reef crystals is a scam!!

[qn5reef]

+1 there is nothing scam about it, just read the label.

Originally Posted by polyppetey

You should read the label before buying, it clearly states 1.4 lbs makes 5 gallons at 1.021. To get to a target of 1.026 I need 1.7 lbs. After stating that Other salt mixes differ in the weight needed to get to the targeted SG. I THINK IO is 1.5 lb. to get to 1.021

BTW for everything reefers do I am still suprised people still use measuring cups and not a good scale.

[maynardjames]

Originally Posted by qn5reef

+1 there is nothing scam about it, just read the label.

+2

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by jayb12

what gives? started buying this salt because its cheaper then seachem however when i mix my 55 gallon jug it uses 3/4 of the bucket! im lucky if i get 100 gallons out of a supposid 160 gallon bucket!

mixing salt at 75 degree's to 1.025!

anyone else have this problem?

I can tell you that you either measured incorrectly or you simply got a bad batch (the latter is unlikely, but I personally cannot rule it out). Either way, something is amiss. Either way I wouldn't go calling the company a scam. Clearly everyone using reef crystals out there isn't an imbecile who simply hasn't noticed that they are using much more salt than they should be. This seems to be a specific issue with you...

[jayb12]

well when you mix up 60 gallons of salt a week, that extra 50 or so gallons really hurts the wallet on the salt budget!

after 3 buckets i had enough. i wont buy reef crystals again because in reality im paying 75 bucks for a bucket that nets me 100 or so gallons. thats pretty expensive stuff!

[graveyardworm]

Somehow your logic has become skewed. Regardless of what the label says you are getting what you are paying for, a certain amount of salt by weight. To get to the higher SG requires more salt, you would have to pay for that salt, or pay the same for a bucket that makes less gallons per the label.

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by jayb12

well when you mix up 60 gallons of salt a week, that extra 50 or so gallons really hurts the wallet on the salt budget!

after 3 buckets i had enough. i wont buy reef crystals again because in reality im paying 75 bucks for a bucket that nets me 100 or so gallons. thats pretty expensive stuff!

I think the point we are trying to get across is that being 50 gallons off on a 160 gallon bucket is way more than it frankly should be... Your difference is about 30% when it should be about 10-15%

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

I think the point we are trying to get across is that being 50 gallons off on a 160 gallon bucket is way more than it frankly should be... Your difference is about 30% when it should be about 10-15%

I agree. I understand their marketing strategy, but that is too far off from reality. It makes it as expensive as the good salt brands and doesn't deliver the same results in my opinion.

[stanlalee]

now we are going from if reef crystals is a rip off to what salt we like.

Bottom line in order to be a rip off by definition you must be paying an uncompetitive price for a like product. itis not grossly more expensive or cheaper than ANY reef specific salt on the market (yes I did the math and all are within a range of about 2.2-2.7gallons per $1)

redsea pro and seachem reef salt, probably the second and third most readily available and common reef salts on the market use the same 1.023 or less standard for marking their salts.

some of you are making my case on why it would be just plain stupid for reef crystals to change their label. if you cant decifer reef crystals isn't a rip off because of its labeling even though its the same amount of salt as IO for $2-5 more and no more expensive or mislabeled than its main competitors imagine what the same people will think when they go to the store or online and see 150-160g buckets of seachem reef and redsea coral pro for $45-50 and 100g buckets of reef crystals for the same price. the only other option would be to put more salt in and jack up the price. then you'll be complaining on the price hike on 160g buckets or how expensive RC has become using the same non abstract reasoning.

but yep all you reef crystal users are getting bamboozled!

[graveyardworm]

The OP still hasnt indicated how they are measuring salinity. Also if its being measured with a swing arm hydro or floating hydro temp could be a factor especially this time of year in Canada.

How are you measuring the salinity and what is the temp of the mixing barrell at the time of measurement?

[radicaltimes]

I only have a 120 gallon Reef system, The Reef Crystals salt is the cheapest part of the aquarium. I weight mine out at 1.6 pounds for 5 gallons.

[JMalone81]

Originally Posted by jayb12

well when you mix up 60 gallons of salt a week, that extra 50 or so gallons really hurts the wallet on the salt budget!

after 3 buckets i had enough. i wont buy reef crystals again because in reality im paying 75 bucks for a bucket that nets me 100 or so gallons. thats pretty expensive stuff!

Hey go to drsfoster its $50 a bucket. I have used rc for a few years and I'm still looking for this scam you are talking about.

[luther1200]

You might want to check your salinity. RC is one of, if not the most common salt on the market. They would not have gained that high standard if yourt claims were even remotely true.

