Bad batch of Instant Ocean? Alkalinity through the ROOF!!!

[Thomas712]

Megalodon - Could you do me a favor and see if there is a batch number to your instant ocean. I can't read mine as it has become to damaged. If you find a batch number you could really help some of us out from making the same mistake.

Thomas

 

[Megalodon]

It is defective!

It is defective!

OK, just talked to J&L Aquatics, the LFS. Apparently all their IO buckets have the same batch number. My new bucket, which is fine and is from the same batch, I think is 10051378014011 (at least that's the number under the large barcode).

The LFSs 24-hour test mix showed "alkalinity off the scale" too.

They have the sample of salt put aside. They said I can come pick up the bucket for testing purposes... so basically they're being good in the sense that they're giving me a free bucket of salt, albiet a defective bucket of salt.

But I guess for liability purposes, when I flat out asked them if they had defective IO salt, they said, "All I can confirm is that the salt we tested had really right alkalinity."

No other bucket from there apparently has been a problem. Even the new bucket I got from them, the same "batch", was perfect.

I'll let you know what Aquarium Systems has to say.

But I'm worried what else could be inconsistant in our salt mixes than just that.

 

[Thomas712]

Ive got the same number on my bucket, but there was a sticker on the top of my lid that had some numbers on it and I can no longer read it. Not sure if the number you and I have is a batch number.

Thomas

 

[Megalodon]

There was no sticker on the lid. There was no "free pump" inside like advertised either; not in the defective bucket, and not in the good bucket.

I think these turkeys are real screw-ups.

 

[Travis]

I don't think that number is a batch number. I have 3 buckets here that have the same number under the bar code and they are all ok.

 

[Melody]

This is incredibly scary about IO. I have over 200 lbs of this stuff left. So sorry for everyone who had losses!

 

[Melody]

Ok....I just looked and I've got those exact same numbers on a new 200 lb bucket. So the warning signs are cloudiness and foam when mixing?

 

[robwsup]

I think IO alkalinity should be checked for the near future when doing water changes. Also, when doing large water changes like 40% make sure your salinity matches perfectly. Inverts can't take much of a salinity change.

 

[MiddletonMark]

That is one thing that jumped out at me too ... sounds like a huge % of a water change. I'd only do that in drastic situations [things already crashing].

It's too easy to swing SG, temperature, etc as well with a greater than 10% water change. Regular smaller [5-10%] water changes to me seem to be much better idea than large ones [20%+].

But I'm suprised. And I hate to say, no one will reimburse you for your lost livestock - I'm pretty sure every salt mix has an exclusionary protection thing written into their product.

 

[Flanders]

With a quality salt mix mixed to the correct salinity and temp, you can easily do water changes of 20, 30, even 50 percent with no stress on animals, IME.

When crap like this happens, it's definitely better if you did a smaller water change. But it sounds like the salt mix is definitely to blame here, not the size of the water change.

Sorry Megalodon. Keep us updated on this.

 

[aurora]

I think 40% water change is pretty large and that may have been your problem. I've had recent problems with IO also. I've kept reef for 5 years with IO salt and recently had problem with corals bleaching which seems worse with water changes. I finally figured out that the problem was low Magnesium in my last bucket of IO. I wonder if they are not mixing the salt well before packing. I lost some huge sps colonies including a 12" blue table.

 

[Melody]

Ive got the same number on my bucket, but there was a sticker on the top of my lid that had some numbers on it and I can no longer read it. Not sure if the number you and I have is a batch number.

Here ya go Thomas. This came off the lid of an IO bucket.

 

[Flanders]

Again, the size of the waterchange is not the problem, IMO. I've never used anything but IO/Tropic Marin and done waterchanges bigger than this with no problems. If the mix has changed, that is obviously the problem. I'm not really following your logic, aurora.

 

[Melody]

I've used IO since I set up my tank 2 + years ago and never had a problem.... but all this talk of deaths, crashes is freaking me out.

 

[Sweettoothbear]

Was this salt bought from Petsmart on-line?

The Free Shipping on purchase over $50.00 ?

 

[MiddletonMark]

I bought 2 buckets. Only on first one ... but no problems with it. Everything tested fine on my batch, CA a little low as usual for IO but easily remedied.

Great deal, too. 2 buckets for $70 + change on my doorstep. Better than the $55-65 I see at LFS here [for one bucket!]

 

[robwsup]

I have done ~50% water changes with no problems. Mix for ~24 hours and match salinity, then change water. But if this is true about abnormal Mg, Alk, etc I would be cautious.

 

[Thomas712]

Thanks Pisces69. How about it Megalodon have you got any numbers like the ones Pisces found? Those have got to be the batch numbers. If you can Identify those from your bad bucket of salt then we can spread the word on what to avoid.

Thomas

Randy - any comments on the Montmorillinite?

 

[SPC]

Re: Bad batch of Instant Ocean? Alkalinity through the ROOF!!!

The water is also very cloudy white. :sad1:

Megalodon, sorry to hear about your tank problems.

Randy, would alk of 30 DKH turn the water cloudy white?

I am also wondering what the mechanism is that would kill these animals due to a high alkalinity, does anyone know exactly what this would be?
Steve

 

[simonh]

Re: Re: Bad batch of Instant Ocean? Alkalinity through the ROOF!!!

Re: Re: Bad batch of Instant Ocean? Alkalinity through the ROOF!!!

I am also wondering what the mechanism is that would kill these animals due to a high alkalinity, does anyone know exactly what this would be?
Steve

I don't know. But, if the alkalinity is so far out of whack who's to say other parameters aren't also out of whack. It may be another out of whack (untestable) parameter that caused the mortality.