wassup with Oceanic salt?

johnvu713 · 02/15/2006, 08:11 PM

i tested a sample from Oceanic 200G bucket and nitrate came out to be a whopping 10ppm. I proceed to test my RO and it was fine. Test was done using Salifer test kits. What is up with that

ray-ray's_55 · 02/15/2006, 08:25 PM

it sucks

elwaine · 02/15/2006, 08:26 PM

Hmmm... been using Oceanic for nearly 2 years. Never actually tested a batch of synthetic sea water but I have been running between .02 and 0.0 in my tank. I also use a Salifer test kit.

I'm mixing up a fresh batch now. I'll test it in the morning, when I can use sunlight and not house lights for the color readings.

later...

johnvu713 · 02/15/2006, 08:30 PM

i use natural sunlight as well. Keep in mind i tested a 200G bucket not the 90G container.

elwaine · 02/15/2006, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Keep in mind i tested a 200G bucket not the 90G container.

And the point is?

I imagine that they mix the salt in huge batches and then fill containers of various sizes... so the mix should be uniform regardless of retail container size.

BTW, I never mix up more than 5G or 10G at a time - so I depend on the mix being uniform. Given the extremely small size of the individual grains in Oceanic, settling should be nil to negligible.

cweder · 02/15/2006, 09:07 PM

I used Oceanic to fill my 450 and the nitrates tested zero using Salifert kit. I have a fresh batch I will test and post later.

johnvu713 · 02/15/2006, 09:33 PM

The point is salt from a 90G container and a 200G bucket could have been made at different time rendering 2 separate batches.

nemo g · 02/15/2006, 10:59 PM

yes, and so 2 200g buckets could also have been made at diiferent times.

supertech3 · 02/15/2006, 11:24 PM

I do not see how the mix would have anything to do with nitrates, sounds more like water or container problem.

johnvu713 · 02/16/2006, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by supertech3
I do not see how the mix would have anything to do with nitrates, sounds more like water or container problem.

Some mix do realease impurities such as nitrate and PO4 into your system. This is a known fact. Not trusting my eyes i went ahead and tested the sample again with Hagen kit with same result. YiKe!!!! My RO water tested zero nitrate. It still might be the container as you stated. I will check out the container.

johnvu713 · 02/16/2006, 02:10 AM

OK now i know for sure it's the salt. I mix a sample in a small styrofoam cup and again it's still 10ppm. At this point i dont know if it'd make a different if i let it sit over.

elwaine · 02/16/2006, 08:47 AM

Good morning John,

Just tested my Oceanic seawater with Salifer. Result: 0.0 nitrates.

Something is definitely wrong with your batch of salt. Drop Oceanic a line and see what they say. Their website is http://www.oceanicsystems.com/ and you can find their e-mail address on their site.

BTW, what ever made you test the salt in the first place? Oceanic has a good reputation. I think it was a good idea to test it - I just never thought of doing it.

Good luck!

MiddletonMark · 02/16/2006, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by johnvu713
My RO water tested zero nitrate. It still might be the container as you stated. I will check out the container.

I'm not a science whiz, so could be wrong - but would a SW nitrate test accurately read freshwater?

I'm pretty sure some will read both, but am unsure all tests would read accurately in both fw + salt.

Could be totally wrong, just could explain ...

johnvu713 · 02/16/2006, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by elwaine
Good morning John,

Just tested my Oceanic seawater with Salifer. Result: 0.0 nitrates.

Something is definitely wrong with your batch of salt. Drop Oceanic a line and see what they say. Their website is http://www.oceanicsystems.com/ and you can find their e-mail address on their site.

BTW, what ever made you test the salt in the first place? Oceanic has a good reputation. I think it was a good idea to test it - I just never thought of doing it.

Good luck!

The reason i tested my salt is because after numerous WC my nitrate was still high so i thought what the heck..check the salt and BINGO!!! Thanks for the link

Mark
some do read both fresh and saltwater. NOt all

RichConley · 02/16/2006, 09:27 AM

Jovhu, tell us about your tank, a healthy reef tank should be able to process a good amount of nitrates. I was using tap for a while and still had zero nitrates, something is going on here.

MIKE NY · 02/16/2006, 10:45 AM

<------will never use it again..even if they gave it to me for free. It's inconsistant from batch to batch....I wouldn't mind even if it were low in elements, but be consistant so I know what to dose or not, but with each bucket different it's a PITA. Although I never had a problem with nitrates, I test one pail at 700 on the cal ...not to mention the mysteries algaes it caused probably from phosphates that a few of my fellow reefers tested in it....that was it ......I switched.

collective21 · 02/16/2006, 11:01 AM

Opinions vary. I've been using Oceanic for years never had a problem with anything.

impur · 02/16/2006, 11:36 AM

0 nitrates with my oceanic. I love this salt, although i have not tried all the salts on the market. Its such a good price at petsmart its too hard to pass up at this time.

