Let me tell you why my coral frags are doing the happy dance with Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. This isn't just salt - it's a nutrient-packed cocktail that makes my torch corals extend their tentacles like they're at a underwater rave. The extra calcium? My acroporas are growing so fast I swear I hear them creaking at night.

Here's the real tea: after testing salts that cost twice as much, I saw zero difference in coral growth. Why pay premium prices when this $44 bucket (Prime shipping, baby!) keeps everything from zoanthids to elegance corals thriving? Pro tip: mix for 24 hours with a powerhead - the salinity creeps up, so stop at 1.020ppm and adjust later.

Now for the messy truth - unlike some brands, this comes loose in the bucket. After month three, I'm breaking up salt clumps like it's an Arctic expedition. But here's how I deal: silica gel packets in the bucket = problem solved. Also worth noting - you might need to tweak calcium levels slightly post-mix.

The magic happens when you see your neon green star polyps spreading across the rockwork like they own the place. That's when you realize: thirty years of reefers can't be wrong about this budget-friendly workhorse. Just ask my eight-year-old bubble tip anemone that's survived three tank crashes (not salt-related!) and still looks photoshoot-ready.