brands. Specifically fritz salts.

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

The instant ocean and reef crystals 200 gallon box is the same cost as the 160 bucket so I’m curious why the test was done with the less salt option? It inflates the price per gallon.

[@BRStv]

Fair enough. You can certainly find value in the larger sizes. In this case, we picked the best selling option of the two. There are definitely some bulk sizes that would cut down on cost. Not to mention the occasional sale that can also save you some cash.

[@lowefx]

Will you be testing other brands like Fritz or LA, or only stick with the brands you sell?

[@sseeaahhaawwkkssrule975]

What size or brand of sand do you recommend? My sand keeps getting blown around by my power heads and leaving "bald" spots in my tank.

[@lukefham7138]

How come you guys didn't test aquaforest salt?

[@Skiillynn20]

Test Fritz salt. I am really shocked I didn't see the Fritz brand listed since that is also a major popular brand.

[@Voltron19]

I would like to see fritz salt tested

[@AJ-bi6ns]

Biggest issue with IO salts is they leave nasty deposits in mixing tanks IME. I’ve been using Red Sea blue bucket for a few years but after seeing this may switch to Tropic Marin Pro

[@Paoloskyxrd]

Good episode

[@pdiehm]

If you are running a nano tank up to 40gallon, there really isn’t a reason to not use TMP is there? Figure at 5g a week, the bucket will last you almost 9 months, at just under $11/mo th

[@JAMcDonald1]

Brightwell claims to use a similar grade of ingredients as Tropic Marin Pro.

[@gailsheldon6492]

I want to print that chart! Awesome!!!

[@supcook69]

Is frots pro aquaticd rpm a good salt

[@coyte30]

would have liked to see Fritz salt! Please at least do the test and post an updated chart from the video.

[@offgridluxury]

Is ESV not purchased enough to make the tests?

[@JVS_Tarnished]

Can u do this test on Dr. foster and smith salt please

[@gtank171]

Looks like I have to try Marin Pro.

[@agsonethetube]

What was the water temperature when you did the calculations/measurements? I know that the temperature effects the salinity. I am not quite sure how much. If I keep my tank at 79F and you keep yours at 77F would that make a huge difference in the calculations? Thanks

[@BRStv]

77 to 79 degrees wouldn't cause much of a difference at all, especially when we're talking about cost per single gallon. Plus, it should be just about the same across all salt brands.

[@agsonethetube]

@@BRStv BTW this is a great video. I am trying the Tropic Marin to see if it makes a difference. Thanks for answering my question.

[@t0l4nd]

Why don't you carry Fritz! Cmon BRS

[@hunterh891]

BRS has said that they sell equipment or chemicals that they personally have used and had success with in the past or present, thats probably the reason or maybe a deal just hasn't been made yet.

[@tjiddy]

+1 for me. Fritz comes in 2 styles (normal and elevated levels) and is the only thing I have to buy at the competitor's site.

[@t0l4nd]

@@BRStv There are many customers like Todd and myself that literally have to go to your competitors just to get this single product when we get everything else from BRS. I can't imagine we are alone. Seems to me like you are in the business of making money and Fritz would literally be making BRS A LOT of MONEY.

[@t0l4nd]

@@tjiddy Yeah it's annoying that I have to go to a BRS competitor just to get 1 product.

[@ringworm9]

@@t0l4nd then just pick a salt that brs sells, problem solved

[@Kawwwman]

great info!

[@anthonymurphy3101]

Need to carry and test fritz rpm salt

[@Kaizen_Hogs]

Would love to see fritz on here.

[@jean9910]

cool video, I wish H2Ocean was included.

[@peterclark85]

Did you subtract the weight of the packaging (bag) from the weight of the remaining salt? I doubt it would make much, if any, difference, but I'm curious since it didn't look like you did in the video.

[@peterclark85]

@@BRStv Excellent! Thank you!

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Would be nice to have these numbers in cups of salt . 1 cup = xxx grams , how many cups for 5 gallons. I’ve found my instant ocean gets me to 160 gallons for a bucket or 220 gallons for a box, just as they state.

[@Blackbookproduct10ns]

You will get that if you mix to about 1.022

[@lebryantjohnson7306]

The regular instant ocean is actually supposed to make 1.023

[@lebryantjohnson7306]

BulkReefSupplyCom ik but it is for fish only systems which target 1.023

[@lebryantjohnson7306]

BulkReefSupplyCom reef crystals should make 1.025 at their rate

[@sseeaahhaawwkkssrule975]

I think I'll stay with the Instant Ocean salt in the purple bucket.

[@eel4lee]

I was disappointed to see that you had not included Two Little Fishies Accurasea 1 50G box in your investigation. The small bags of pre-measured 5G mixes in Accurasea is tied so closely to what this investigation was all about. If Accurasea's measurements are not spot-on per the packaging, then a reefer may need to use a small portion of a second bag to adjust. Thus defeating the purpose of the 5G bags. I have been reefing since the 1980"s and have used many salt mixes. I like the premise of using an entire container when making SW to avoid the potential issues with settling or uneven mixes of salt. Since most reefers are not mixing huge volumes of SW all at once, I would think that this would be of interest to many watching this episode of BRStv Investigates.

[@atfinthehouse8631]

When you get a box for $45.00 or a bucket for $37.50, instant ocean is a good bit less.

[@Angel_A6969]

Wow that’s amazing

[@petrokuzyk3014]

you guys rock

[@GtcoUC]

Based on how the next video goes. I may change my salt mix.

[@uhohhotdog]

My local PetSmart charges $75 for a bucket of instant ocean reef crystals 😩 Looks like I need to find a new place to buy salt

[@leroypoole1998]

Shop bulkreefsupply.com

[@davidrichard451]

why do you never talk about Aquaforest

[@financiallyrealdotcom]

I've been buying salt based on price and in reality I've probably been spending more than I need to.

[@reefnoob9877]

before watching the video ill guess at 1.025 it only makes 70% of what the manufacturer claims.

[@emadhassan5298]

احسنت

[@rustyshackelford4503]

You guys are hilarious. Why would the test a competitors product and potentially show it in a favorable light? It just makes no business sense. RPM? LA salt? You serious Clark? Nothing wrong with those products but why would you expect BRS to spend the time and money on performing ANY test on it whatsoever? Look at it objectively and don’t say something like “but but but, if they cared about their customers they’d cost analyze it because that information benefits ME!” That is a selfish argument

[@MacheteAdventure]

Where’s the Aquaforest salt ??

[@MacheteAdventure]

Well I still want to thank you guys for doing this comparison. Maybe in the future a part 2?? Building a database one mix at a time.

[@pjfreak99]

Let’s be real. Everybody’s buying the big box of Reef Crystals for $49.99 on amazon...