Reef Crystals Salt Mixing Cloudy - Very concerned please help

[that Fish Guy]

I have been using Reef Crystals Salt for over 5 Years with no problems.

I mixed up a couple of buckets and was about to do one of my weekly water changes on my tanks.

When I took the lid off the bucket I was shocked to see that the water was cloudy.

I am concerned that this could kill fish and coral.

Has anybody else experienced this with Reef Crystals or any other Salt?

I tested the Newly Made Water too.

Temperature - 78
Salinity - 1.025
PH - 8.1
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Alkalinity 11.7 (Low for Reef Crystals - Usually I measure it at over 13)
Calcium - 580
Magnesium - 1725

I use RO Water too.

I mixed three five gallon buckets and all are cloudy.

If it was one bucket cloudy I would probably blame the heater but this is three cloudy buckets with three different heaters and all are cloudy.

They were made 2 days ago so this is not normal.

Every Bucket I have ever mixed (a Zillion over the last 5 Years) has always been Crystal Clear in like 5 to 10 Minutes.

I have half a bucket mixed up from the last box of reef crystals and it is clear with a slightly higher PH than the cloudy ones at 8.3

Also, the Salt feels odd.

It feel and looks like Powdered Sugar and sticks to my hand like Powdered Sugar too.

In the past Reef Crystals has always felt heavier and more "crystallized" like table salt than the "powdered" way it feels now.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[that Fish Guy]

I also test my every five gallon Buckets of RO Water with a TDS Meter right before I add the Salt so I know that the RO was definetly good.

[Stevenliu9]

I used reef crystal too and like you I've always have the bucket clear up max 30 min. I do notice depends on the water temperature, cooler water tend to take longer to clear up vs warm water.

[rfgonzo]

I know that a couple months ago there was some bad batches of reef crystals that hit the market. But I'm not exactly sure what the problem was. Maybe give the manufacturer call and see if they can't lead you in the right direction.

[that Fish Guy]

abc

[Wazzel]

I had that happen one time for no explainable reason. The week before mixed fine and the week after mixed fine. All salt from the same bucket. I think it was a dissolving issue. I used it and it clouded my tank for the better part of a day. No ill effects.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Stevenliu9

I used reef crystal too and like you I've always have the bucket clear up max 30 min. I do notice depends on the water temperature, cooler water tend to take longer to clear up vs warm water.

It was mixed up the same temperature that I have been doing for over 5 Years.

I have mixed it warmer than usual and super cold (left the buckets in the car overnight in Michigan Winter).

And hotter or colder it has never been cloudy.

[joshky]

I agree, I think you should call them and see what they say, not worth risking your livestock over a water change.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by rfgonzo

I know that a couple months ago there was some bad batches of reef crystals that hit the market. But I'm not exactly sure what the problem was. Maybe give the manufacturer call and see if they can't lead you in the right direction.

My LFS recieved this Box on 11-7-14

They always date the box with a marker the day it arrives.

Was the bad batch you are talking about from that time period?

Was it just cloudy water that was safe to use or did people actually loose livestock?

[Wazzel]

I re read you initial post. It almost sounds like it got damp. Did you notice any holes in the container. Sometime when I get to the bottom of a bucket it gets it sometimes gets funky.

[rfgonzo]

I don't know what the exact problem was whether it was cloudy water or loss of livestock, all I know is that they had some bad stuff go out this was back in October. If your LFS received it in the beginning of November it could've come from the batch in October.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Wazzel

I re read you initial post. It almost sounds like it got damp. Did you notice any holes in the container. Sometime when I get to the bottom of a bucket it gets it sometimes gets funky.

No there were no holes.

I buy the Box where you get 4 of the 50 Gallon Bags.

I open up one bag at a time and put it into an old Reef Crystals bucket that I have.

When I use that up I open bag number 2, then 3, then 4.

Then I buy a New Box.

