A General Guide to Salt Mixes

[kc350twin]

Just got off the phone with the man himself. Very nice and professional. He is checking the batch tomorrow that they have on file and gave me a few things to check as well.

I will be checking the batch with a test kit other than Salifert.

Then mixing the salt up in the current bucket and report back...

Thanks for your attention in this matter.

KC3

 

[jmsalt1]

I'm currently working through the situation with D-D as well. I will report back once we come to some resolution.

 

[tony varrell]

I just spent the last hr reading two long and informative threads around salt mixes. I have a question. Why has no one tested the mixes for PO4? Is it just not important when making a choice? I don't get it. For example I am using the DD salt and have been very happy with it until I tested a newly mixed batch for PO4 and found it to be 0.07PPM. I my goal is to have a PO4 reading in my tank of 0.03. So for me this is an important issue or am I just missing something..

 

[ricwilli]

Is there a problem with IO? It take 4-5 days for the cloudiness to disappear. I am adding salt to water with heater and pump. I have two buckets left and I can't wait till they are done to try something else.

 

[gig]

ricwilli, are you adding the salt to the water slowly, or are you putting the salt in first and adding water to it?

 

[RossW]

This has been discussed before:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14422553#post14422553
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=14428130#post14428130

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14831479#post14831479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tony varrell
I just spent the last hr reading two long and informative threads around salt mixes. I have a question. Why has no one tested the mixes for PO4? Is it just not important when making a choice? I don't get it. For example I am using the DD salt and have been very happy with it until I tested a newly mixed batch for PO4 and found it to be 0.07PPM. I my goal is to have a PO4 reading in my tank of 0.03. So for me this is an important issue or am I just missing something..

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14830211#post14830211 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmsalt1
I'm currently working through the situation with D-D as well. I will report back once we come to some resolution.

I'm glad you are doing this jmsalt---I was just about to purchase a bucket of h2ocean.

 

[ricwilli]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14838300#post14838300 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gig
ricwilli, are you adding the salt to the water slowly, or are you putting the salt in first and adding water to it?

I have a 55 gallon drum that I fill with ro/di water. When it gets around to 15-30 gallons full, I dump around 8 cups of salt and let it stirr till the next day while the 55 gallons gets fillied. I than add 5 cups and let it stirr till the next day. On day 3, I'm adjusting the salinity. The pump and heater are on through the whole process.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14831479#post14831479 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tony varrell
I just spent the last hr reading two long and informative threads around salt mixes. I have a question. Why has no one tested the mixes for PO4? Is it just not important when making a choice? I don't get it. For example I am using the DD salt and have been very happy with it until I tested a newly mixed batch for PO4 and found it to be 0.07PPM. I my goal is to have a PO4 reading in my tank of 0.03. So for me this is an important issue or am I just missing something..

I suspect you have issues with your testing equipment. I have yet to detect any measurable level of PO₄ in any salt mix I have tested to date.

 

[Billybeau1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14838152#post14838152 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricwilli
Is there a problem with IO? It take 4-5 days for the cloudiness to disappear. I am adding salt to water with heater and pump. I have two buckets left and I can't wait till they are done to try something else.

There is no problem with IO that I am aware of. Does this new salt mix cloud your tank when you do a water change ?

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14842620#post14842620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
I suspect you have issues with your testing equipment. I have yet to detect any measurable level of PO₄ in any salt mix I have tested to date.

or your ro/di water filter. I would test that water.
Also when was the last time the canister filters were changed?

 

[tony varrell]

RO/DI filters are fine an testing 0.

 

[kc350twin]

If anyone is interested in the H20cean issue.

On Wednesday I received a call from David Saxby about the low dKh numbers and we went over my testing procedure's and kits. He asked me if I could do two things.

1. Try another Alk test kit

2. Try mixing the salt up a bit then retest.

I purchased a API test kit and checked it against the salifert. It read the same. I then mixed the bucket of salt up and re-made water.
Alk jumped big time and the others are alright. Little lower then the first bucket.


SG- 1.026
Alk- 11.2
Ca 440
Mg 1290


I will say one thing, D+D takes this very serious. They keep samples of every batch and are testing it now and should have results Monday. I will be ordering a Tropic Marin Ca/Mg kit to test Mg a little more. This was the most accurate in all D+D's test's for Ca and Mg. He claimed it is the biggest pain in the arse though and I will call him cursing him. Ha!


I still have mixed feelings over this and wonder should the same brand salt elements be closer bucket to bucket?

 

[Billybeau1]

I'm not sure at this point what you are trying to find out.

You mag tests low but there is a lot of test noise in magnesium test kits. I tested that salt in the high 1300's. I certainly would not trust the Tropic Marin Mag test kit.

The alk and cal look about right from what I tested.

 

[kc350twin]

Billy- I think I may be splitting hairs and wanting my second bucket to be like my first.

Ca 450
Alk 9.5
Mg 1350

Am I being to critical?

Also because it's what they claim for the money.

 

[tony varrell]

kc350twin Please test the salt for PO4 and post. I wonder if I am being th critical. my test meter tested at 0.06 which I think is high. I would like to here someone else results..

 

[kc350twin]

Will do. When I get settled in tonight I will.

I'm like Billy, I have never had any test high. I even questioned if my test was accurate because it never read anything.

I need to know something though. If you are using Salifert is you powder you scoop in clumpy? kinda sticks together.

If not I'll buy a new one.

 

[jmsalt1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14850442#post14850442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kc350twin
I need to know something though. If you are using Salifert is you powder you scoop in clumpy? kinda sticks together.

If not I'll buy a new one.

Mine PO4 test kit from Salifert was purchased in the last month and is the same way. Good question, but mine scoops the same way.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14850442#post14850442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kc350twin
Will do. When I get settled in tonight I will.

I'm like Billy, I have never had any test high. I even questioned if my test was accurate because it never read anything.

I need to know something though. If you are using Salifert is you powder you scoop in clumpy? kinda sticks together.

If not I'll buy a new one.

hmmm--should be a powder--sounds like it has been exposed to the air. If you are getting results that you should not I would buy a new test kit to be sure.

Also after every test I do with the saliftert kits I drop the test vials into a vinegar solution over night and then into a ro solution to rinse them off before I use them again.

 

[Billybeau1]

My PO₄ powder does not clump.

Whether or not moisture in that part of the test is a concern, I can not say. My gut tells me no.

When you start testing below 0.05 ppm, most hobby grade kits have a little noise, I'm sure.

I still do not believe there is any name brand salt mix that contains any level of phosphate. At least I have not seen one.