Looking back to your reefing roots: Did you start with Instant Ocean salt?

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Pretty much all I've ever used.

 

[skey44]

Have ordered a full pallet of both before! Pretty sure it was the only thing available at my LFS back in the 90’s.
Tried many others with success. I’m always open to a good deal on IO or RC. I’ve liked tropic Marin salts the best over the years, but it comes with a premium price. The Seachem Reefsalt really made my coral colors pop back in the day(not sure it’s still available). I have a bucket of reef crystals from a few years back, definitely happy to cure my rock and start my new AIO build with it!

 

[Grog]

IO Reef Crystals here. Always used it and will stick with it. Easy to mix and very consistent. Locally available too, so if I ever have an emergency...

 

[Peter Houde]

I started with instant ocean, but switched to reef crystals. Been using it ever since. Have no plans to change

Ditto for me

 

[anemonalex]

I started off io/rc 50/50 on my first salty set up 7 years ago. Rc on water changes. I'm currently using coralife salt. Thinking of switching back to the old method. Just because I don't need the dechlorinator. In the coralife salt with my water.

 

[MR294]

Started in the mid nineties so absolutely.

Hahah yep, came in here pretty much to post this. IO was the only game in town (at least my town) at the time.

 

[oldbob50]

Seven years in and I'm still using IO Reef Crystals. Everything is working well in two tanks and I see no need to change to something different.

 

[mfinn]

Who remembers getting a Mini-Jet 404 powerhead in a 200 gallon bucket of Instant Ocean?

There were towels and tshirts too.

Was cleaning out a drawer the other day and found these.
All the pumps and towels are long gone.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Didn’t Instant Ocean, when it was first introduced have a little Vial of the trace elements, or was that some other salt? This would have been in the late 60’s. Back then I had a source of filtered Sea Water. Today I exclusively use Reef Crystals.

 

[kc4mnp]

I'm mixing water tonight out of the 200 gallon bucket I started out with on my 1st 55 gallon tank in 2006 ! Mind you I only have about 5 inches worth left in the bottom of the bucket and when it's empty I will put the bucket on shelf and keep it as a keep sake ! Lotta good memories started from that bucket including 22 years with a SnowFlake Eel !