Bad batch of Instant Ocean? Alkalinity through the ROOF!!!
- Thread starter Megalodon
- Start date
PureSalty
New member
It has been mentioned that the test kits we use could have a wrong reading.
So I was wondering if anyone uses the hand held testers for pH and Alk?
pHep 4 (Ã"šÃ‚±0.1 accuracy)
The pHepÃ"šÃ‚® 4 measures pH and temperature. Thanks to a stability indicator and hold feature, you'll know when to take the reading and you can freeze the display for easy and accurate recording. A stainless steel temperature probe enables fast, precise temperature measurement and auto-compensation. Includes 4 x 1.5V batteries, pH electrode, and electrode replacement tool.
This Portable Refractometer is on sale for $49.99 and was wondering if this a good price?
So I was wondering if anyone uses the hand held testers for pH and Alk?
pHep 4 (Ã"šÃ‚±0.1 accuracy)
The pHepÃ"šÃ‚® 4 measures pH and temperature. Thanks to a stability indicator and hold feature, you'll know when to take the reading and you can freeze the display for easy and accurate recording. A stainless steel temperature probe enables fast, precise temperature measurement and auto-compensation. Includes 4 x 1.5V batteries, pH electrode, and electrode replacement tool.
This Portable Refractometer is on sale for $49.99 and was wondering if this a good price?
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There is no probe for measuring alkalinity. It isn't a single "thing" in the water that can be measured in this way.
Measuring pH with a pH meter is a good way to go.
Measuring pH with a pH meter is a good way to go.
tang_man_montreal
New member
Guys,
I just now read through this whole thread. My tank crashed June 26th of this year. Some of you may remember this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207239&highlight=ammonia
I just read through this entire thread, and thought, nahhhh, it's not related...
Well, guess what guys...
I still have the "bad" pail set aside... I made up some water with that salt, and my dkh was over 30!!!
I had never thought of testing it before. So now I'm thinking that this is what caused the ammonia spike in my tank.... the massive die-off!
I've already sent several emails back and forth between Bob Studt and myself. However, we never tested the dkh.
I should also add that my salt came from JL AQUATICS as well.
I just now read through this whole thread. My tank crashed June 26th of this year. Some of you may remember this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=207239&highlight=ammonia
I just read through this entire thread, and thought, nahhhh, it's not related...
Well, guess what guys...
I still have the "bad" pail set aside... I made up some water with that salt, and my dkh was over 30!!!
I had never thought of testing it before. So now I'm thinking that this is what caused the ammonia spike in my tank.... the massive die-off!
I've already sent several emails back and forth between Bob Studt and myself. However, we never tested the dkh.
I should also add that my salt came from JL AQUATICS as well.
Megalodon
Clowning Around
tang_man_montreal said:
Yes, die-off would cause an ammonia spike and then make everything worse! I earlier posted that I didn't notice an ammonia spike, but I used a more accurate test kit, and there was a small spike detectable a few days after things crashed.
Sorry for your loses Tan_Man. Thanks for coming forward.
Megalodon
Clowning Around
Something I want to add about J&Ls... though some of the bad buckets came from them, I went to another LFS Fishworld and they sell only Kent, 200 gallon buckets for $100 CDN ($75 US).
At J&Ls, their buckets of both IO and Kent are $50 CDN ($37.50 US.) I'd still not buy salt from anywhere else.
By the time this has all blown over, they'll have a new batch anyway... besides there's no way I'm paying $75 CDN at Big Al's for salt either.
I used to pay that much at Al's... I thought it was a good price because it was cheaper than some of the other places out there. Ha!
I'd just stick with their Kent salt for now until the IO batch they have is gone.
:rollface: :rollface:
At J&Ls, their buckets of both IO and Kent are $50 CDN ($37.50 US.) I'd still not buy salt from anywhere else.
By the time this has all blown over, they'll have a new batch anyway... besides there's no way I'm paying $75 CDN at Big Al's for salt either.
I used to pay that much at Al's... I thought it was a good price because it was cheaper than some of the other places out there. Ha!
I'd just stick with their Kent salt for now until the IO batch they have is gone.
:rollface: :rollface:
PureSalty
New member
Well just made up 10 gallons of Kent salt @ 78 degrees.
