instant ocean

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 5:56 pm

I have just been to the pet store for the 3rd time today. I bought salt for my little ones, because I didn't know that they needed it. I bought Instant Ocean. I read somewhere that it might be high in metals?? Is it safe?? We do not have any large pet store chains close by and so it was all I could find. I will have to order some online if it is not which might take awhile. What should I do??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:06 pm

Instant Ocean (IO) has the highest metal content than other salts. I use Oceanic mostly because I can get a small bag of it. Some people still use IO and have not had any problems... it's a judgement call...

If it were me: if I could still return the IO and would be able to get the better salt in around a weeks time I would do that ... if it would be longer before I could get the other salt or if I had already opened it I would use the IO until it was gone.

Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs · Post by **Hermit_of_Hermit_Crabs** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:55 pm

I have used IO since I started crabbin' 2 years and have yet to experience any ill effects. I hope the metal content is not something that is cumulative, just like saccharin for people.

megs · Post by **megs** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:00 pm

A lot of people swear by Instant Ocean. It'll be fine to use. Personally, I prefer Oceanic though.

HERMEZ · Post by **HERMEZ** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 5:21 am

I used up my IO for washing things and spraying that way you arent wasting it-- and I make the cleaning--hermie dip version double strength so you can use it up twice as fast

I got my Oceanic in a 50G jug talk about cheap and I made a rice gizmo to keep the humidity out--it came out to like 24cents a gallon

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:59 am

I have no idea where you guys get Oceanic. I have never seen it, or I am looking for the wrong thing, maybe.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:13 am

Oceanic is a marine salt... I get it at Petco.

You can see it on Petco.com, I can't get the link small I need to work on that ...

I always buy the smallest bag but I think the larger packs are just a bunch of the little packs so I might get a larger box next time. The smaller pack makes 5 gallons which lasts me quite a while... I mix it up 1/2 gallon at a time unless I am doing a deep clean then I use more to expand/wet my substrate...

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:05 pm

Oceanic is always in the marine salt water aquarium section at PetCo....It seems to be the main brand they sell, at least around here. Ask a salesperson if you still can't find it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 11:10 pm

I have used IO for a long time, but I do know it has a high metal content (And I tell others about that a lot, so it might have even been me that you heard it from

)

However, I do think that the ocean has a lot of metal ions in it, so being exposed to them through IO may even have a more "realistic" salt experience.. without the "realistic" smell at least

(Idk about you guys, but I hate the smell of the beach sometimes.. too much seaweed and bird poo)

DustAndEchoes · Post by **DustAndEchoes** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:12 am

I think if you can get natural seasalt, it's better for your crabs, as opposed to a sythesized salt like IO. Just because these guys are taken from the wild, and the more we can simualte their natrual environment, the better.
I bought some IO ages ago, and I'm only using it until it's gone, then I'll buy the real stuff. Another brand of natural Sea Salt that ppl are using is API (formally Doc Wellfish, i believe)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 9:15 am

I use Oceanic.

I think both IO and O need 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt per cup. I heard that from Coenobita Research.

Willow · Post by **Willow** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:12 pm

I like Real Ocean---and it's just $9.99 for 5 gallons (2 bucks a gallon is a great price, IMO). You just can't get anything better than the real thing. I'd post a link so you'd know what it looks like, but PetCo's site won't work for me. They only sell it at PetCo, but I know there are other brands of actual ocean water available at other stores. Here's the link to the company's site: http://www.catalinawater.com/index.html

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:52 pm

Thanks for all the great advice!!!

megs · Post by **megs** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:01 pm

*Kathy* wrote:I have no idea where you guys get Oceanic. I have never seen it, or I am looking for the wrong thing, maybe.

Petsmart & Petco both have it. It's in a silver & blue package w/ some yellow fish on it.