Reef Aquarium Salt

Reef aquarium salt is a necessary ingredient that must be added to your aquarium water. A good brand of reef salt must contain many other concentrations such as magnesium, calcium, and strontium with proper alkalinity and pH for your closed reef aquarium system. And it should have all essential minor, and trace components found in natural reef waters.

Also it should contain no toxic or non-essential components such as nitrate, phosphate, silicate, arsenic, cadmium, or beryllium. Good reef salt should dissolve quickly and completely.

That really depends on what you are doing. If you are just setting up your reef aquarium, fill it with water. Then you can add the salt directly into the tank. Make sure your circulation pumps are running and follow the amount directions that came with your salt. Be sure to add less than what is recommended, let the salt dissolve for a while and then take a reading of the specific gravity. The ideal specific gravity reading should be 1.025.

If you are doing your weekly water change of 5 to 20% you would mix the salt in a food safe container (5 or 10 gallon pail) with a power head and, if necessary, a heater. You should always make your water at least 24 hours before you add it to your tank. It's what's known as aging the water.