[luther1200]

Originally Posted by jayb12

well when you mix up 60 gallons of salt a week, that extra 50 or so gallons really hurts the wallet on the salt budget!

after 3 buckets i had enough. i wont buy reef crystals again because in reality im paying 75 bucks for a bucket that nets me 100 or so gallons. thats pretty expensive stuff!

On your fist post it was 50 gallons for 3/4 of a bucket. So how did it change to 100 gallons per bucket. Is that last 1/4 of bucket magical salt? Maybe RC got it from the guy that sold Jack his beans. And why are you paying 75$ for a bucket of RC, its around 45$-50$. If somebody is selling it for that price, you have no one but yourself to blaim for paying that high price.

[stevek480]

You can also buy the 200 gallon box for $50.

[JMalone81]

Originally Posted by luther1200

On your fist post it was 50 gallons for 3/4 of a bucket. So how did it change to 100 gallons per bucket. Is that last 1/4 of bucket magical salt? Maybe RC got it from the guy that sold Jack his beans. And why are you paying 75$ for a bucket of RC, its around 45$-50$. If somebody is selling it for that price, you have no one but yourself to blaim for paying that high price.

I was thinking the same thing. Lol

[graveyardworm]

Canada, exchange rates, additional shipping costs to get it there.

[kc350twin]

In my opinion I buy a salt for it's element levels and reliability. Not for how much it makes.

It is not a secret that almost all the salt companies list their Parameters and mixing amounts in the 1.021-1.023 range or whatever Salinity level they want. Yes I think they should have a graph that shows you the expected amounts for different salinity levels.

My 0.02
Kc3

[burtonpj48]

[QUOTE=d0ughb0y;16540551]I mix in a 5 gallon bucket and always use 3 cups of reef crystals to get 1.026.

That is alot more salt to mix a 5 gallon bucket. I use h20cean about 2 1/8 cup for a little more than a 5 gallon bucket. i use the h20cean bucket to mix my salt, its a little taller than ur average 5 gallon bucket, and its mixed at 1.025. I was considering switching to reef crystal because the lfs that i purchase my salt from is discontinuing h20cean, im glad i read this thread.

[luther1200]

Originally Posted by graveyardworm

Canada, exchange rates, additional shipping costs to get it there.

If thats why it costs what it does, than wouldn't it be a moot point as those things would be true for any salt? And in respect to each other RC would still be less expensive than others.

[The_Codfather]

Originally Posted by jayb12

show me a reef that runs on 1.021 water like they suggest.

Sure that's not for the ICK mix?

[lordofthereef]

Originally Posted by graveyardworm

The OP still hasnt indicated how they are measuring salinity. Also if its being measured with a swing arm hydro or floating hydro temp could be a factor especially this time of year in Canada.

How are you measuring the salinity and what is the temp of the mixing barrell at the time of measurement?

He did mention the water temp was 75 degrees.

[graveyardworm]

I was just reviewing the thread and saw that, my bad. Still wondering how he's measuring salinity. I'm also starting to wonder was the bucket sealed? Possibly someone scooped a bit off the top and recovered the bucket?

[luther1200]

Originally Posted by graveyardworm

. I'm also starting to wonder was the bucket sealed? Possibly someone scooped a bit off the top and recovered the bucket?

That would be the one thing that would make any sense.

[d0ughb0y]

[QUOTE=burtonpj48;16543888]

Originally Posted by d0ughb0y

I mix in a 5 gallon bucket and always use 3 cups of reef crystals to get 1.026.

That is alot more salt to mix a 5 gallon bucket. I use h20cean about 2 1/8 cup for a little more than a 5 gallon bucket. i use the h20cean bucket to mix my salt, its a little taller than ur average 5 gallon bucket, and its mixed at 1.025. I was considering switching to reef crystal because the lfs that i purchase my salt from is discontinuing h20cean, im glad i read this thread.

well we are talking about reef crystals here, and the recommended mix is 1/2 cup per gallon and I do get 1.021 if I put 2.5 cups to mix 5 gallons. I just need to adjust it to 3 cups to get 1.026.

so the plausible explanation is either SG reading is incorrect, or the LFS scooped out some salt for the yield to be 100 gallons instead of 133 gallons at 1.026.

FWIW, I never measured the actual yield of a bucket of RC, but on 3 buckets, I have weighed the new bucket and sure the weight was exactly as labeled. On a bucket of Seachem I bought from LFS, the weight was less than the label so I am assuming that is why the LFS hastily picked that particular bucket for me when I bought one.

[dudley moray]

if you think thats bad check out the ingredients of a magnesium supplement for 20$ for a 500 ml can then go to the grocery store and check the ingredients of eppsom salt for 3$ a 5 lb bag Reef crystals is not a scam it does exactly what it says you should try big als they are 10 bucks cheaper btw!