Red sea pro salt scam?

DvBrien · 04/03/2016, 07:16 PM

Just wondering... I think the Pet Land pet store has an employee swapping out bags in the buckets of red sea for instant ocean.
Every bucket I've ever bought has had the bag tied with a plastic slip n arrow tie.

I bought 2 more buckets this week and the black tabs were broke on the outside of the bucket; enough that you could remove the lid. This time when I removed the lid both bags were black zip ties (like instant ocean). When I opened the bag I could see that the salt was definitely more coarse than any red sea I've ever used...

So is a Red Sea now using regular zip ties on their Red Sea Coral Pro salts?

Normally, I wouldn't analyze this soo much except my buddy just crashed his tank after using the same batch of salt I got...

Flippers4pups · 04/03/2016, 07:32 PM

I wouldn't buy any box or bucket that's been opened.

DvBrien · 04/03/2016, 07:34 PM

Thanks for the advice. That being said it wasn't noticed until I wanted to use them... Pet Land doesn't accept returns. Otherwise this would be a non issue.

WWIII · 04/03/2016, 07:45 PM

I've recently purchased 2 new buckets of red sea, both had the normal blue slip and arrow tie. That is definitely suspicious the tab being ripped enough to open lid and being zip tied. I'm just wondering why they wouldn't put the original slip and arrow tie back on if they were really switching it out. Definitely would check it out to see if they continue to have these tampered buckets in the future. And obviously not buy again from them if any are tampered with.

DvBrien · 04/03/2016, 07:51 PM

I thought it was, (if it was) because they then would have to cut the zip tie off and then take the slip and arrow tie off their stolen bag to put it on the swapped bag. Thus leaving them with nothing... Too much time spent, opportunity to get caught and no tools to cut the zip tie...

DvBrien · 04/04/2016, 06:37 AM

Can anyone else speak to this?

nvladik · 04/04/2016, 06:45 AM

Also got a new bucket last week, normal blue zip tie. I would speak to the manager at the store.

dz6t · 04/05/2016, 08:53 PM

Every bucket of IO or Reef Crystals I used do not have plastic bag inside. The salt just sitting inside the bucket.

Hitch08 · 04/05/2016, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dz6t

Every bucket of IO or Reef Crystals I used do not have plastic bag inside. The salt just sitting inside the bucket.

Same here, although I've only opened four buckets.

Maybe the box of IO or Reef Crystals has bags?

DvBrien · 04/05/2016, 09:14 PM

I don't know how to edit on tapatalk. I used instant ocean mostly just as a generic name for "other salt" but I do appreciate you ruling out IO and RC.

DvBrien · 04/05/2016, 09:15 PM

On another note... I have been talking to the former west coast manager and he is checking into it for me / for us...

DvBrien · 04/06/2016, 08:00 AM

The got back to me today and said the lot number was packed with a normal black zip tie...

robn70 · 04/06/2016, 10:03 AM

The Boxes of IO and Reef Crystals Consist of 4 50 lb. bags, but they are heat sealed and don't have zip ties on them. At that's how the box that I picked up last month came.

Germanwerks · 04/06/2016, 10:56 AM

instant ocean does not use zipties, at least none that ive ever bought has used zipties

TangingOut · 04/06/2016, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robn70

The Boxes of IO and Reef Crystals Consist of 4 50 lb. bags, but they are heat sealed and don't have zip ties on them. At that's how the box that I picked up last month came.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Germanwerks

instant ocean does not use zipties, at least none that ive ever bought has used zipties

"I used instant ocean mostly just as a generic name for "other salt" but I do appreciate you ruling out IO and RC"

sixpackgarage · 04/06/2016, 03:55 PM

easy enough to check, if your alk is 12, then you have RSCP

04/03/2016, 07:16 PM	#1
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	Red sea pro salt scam? Just wondering... I think the Pet Land pet store has an employee swapping out bags in the buckets of red sea for instant ocean. Every bucket I've ever bought has had the bag tied with a plastic slip n arrow tie. I bought 2 more buckets this week and the black tabs were broke on the outside of the bucket; enough that you could remove the lid. This time when I removed the lid both bags were black zip ties (like instant ocean). When I opened the bag I could see that the salt was definitely more coarse than any red sea I've ever used... So is a Red Sea now using regular zip ties on their Red Sea Coral Pro salts? Normally, I wouldn't analyze this soo much except my buddy just crashed his tank after using the same batch of salt I got...

04/03/2016, 07:32 PM	#2
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	I wouldn't buy any box or bucket that's been opened. __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

04/06/2016, 10:56 AM	#14
Germanwerks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: San jacinto Posts: 133	instant ocean does not use zipties, at least none that ive ever bought has used zipties __________________ leemar recessed euro braced 300 gal with 180gal sump, 4 lumenmax elite with 400w ushio 14k, 6105 tunze streams, maxspect gyre 150, hammerhead gold , Ati powercone 250 skimmer,vertex carx Current Tank Info: 300 gal , 180gal sump

04/06/2016, 03:55 PM	#16
sixpackgarage reef mechanic Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 819	easy enough to check, if your alk is 12, then you have RSCP __________________ my build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2512689 my fuge thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2523500 Current Tank Info: DSA NEO 65G reef powered by Kessil

04/03/2016, 07:34 PM	#3
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	Thanks for the advice. That being said it wasn't noticed until I wanted to use them... Pet Land doesn't accept returns. Otherwise this would be a non issue.

04/03/2016, 07:45 PM	#4
WWIII Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 158	I've recently purchased 2 new buckets of red sea, both had the normal blue slip and arrow tie. That is definitely suspicious the tab being ripped enough to open lid and being zip tied. I'm just wondering why they wouldn't put the original slip and arrow tie back on if they were really switching it out. Definitely would check it out to see if they continue to have these tampered buckets in the future. And obviously not buy again from them if any are tampered with.

04/03/2016, 07:51 PM	#5
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	I thought it was, (if it was) because they then would have to cut the zip tie off and then take the slip and arrow tie off their stolen bag to put it on the swapped bag. Thus leaving them with nothing... Too much time spent, opportunity to get caught and no tools to cut the zip tie...

04/04/2016, 06:37 AM	#6
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	Can anyone else speak to this?

04/04/2016, 06:45 AM	#7
nvladik Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 361	Also got a new bucket last week, normal blue zip tie. I would speak to the manager at the store.

04/05/2016, 08:53 PM	#8
dz6t Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Boston MA Posts: 414	Every bucket of IO or Reef Crystals I used do not have plastic bag inside. The salt just sitting inside the bucket.

04/05/2016, 09:14 PM	#10
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	I don't know how to edit on tapatalk. I used instant ocean mostly just as a generic name for "other salt" but I do appreciate you ruling out IO and RC.

04/05/2016, 09:15 PM	#11
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	On another note... I have been talking to the former west coast manager and he is checking into it for me / for us...

04/06/2016, 08:00 AM	#12
DvBrien Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 285	The got back to me today and said the lot number was packed with a normal black zip tie...

04/06/2016, 10:03 AM	#13
robn70 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: VA Posts: 120	The Boxes of IO and Reef Crystals Consist of 4 50 lb. bags, but they are heat sealed and don't have zip ties on them. At that's how the box that I picked up last month came.