A General Guide to Salt Mixes

[Zedar]

Randy excellent explanation.

I too had the problem with RS Coral pro.

values before mixing

1.026 CA: 320 ppm
5 DKH

After mixing

1.026 CA: 420 ppm
7 DKH

Maybe it needs better mixing? I just took it out of the bag and dumped it back in the bucket. So I was testing the settled salt. Maybe a real good stirring is required?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

That's a pretty big change in calcium. Was there any significant undissolved stuff when you first tested? It might just be test kit inaccuracy.

 

[Zedar]

No undissolved stuff.

I used the same procedure for both batches. 5 gallons of di water.
I slowly add the salt while a mag 9.5 stirs the water yes a mag 9.5 in a 5 gallon bucket :eek1: its all i have..besides, it gets the job done fast

I verified the readings with salfiert and seachem test kits.

It seems the salt is settling out as ezcompany and i have found out.

I posted months ago about this, in this thread http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1217474

I put that bucket aside and bought seachem reef salt.
Well after reading ezcompany's post, I tried taking a sample from the bottom of the batch, and sure enough the readings came up higher.

 

[Zedar]

after comparing readings of my two posts i noticed this

posted today

1.026 CA: 320 ppm ------the 1.026 is a typo. I always mix to 25
5 DKH

Posted when i took the readings back in sept of 2007

SP 1.025
PH 8.0
KH 5.0
CA 325
MG 1300

And the reading after I flipped the salt and took from the bottom.

1.025 CA: 420 ppm
7 DKH

So my memory doesn't server me well... Cut an old man a break

So randy these are the right figures. I also took the readings a day after it mixed. Ive made sure i did everything right and double checked all my readings.
I'm pretty confident that this salt is settling.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Oh, these are different batches from different parts of the salt bucket? That is reasonable then, as I do expect these mixes can settle out to some extent.

I thought it was the same solution aging a few days.

 

[Zedar]

yes same bucket...I took from the top and got low readings. When i took from the bottom i got closer to advertised readings. I'm going to give this bucket a good sifting and see how that works.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I get it. That's a good reason to mix up large batches at once.

 

[ezcompany]

here is the email i got from the chemist at red sea:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our QC results shows the adequate parameters for Coral Pro.



The results are :



Salinity 32.8 ppt

pH : 8.36

Alk: 2.7 meq/l = 7.56 dKH

Ca = 452 ppm

Mg= 1280



There could be a possibility for stratification when the heavier components concentrate at the lower parts of the buckets.



This is a rare phenomenon that we’ve observed only in the 22 kg buckets and not in the 7 Kg. it seems that the weight and the shipment vibration separate the components.



It is advised to shake the bucket before usage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

don't really think its a rare phenomenon but anyways, its a little more hassle than buying the smaller buckets! shake it up!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Have fun shaking a 22 kg bucket.

 

[ezcompany]

seriously!

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11709730#post11709730 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
Have fun shaking a 22 kg bucket.

:lol:

Seriously, I do believe some settling can occur, but I think if you just monitor your tanks parameters a day after each water change, you can correct any fluctuations.

For what its worth, I usually start agitating my bucket when it gets about 1/2 empty.

 

[rbursek]

I am confused or ignorent, podt times above you Avatar is in the future, June of 2008??????????
Bob

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Maybe was a glitch of some sort. They all say 1/29/2008 right now. Like mine:
01/28/2008 07:31 PM

 

[Huey33]

I would like to suggest that you take a good look at the AQUACRAFT web site:

http://www.aquacraft.net/whoisaquacraft.html

They have done an outstanding job of putting together 4 distinct products. Last Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing twin 3500G side by side tanks and they both use 100% AQUACRAFT product. I've use the Marine Enviroment product for 6 monthsand have had no change in the basic parameers we all look for. Check it out. Bob

 

[Billybeau1]

I'm sorry, Bob, but I can not recommend any company to our members that puts up a web site that bashes other Salt manufacturers, trying to base their data on a debunked S-15 report from years ago.

Aquacraft is off my list.

 

[Boomer]

I've use the Marine Enviroment product for 6 monthsand have had no change in the basic parameers we all look for.

So, in 6 months you have done no water changes and have not added any sup's what so ever and the parameters like the pH, Ca++ , Mg ++, Alk , etc., have not changed at all ? Cant' happen unless there is no life in the tank

Maybe you should explain that statement more.

 

[Canarygirl]

Boy, this is like deja vu. I swear I've read this exact same dialogue somewhere before, that this salt supposedly has this effect. I wonder if it's like members of certain sects or MLM clubs, and how they tend to say the same things again and again....

 

[Boomer]

Yup candy it does have that effect

 

[THP]

I guess no one uses Kent's salt mix? I have for the last 5 years on a mainly LPS/softy tank without issues. My new tank will be dedicated to SPS. Should I switch?

 

[Billybeau1]

Kent's got good numbers. If you've been using it and are happy with it, why change.