I've used IO and had nothing but horrible experiences with it. LOTS of ppl here use it and have great results. So i guess YMMV from salt to salt.

johnvu713 · 02/17/2006, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RichConley
Jovhu, tell us about your tank, a healthy reef tank should be able to process a good amount of nitrates. I was using tap for a while and still had zero nitrates, something is going on here.

i have a 125 BB with 20G refugium. I dont think i had nitrate issue in the past...5ppm at most until of late when i switch to oceanic salt which in my case has elevated level of nitrate in their mix(10ppm)

02/15/2006, 08:11 PM	#1
johnvu713 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: houston Posts: 732	wassup with Oceanic salt? i tested a sample from Oceanic 200G bucket and nitrate came out to be a whopping 10ppm. I proceed to test my RO and it was fine. Test was done using Salifer test kits. What is up with that

02/15/2006, 08:26 PM	#3
elwaine The mad reefer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 296	Hmmm... been using Oceanic for nearly 2 years. Never actually tested a batch of synthetic sea water but I have been running between .02 and 0.0 in my tank. I also use a Salifer test kit. I'm mixing up a fresh batch now. I'll test it in the morning, when I can use sunlight and not house lights for the color readings. later... __________________ Been in this hobby for 3 hours and 27 minutes and I'm Still Not An Expert!

02/15/2006, 10:59 PM	#8
nemo g Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: west side iz da best Posts: 1,039	yes, and so 2 200g buckets could also have been made at diiferent times. __________________ nG Current Tank Info: tis da bestest tank eva

02/16/2006, 08:47 AM	#12
elwaine The mad reefer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 296	Good morning John, Just tested my Oceanic seawater with Salifer. Result: 0.0 nitrates. Something is definitely wrong with your batch of salt. Drop Oceanic a line and see what they say. Their website is http://www.oceanicsystems.com/ and you can find their e-mail address on their site. BTW, what ever made you test the salt in the first place? Oceanic has a good reputation. I think it was a good idea to test it - I just never thought of doing it. Good luck! __________________ Been in this hobby for 3 hours and 27 minutes and I'm Still Not An Expert!

02/16/2006, 09:27 AM	#15
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Jovhu, tell us about your tank, a healthy reef tank should be able to process a good amount of nitrates. I was using tap for a while and still had zero nitrates, something is going on here. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

02/15/2006, 08:25 PM	#2
ray-ray's_55 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Idaho Posts: 72	it sucks

02/15/2006, 08:30 PM	#4
johnvu713 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: houston Posts: 732	i use natural sunlight as well. Keep in mind i tested a 200G bucket not the 90G container.

02/15/2006, 09:07 PM	#6
cweder Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 550	I used Oceanic to fill my 450 and the nitrates tested zero using Salifert kit. I have a fresh batch I will test and post later.

02/15/2006, 09:33 PM	#7
johnvu713 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: houston Posts: 732	The point is salt from a 90G container and a 200G bucket could have been made at different time rendering 2 separate batches.

02/15/2006, 11:24 PM	#9
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	I do not see how the mix would have anything to do with nitrates, sounds more like water or container problem.

02/16/2006, 02:10 AM	#11
johnvu713 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: houston Posts: 732	OK now i know for sure it's the salt. I mix a sample in a small styrofoam cup and again it's still 10ppm. At this point i dont know if it'd make a different if i let it sit over.

02/16/2006, 10:45 AM	#16
MIKE NY Two Decade club Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Franklin Square, N.Y. Posts: 4,381	<------will never use it again..even if they gave it to me for free. It's inconsistant from batch to batch....I wouldn't mind even if it were low in elements, but be consistant so I know what to dose or not, but with each bucket different it's a PITA. Although I never had a problem with nitrates, I test one pail at 700 on the cal ...not to mention the mysteries algaes it caused probably from phosphates that a few of my fellow reefers tested in it....that was it ......I switched. __________________ Proud LIRA Member February 2011 Manhattan Reefs TOTM Current Tank Info: 170 gal Reef, 20 gal frag/reef,90 gal fuge, 65 gal sump, 2-250 Radiums on Hamilton M80 HQIs, T5 actincs, Vertex in280 skimmer, MRC-2 Cal Reactor, Reeflo return pump

02/16/2006, 11:01 AM	#17
collective21 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 217	Opinions vary. I've been using Oceanic for years never had a problem with anything.

02/16/2006, 11:36 AM	#18
impur Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 4,262	0 nitrates with my oceanic. I love this salt, although i have not tried all the salts on the market. Its such a good price at petsmart its too hard to pass up at this time. I've used IO and had nothing but horrible experiences with it. LOTS of ppl here use it and have great results. So i guess YMMV from salt to salt. __________________ Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds. Current Tank Info: 75gal, 20gal sump, 6-54w T5 TEK