To　promote　the　extensive　application　of　artificial　reefs,　developing　a　type　of　economical　and　low-alkaline　artificial　reef　concrete　(ARC)　where　marine　organisms　can　grow　quickly　is　necessary.　A　grade　C30　ARC　with　sulphoaluminate　cement　(SAC),　sea　water　and　marine　sand　is　proposed.　The　workability,　mechanical　properties,　surface　pH　and　microstructure　(scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　pore　structure)　of　this　ARC　were　studied.　The　influences　of　the　cement　type　(ordinary　Portland　cement　(OPC),　SAC　and　a　mixed　SAC　and　OPC　cement),　water　type　(freshwater　and　sea　water)　and　sand　type　(river　sand　and　marine　sand)　on　the　properties　of　ARC　are　discussed.　In　terms　of　the　mechanical　properties　and　surface　pH　of　ARC　with　sea　water　and　marine　sand,　SAC　performed　better　than　OPC.　However,　a　mixed　SAC　and　OPC　cement　had　significantly　negative　effects　on　the　workability　and　mechanical　properties　of　the　sea　water　and　marine　sand-based　ARC.　Marine　sand　and　sea　water　displayed　positive　effects　on　the　mechanical　properties　but　no　obvious　effects　on　the　surface　pH　of　SAC-based　ARC.　Compared　to　ARC　with　OPC,　river　sand　and　freshwater,　the　proposed　ARC　has　superior　mechanical　properties,　a　better　microstructure,　a　lower　surface　pH　and　a　lower　cost.　(C)　2019　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.