The scoring found on our web site is not part of the report. It is a result of information from the report.
The scoring idea was created by our business advisors. It was then sent to our lawyer for review.
The rational was to provide a simple visual for those uninterested or incapable of reading through the complete document. Or those with the time to read, but suffered from the inability to comprehend or digest the information provided.
May I digress for a moment? -- Thank you. -- Just as the bar graph was created for those that need a quick visual, so was the scoring chart.
Two years after the bar graph was in 8 1/2" x 11" print form, I had a laminated 20" x 24" poster made.
We were exhibiting at a 3 day dealer level trade event. This event ran from Friday to Sunday. A zit faced store employee highly suited to clean puddles of brine shrimp off the store counter, at his after school LFS job approached me on the frist day.
His initial words to me were ... "So, what makes this product so great?" -- I showed him the bar graph in poster size. He was silent. He then asked me for free samples. I said, come back on Monday. -- Digression complete.
A list of factors regarding what makes a good marine salt was generated. Each point of concern and its value was put in order of its importance.
RE: Silicates. It is no secret that many PhD's have great education, but little understanding. E.g. Information found in a book resulting from a lab. experiement does not necessarily relate to the long term keeping of closed marine displays.
E.g. When simple marine systems are established with silica sand, they produce brown algae. Vs like systems side by side using dolomote as a substate.
The addition of Na Si in a marine salt formulation, the use of silica/silicate based sands or the use of chemisty that is contaminated with silicates will produce diatom algae.
Unfortuniately, many hobbists use such items and believe brown algae is normal and/or part of aquarium problems. It is not.
This information was included in the scoring by a qualified aquarist. Not a lawyer or scientist that has no working knowledge of salt water aquariums. This information is most accurate.
If I may... allow me to take this a step further. No one benefits from information posted by a researcher that read two books, then writes one book. Worse yet, they become online aqua guru's with blind followers. This creates the quintessential situation of the blind leading the blind. E.g. We are all having the same problems. We all doing the same things.
Just as information from an ex hobbyist, with no actual hands on experience with many of todays products, approaches or techniques can offer little more than gibberish.
It is resonable to believe animals that have evolved and came from NSW, be placed in a captive medium that resembles... NSW.
RE: Heavy metals. It was a surprise for me to learn that some brands of marine salts contained unbelievable levels of lead, nickle and aluminum. This found in brands that claimed to be... "identical to"... "indistuinguable to" NSW. Those and many other claims made by other manufacturers proved to be false.
The reasoning of GSP was to start at the point of collection, to holding, to transporation, to importing, to dealer care, to consumer husbandry.
At that time, groups were forming to provide information and supplies to collectors and deal with airlines. After that, it was about how the animals were handled after they arrived at the importers facility.
It is from this point interest that was of concern. Since the majority of importers and virtually all hobbyists use a salt mix... they started at this point. -- Please no posts like... I use NSW. A few do. Most not.
In total reality, we are all bombared with claims of this or that. E.g. The best for less... Sounds great, but in our heart of hearts, we know the best does not cost less. This applies to just about everything I can think of.
Advertising is a way of life for all civilized cultures. What did Bob Dylan sing about? "Advertising makes you think you can do what has never been done before".
We all want to believe we can get the best for the lowest cost. Just look at all those nice folks that bought CheapO brand tires that came apart .... All those that got a discount on tooth paste, only to learn it contained anti-freeze. (please no posts asking, what is wrong with anti-freeze) ... all those kind pet owners that spent a bundle on vet bills, after they fed their pets with food that was contaminated with plastic or some toxic synthetic.... All this happened within the last few months.
RE: Oreo's. Their package now weighs less. Do they indicate the number of Oreo's contained?"
With underweight marine salts, the weight is shown (by law), but the gallonage is embellished. -- E.g. One package says: net wt. 13.75 pounds. Another brand says 14 pounds. Another brand says 14.5 pounds. All say they will make 50 gallons.
OK, they all can make 50 gallons, but at what specific gravity?
None inform the buyer they must purchase another package and use part of it, to make a salt water working solution at the desired SG or salinity.
The brands that have a 14.5 pound 50 gal size mix also have a 42 pound 150 gallon mix. What happened to the other 1.5 pounds? I mean, 3 each at 14.5 pounds = 43.5 pounds. Their combined (bulk bag) just lost 1.5 pounds.
It is suspected that manufactures that do this are gambling the end user does not mix the entire bulk batch. Therefore the unsuspecting buyer never realizes he was short changed with basic weight.
Thank you for your post.
