A scary reminder to test your water (must read for Kent Salt users)

[Jacob D]

Apparently there is a serious problem with Kent salt batches in 200g buckets. If you are using Kent salt you need to see this thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=760882&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

This is a scary reminder that all of us should be checking our freshly mixed saltwater for at least (3) important parameters:

Salinity
Alkalinity
Calcium

The first batch of salt mixed up from a new container should probably be tested as a precaution, if all the numbers come out OK then there would not be a need to test more saltwater mixed from the same container (other than salinity). If there IS a problem then you just prevented yourself from dumping a bunch of bad saltwater into your tank. This is also incentive to buy the larger sized containers since it would mean less testing.

I'm personally going to make this a routine and at the same time I'm going to test my tank water parameters just to make sure I stay on top of them from time to time.

I urge anyone who needs a helping hand figuring out what they should test for, how to test, etc... to take this opportunity to ask here (or do your own research now). Basic water chemistry is not for advanced reefers - it is for everyone.

 

[cyclebrkr]

Wow,good thing i don't use that salt! But i guess any company can have those problems if QC doesn't do their job.

 

[Jacob D]

Exactly. Some of the people in that thread had tank crashes, that could happen to anyone, regardless of what brand of salt you use.

 

[Reefugee]

Jacob,

I just tested my freshly made batch of salt water. Here are the paramenters:

SG = 1.026
Mg 1170 ppm
Alk 12.6 dkh
Aa 360 ppm

Next week, I will be opening up a new bag of salt, so I am curious if I will get the similar results.

Minh