Instant Ocean Salt Has Problems - Page 2

omni2226 · 05/20/2006, 06:43 PM

Mmmm if I am not mistaken (and I often am) water is diffrent from town to town. Calcium levels will be diffrent town to town.

Calcium levels in tapwater will be a little diffrent every day. So I doubt any salt will give perfect numbers day in and day out.

Now if you use RO/DI , and its working like its supposed to, and you mixed the dry salt before mixing in water each time, and you use exactly the same amount of salt/water ratio each time, then you may be able to abtain consistant readings each and every time.

Then again I may be out in left feild and need mental health therapy.

MammothReefer · 05/20/2006, 07:43 PM

I am using IO, and have been having ALK/CALC issues.. but I don't think it's the salt.. I tested my "fresh batch" and calc was around 300-330ppm alk 10.

My.. tank on the other hand.. has 900-1000ppm Calc, and my alk was off the test kit.. been slowly bringing it down.(I think my efforts to lower my alk by pouring in bionic calcium is what shot my Calc up so high..).. On my 3rd water change, mixing #4 for a co uple days from now... things seem to be doing much better.

..although after this water change Im' all out of IO, sooo I"ll be switching to Vibriant Reef..see how that works out..

Azurel · 05/20/2006, 08:00 PM

I had the same problem with Reef Crystals about 1 1/2 years ago, my PH was about 12 and my alk was off the charts. We tested the salt mix with 3 different test and each one came up with the same conclusion. We gave the Reef crystal rep the bag to have tested. After about 2 months they came back and said that it wasn't the salt.....BIG BS. The owner of the LFS went to bat for me against them because I had lost over $600 worth of live stock, and the owner new my back ground in the hobby....I went to Oceanic salt for about 6 months and got that slime algae, their answer was to give me a couple cases of 50 gallon Reef crystal bags. I have not had a problem since and the tank has returned to it original state. So don't look for big solutions or compensation for you loss's. I still use it because for the last 15 years that all I have used and have had only one bag go bad. That's a pretty good track record to me, now I test before adding and make corrections if I have to.

omni2226 · 05/20/2006, 09:23 PM

" now I test before adding and make corrections if I have to. "

Exactly. How much does it cost to test calcium, magnesium and PH?

Compared to peace of mind and 100,s if not 1000,s of dollors in livestock, virtualy nothing regardless of the brand of salt you use.

omni2226 · 05/20/2006, 09:31 PM

Heres a tidbit. Did you know human blood has the same trace elements as natural seawater?
Including gold and silver.

Mmmm wonder if the salt makers are aware of this and add gold and silver. Time to dig out my seive and pan and look for sparklys....

ReeferAl · 05/21/2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MammothReefer
My.. tank on the other hand.. has 900-1000ppm Calc, and my alk was off the test kit.. been slowly bringing it down.(

You could ask Randy Holmes-Farley, but I really don't believe there is any way you could have Ca levels over 900 and at the same time have alk levels "off the test kit" on the high level. It would far exceed the solubility product of calcium carbonate in seawater and calcium carbonate would precipitate everywhere before you reached those levels. I would get a new test kit before trying to bring leves down as you might find that you are actually making things worse rather than better if the tests are off.

Allen

ReeferAl · 05/21/2006, 10:13 AM

As far as IO salt, I periodically test newly mixed salt and my values are typically about:

Ca 380
Mg 1150
alk 3 ppm

All mixed with RO/DI

Only the Mg is consistently very low. Now, I mix salt 50 gal at a time from buckets. It's possible that if the salt is not well mixed in the bucket small batches could vary more even if average values are ok. Just a thought.

Allen

ReeferAl · 05/21/2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by texjagman
I am primarily posting this thread over concerns I have run into with Instant Ocean Salt. I'm concerned for others tanks and I am frustrated with Instant Ocean's handling of my problem. ...

I switched to Reef Crystals and my local shop has repeatedly asked the rep what they would do. To date they have not responded to her and won't even acknowledge the salt is the source.

If you are not satisfied with the costomer service on the IO salt then a switch to Reef Crystals might not be the best as it is made by the same company that makes IO and the customer service is likely to be the same.

Allen

vessxpress1 · 05/21/2006, 10:53 AM

I've never had a problem with IO or Reef Crystals using tap or RO water.