Tested within 1 hour of salt being mixed. Will test tomorrow.
Kent
Cal 360 aquarium Systems test
Alk 3.5 x 2.8 german DKH =10 aquarium Systems test
ph 8.3 Hagen test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024 deep six
Same Temp as above 10 gallons
Coral Life salt
Cal 420 aquarium Systems test
Alk 2.5 x 2.8 german DKH = 7 aquarium Systems test
pH 8.3 Hagen Test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024
Man Nice price on the Kent salt up there in the great white north.
If I could choose between Kent and IO at the same price I think you know which one I would use for sure.
I know most salt are pretty much the same but like Mr. Kent says
Try Kent Sea Salt, you will see Sustained Long Term Results in your aquarium that you won't see with other brands. At Kent, we spare no expense to bring you the finest sea salt that money can buy. Ours is not the cheapest sea salt, but don't your animals deserve the best environment you can give them?
Mr. Kent salts...
http://www.kentmarine.com/saltwaterseasalt.html
Tested within 1 hour of salt being mixed. Will test tomorrow.
Kent
Cal 360 aquarium Systems test
Alk 3.5 x 2.8 german DKH =10 aquarium Systems test
ph 8.3 Hagen test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024 deep six
Same Temp as above 10 gallons
Coral Life salt
Cal 420 aquarium Systems test
Alk 2.5 x 2.8 german DKH = 7 aquarium Systems test
pH 8.3 Hagen Test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024
Man Nice price on the Kent salt up there in the great white north.
If I could choose between Kent and IO at the same price I think you know which one I would use for sure.
I know most salt are pretty much the same but like Mr. Kent says
Try Kent Sea Salt, you will see Sustained Long Term Results in your aquarium that you won't see with other brands. At Kent, we spare no expense to bring you the finest sea salt that money can buy. Ours is not the cheapest sea salt, but don't your animals deserve the best environment you can give them?
Mr. Kent salts...
http://www.kentmarine.com/saltwaterseasalt.html
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Before I found a LFS that sells Salifert kits, I got them from www.marinedepot.com
Acro
Premium Member
Well, certainly sounds like Aquarium Systems is having some major quality control issues. With all the talk I figured I better check. I havn't got it were the mixed salt heavily clouds the water but have on occassion noticed were it would seem like calcium pricipation on the sides of my mixing pail. With this test (done twice) I measured a dkh of 32. I have used some of the bucket already with no visual ill effects. With this bucket the most I've changed is 20 gal on a system containing about 180 gallons total water volume. So I'm sure many others have had issues but have not noticed. Very disappointing to hear. I would strongly encurage everyone on this board to at least measure the alk of newly mixed salt. I havn't read the whole threads here but would expect this to be a larger concern on small systems. Non the less a concern Aquarium Systems better resolve. Please post your results.
PureSalty
New member
Kent yesterday= 10 gallons makeup water
Cal 360 aquarium Systems test
Alk 3.5 x 2.8 german DKH =9.8 aquarium Systems test
ph 8.3 Hagen test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024 deep six
Kent Today
Cal 375 aquarium Systems test went up
Alk 3.0 x 2.8 german DKH =8.4 aquarium Systems test went down
ph 8.3 Hagen test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024 deep six
Cal 360 aquarium Systems test
Alk 3.5 x 2.8 german DKH =9.8 aquarium Systems test
ph 8.3 Hagen test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024 deep six
Kent Today
Cal 375 aquarium Systems test went up
Alk 3.0 x 2.8 german DKH =8.4 aquarium Systems test went down
ph 8.3 Hagen test
Salinity 1.023 / 1.024 deep six
Megalodon
Clowning Around
Acro, though your tank is fine, that dKH is way too high. After several 10 per cent water changes, eventually more and more of your tank will me this highly-alkaline mix. It isn't as bad as Thomas' or my salt was, but be safe and take it back or get AS to send you a new bucket.
Acro
Premium Member
Megalodon, understood. Beleive me I am not about to use it as it's not of the quality I expect or paid for. I will be in contact with Bob. As this is no lite matter. I am not impressed in the slightest. If you have not seen my tank beleive me when I say I have thousands of dollars invested. For anything to go wrong would be a huge disapointment to me and even more if it was at the hands of company I have given money to for years.
