Instant Ocean Discussion

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:15 am

After posting a link to our salt water mix archive thread to a new member in ISO, Annamy asked:CA,Thank you for posting that link for the seawater mixes.I was interested especially since I use Instant Ocean and have a large package of it! I am wondering if anyone knows if that study was duplicated, or has been looked at by anyone else. I am not good at deciphering intricate and complicated data, study variables, and conditions or study flaws, etc.that could affect results. So before I decide to discontinue using Instant Ocean, I am wondering if you or anyone else has any experience, thoughts, or background with it that could offer further input.Thanks!Originally I posted my reply there but thought it best to continue the conversation here for several reasons, the most important of which was taking an ISO thread off topic and making the member have to search for info related to his questions and not in response to Annamy's. Also, I feel it's a topic best contributed to by all.CA------Annamy,there is some debate on the quality and/or consistency I/O. I personally have no experience with the product. I believe Crab Street Journal will not approve potential adopters if they use it (or API for that matter) but I found no articles or forum threads on their site stating why they disapprove of it.GSnicklegrove shares her opinion of it here and this is a portion of another from 2005:This is my opinion...there is nothing about IO that is any better than any other salt preparation. For awhile, I went about compiling information on salts, and from the information I scanned, IO seemed to rank lowest on the list for having impurities. Also, with synthetic seasalts, you run into th problem of synthetically engineered minerals...even in the human body they are not always recognized. Take vitamin e or vitamin c for example. Both can be replicated synthetically in a laboratory, be approved by the FDA and so forth, but only a fraction is absorbed by the human body, as it doesn't recognize them fully...which means, there is more to absorption and utilization of minerals than is known by mankind at the moment. Advertising promotes a false lure to those of us searching for something to fill a need. I feel, from reading opinions about IO in all sorts of aquarium fish communities, and basically, Instant Ocean being considered lackluster for those in the underwater crustacean society, and contributing in some cases to high mortality of crustacean batches, that IO is not appropriate for long term use. Short term use is okay, but long term...longer than lets say 4 years, closer to 20 years, this is what I have my eye on.I personally recommend the best, absolute salt water is fresh water from the sea. Then, past that, I have always recommended Doc Wellfish, but this is not because I think it is the best alternative out there, it is simply where I stopped in my investigations. There may be salt out there much better than IO, but at this juncture, I am unable to continue researching for the moment. Going back what to recommend, fresh sea water, than Doc Wellfish for now, unless you find something better. IO is very low on the rung, and I simply cannot understand why so many people embrace it. Of course it is better than no salt water, if that comparison must be made. Remember, those comments are several years old. I also found this interesting read.You can find threads here by using your find feature and searching for the term Instant Ocean in all forums for additional insights. I will continue to poke around (on other sites) for more current findings and post any I come across.If anyone has insight or articles to share, we'd be happy to receive them.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:34 am

I use IO. I picked it because its what we as biologists use in the lab when we don't use real seawater. It is closest to real seawater and is very consistent batch to batch. I have yet to read any criticism of it that made any sense scientifically (in other words all the criticism has been gibberish with some scientific lingo thrown in a nonsensical way). I don't know why people like to beat up one brand when they don't know what they are talking about, but that appears to be what is happening. There are a lot of weird crabbing myths like this.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:41 am

I'm no expert, but I don't think using instant ocean will hurt your crabs. I know several people who use it for their reef tanks, and if it'll keep corals alive, which most corals are far more delicate than hermits, I don't see how it would hurt anything, I personally use reef crystals salt, which is made by the same company as instant ocean, for both my hermies and my reef tank.

Froggz37 · Post by **Froggz37** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:41 am

Its been a long going debate about Instant Ocean. I use it myself and have for almost three years now without any issues.

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:41 am

Real ocean water would be the best if you can find it for your crabs. I think some petstores even carry it in large jugs for those who don't live near to the ocean, but I've not been able to find it where I live. That reefkeeping study had some great information on it but they didn't mention all the salts that are out there so it's hard to say for sure which particular salt mix is the best for hermit crabs.I use API Aquarium Salt and have for years. Other brands are listed on the thread that can be used for hermit crabs. I did use IO in the past but found that a large batch spoiled on me (smelled really awful) when left out of the refrigerator, so that combined with some of the reports I heard caused me to switch to API.

Crabby Abby · Post by **Crabby Abby** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:41 am

Instant Ocean has been found to contain the highest concentrations of metals which are harmful to hermits and other ocean life.Here's a thread that contains other salt products you can use and their mix concentrations. Below IO you will find the url to an article on the research behind it.I've no personal experience with it. I've always used Doc Wellfish which is now API and can't personally speak for it's safety or potential for harm.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:41 am

Its been a long going debate in reefkeeping too, everyone either loves it or hates it. But like I said, I personally know people that use it in their reef tanks, and corals are extremely sensitive to heavy metals.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:41 am

I never keep my saltwater in the fridge, but i make sure to keep it covered and put an airstone or powerhead in it to keep it circulated so it won't stagnate.