I opened the New Box and Bag #1 on Monday.

The other three Bags from the Box are still Sealed in the box.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Wazzel

I re read you initial post. It almost sounds like it got damp. Did you notice any holes in the container. Sometime when I get to the bottom of a bucket it gets it sometimes gets funky.

It was "Powdery like Powdered Sugar" right when I opened the Bag up.

As I Poured the Bag into the Bucket the Salt blew up into my face and I started sneezing.

It felt very light unlike all the Salt that I have used in the past which felt heavier (from what I recall - I do not have any other salt to test this theory with).

[that Fish Guy]

I made a couple new buckets to see if they get cloudy.

If they are Cloudy should I just throw all these 4 Bags of Salt Out and Buy a New Box?

If the New Batch is Clear should I Use It or Throw It Out anyways because the Salt may be Contaninated with something?

I do not want to Waste the Salt that I paid good money for.

But even worse would be to use it and Crash a Tank because it was contaminated with something.

What do you guys think?

[Fish4Me2]

I had this happen repeatedly with Reef Crystals a few years ago: it's the main reason I switched salt mixes and now use TMP. I did one water change with the cloudy water after all parameters tested out normal. There didn't appear to be any ill effects on the tank, but I returned the bucket.

[wrott]

Try another bag, mix 1/2 SG, let it go clear then add the other half and see if it stays cloudy as well. It's probably just calcium carbonate, which is not very soluble in water like kalk.

[rfgonzo]

Originally Posted by that Fish Guy

I made a couple new buckets to see if they get cloudy.

If they are Cloudy should I just throw all these 4 Bags of Salt Out and Buy a New Box?

If the New Batch is Clear should I Use It or Throw It Out anyways because the Salt may be Contaninated with something?

I do not want to Waste the Salt that I paid good money for.

But even worse would be to use it and Crash a Tank because it was contaminated with something.

What do you guys think?

Don't throw it away, contact the manufacturer find out what the problem is. I'm sure they will reimburse you.

[Lucky Lefty]

2 batches ago I made 50 gallons of water with a bag from a 200 gallon box and it was cloudy as well. I tested ammonia nitrite and nitrates as well and all were 0 and salinity was spot on. After doing a lot of searching online I found it was somewhat common and couldn't find any I'll effects so I used the whole barrel and it didn't seem to harm anything.
Last 2 batches were from a new 160 gallon bucket and they mixed up clear however.

[that Fish Guy]

Originally Posted by Fish4Me2

I had this happen repeatedly with Reef Crystals a few years ago: it's the main reason I switched salt mixes and now use TMP. I did one water change with the cloudy water after all parameters tested out normal. There didn't appear to be any ill effects on the tank, but I returned the bucket.

Was the tank Cloudy for a while or did doing a small water change with cloudy water not affect the tank as a whole?

[outssider]

why don't you take the salt back to the lfs where you bought it. Get them to exchange it for a new box. You can also call the manufacturer, they will send you out a new box but you will need to send them in a small sample of the salt so they can test it.....it will take several weeks though.

[slief]

My guess is that the mixture may have separated in the bag and wasn't completely mixed before you put it in your buckets to add water. What you are probably seeing is precipitate from the additives that didn't or couldn't dissolve in the water. Something that normally wouldn't be an issue if the bag was properly mixed with all the contents even distributed throughout the bag.

My guess is that it would be no issue to add this to your tank but you don't mention how large your tank is. I would probably add it to the sump as opposed to the display that way it has a chance to mxi with the water better before hitting the display. That will help to distribute and dilute the precipitate so it can mix and dissolve into the tanks water.

[wrott]

Originally Posted by wrott

Try another bag, mix 1/2 SG, let it go clear then add the other half and see if it stays cloudy as well. It's probably just calcium carbonate, which is not very soluble in water like kalk.

I'll bet you money that if you do want I suggest, it will work and be a clear solution of SSW.