I use both IO and Oceanic. If I was tied to a couple horses, forced to decide on one, I would pick Oceanic only slightly ahead of IO only because it mixes *far* easier. it is near powder like. No matter what salt I use, I do not mix the salt 24 hours, etc before hand. I add salt, check
SG (Hydrometer) and add to tank so the fact that Oceanic dissolves much easier breaks the tie for me. In my personal opinion, any report of a salt mix causing tank crash tells me we are not getting the full story. Obviously anything that would consistently cause damage would soon be rejected by us hobbiest. No matter what salt you go with, make sure you are starting with good quality water. Keep tabs on your levels before adding it to the tank. That may shed more light on any issues you might have well in advance. Like the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. On dosing, no salt mix will get you out of dosing..*Unless* you are ok with near if not slightly depleted levels of trace elements as compared with
nsw. All salts have areas where they lack, so the idea that there is a one shot cures all out there, just does not exist. (Not to mention, how would those same companies justify selling additives!! ; ) Most of us dose to avoid changing water or to enhance if not accelerate coral growth to somewhat un natural levels. You'll find article after article where
alk for example in tons of *very* successful tanks (Large tanks, typically large investments..) is elevtated to about 11
dkh.
nsw is about 8. So the idea that you may somehow get away from dosing by finding some 'magic bullet' salt mix, well none of us have found it. At least not when your running your
alk,
mg,
ca, etc at such elevated levels that most of us prefer.
Best of Luck!