I switched to Reef Crystals because the calcium in every batch of IO was way to low. I'd get the calcium right in my tank, do a water change and then I'd have to work on getting it back up.

I thought IO was notorious for having low Ca and high alk. I believe the last time I tested some I got Ca 360 and alk was 16 dkH. So I made the switch to reef crystals. Calcium is perfect with RC, but I still have to add Mg and Strontium to make up for the low levels. Alk I got an 8 dkH.

05/20/2006, 06:43 PM	#26
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Mmmm if I am not mistaken (and I often am) water is diffrent from town to town. Calcium levels will be diffrent town to town. Calcium levels in tapwater will be a little diffrent every day. So I doubt any salt will give perfect numbers day in and day out. Now if you use RO/DI , and its working like its supposed to, and you mixed the dry salt before mixing in water each time, and you use exactly the same amount of salt/water ratio each time, then you may be able to abtain consistant readings each and every time. Then again I may be out in left feild and need mental health therapy. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

05/20/2006, 07:43 PM	#27
MammothReefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mammoth Lakes, CA Posts: 3,442	I am using IO, and have been having ALK/CALC issues.. but I don't think it's the salt.. I tested my "fresh batch" and calc was around 300-330ppm alk 10. My.. tank on the other hand.. has 900-1000ppm Calc, and my alk was off the test kit.. been slowly bringing it down.(I think my efforts to lower my alk by pouring in bionic calcium is what shot my Calc up so high..).. On my 3rd water change, mixing #4 for a co uple days from now... things seem to be doing much better. ..although after this water change Im' all out of IO, sooo I"ll be switching to Vibriant Reef..see how that works out.. __________________ Reefin @ 8298' Current Tank Info: 105 Peninsula

05/20/2006, 08:00 PM	#28
Azurel Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kalamazoo,MI Posts: 2,854	I had the same problem with Reef Crystals about 1 1/2 years ago, my PH was about 12 and my alk was off the charts. We tested the salt mix with 3 different test and each one came up with the same conclusion. We gave the Reef crystal rep the bag to have tested. After about 2 months they came back and said that it wasn't the salt.....BIG BS. The owner of the LFS went to bat for me against them because I had lost over $600 worth of live stock, and the owner new my back ground in the hobby....I went to Oceanic salt for about 6 months and got that slime algae, their answer was to give me a couple cases of 50 gallon Reef crystal bags. I have not had a problem since and the tank has returned to it original state. So don't look for big solutions or compensation for you loss's. I still use it because for the last 15 years that all I have used and have had only one bag go bad. That's a pretty good track record to me, now I test before adding and make corrections if I have to. __________________ Official soldier of the Zoa patrol/ The Zoa Patrol does not exist in public or privet....

05/20/2006, 09:23 PM	#29
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	" now I test before adding and make corrections if I have to. " Exactly. How much does it cost to test calcium, magnesium and PH? Compared to peace of mind and 100,s if not 1000,s of dollors in livestock, virtualy nothing regardless of the brand of salt you use. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

05/20/2006, 09:31 PM	#30
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Heres a tidbit. Did you know human blood has the same trace elements as natural seawater? Including gold and silver. Mmmm wonder if the salt makers are aware of this and add gold and silver. Time to dig out my seive and pan and look for sparklys.... __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

05/21/2006, 10:13 AM	#32
ReeferAl Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fond du Lac, WI Posts: 2,040	As far as IO salt, I periodically test newly mixed salt and my values are typically about: Ca 380 Mg 1150 alk 3 ppm All mixed with RO/DI Only the Mg is consistently very low. Now, I mix salt 50 gal at a time from buckets. It's possible that if the salt is not well mixed in the bucket small batches could vary more even if average values are ok. Just a thought. Allen

05/21/2006, 10:53 AM	#34
vessxpress1 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NW IL Posts: 1,603	I've never had a problem with IO or Reef Crystals using tap or RO water. I switched to Reef Crystals because the calcium in every batch of IO was way to low. I'd get the calcium right in my tank, do a water change and then I'd have to work on getting it back up. I thought IO was notorious for having low Ca and high alk. I believe the last time I tested some I got Ca 360 and alk was 16 dkH. So I made the switch to reef crystals. Calcium is perfect with RC, but I still have to add Mg and Strontium to make up for the low levels. Alk I got an 8 dkH.