Done with IO Reef Crystals--Officially

[connecticut cichlids]

I'm tired of wiping dark brown sludge from the walls of my nsw mixing drum after mixing up a new batch for a water change...I've been using reef crystals since my inception in the hobby in 2003. Well, it is over!... Looking at seachem reef salt.

 

[eros]

I've had much bigger problems with Seachem but good luck.

 

[victor90]

How long does the water sit in your drum? I use IO and reef crystals but have never seen this but don't get me wrong i did get a bad batch of IO one time

 

[magikfly]

Go with H2Ocean, have been using it for the last few months and am happy

 

[Kieth71]

I had the same problem with reef crystals and started using seachem reef salt and love it.No more brown stuff in my mixing barrel.

 

[Shane Hoffman]

I hate the crap to...every week or so wiping brown unexplainable sludge that is "nothing to worry about" according to IO....what ever...I think I too will be switching soon. I am waiting on a call back from them.......the first 4 buckets no sludge. Last 2 equals brown sludge...something has changed......

 

[Rich D]

does anybody know what the sludge might be? Ive been using IO without any trouble although when I WC, I switch the water directly after making it... I hope the stuff isnt full of phosphates

 

[t5Nitro]

Interesting. I thought it was my old powerhead that had buildup on it. I use reef crystals and I always have to wipe down the inside of the pale I mix water in afterwards because of brown stuff is left behind.

Maybe I should switch as well.
What do people prefer (salt brand)?

 

[flyhigh123]

hmmm

as soon as i did a water change with IO reef, my tank had a bloom of dark brown diatoms... its weird... i put in some phos remover and then it slowly goes away...

i feel like the water has phosphates...

i use RO/DI water to mix...

 

[Jeff]

IO and RC suck IMO. I have used most of the salt mixes and have found those two to be the worst with noticable differences in water quality and coral growth. There are a lot of opinions that will come up but first hand experience and testing proves to me and others that there are far better mixes out there. For an additional $2.00 per week, I can use a mix that I am comfortable with and my corals respond to in a positive way. IO and RC are not consistant in their parameters and do cause the brown slime in the mixing container that they claim is not harmful. I use Seachem and Tropic Marin which I have found to be the best value in high end salt mixes.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1652644
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1640277

 

[tufacody]

So what do you use now Jeff?

 

[connecticut cichlids]

All done.... Just ordered 2 buckets of seachem reef salt, and a bucket of brightwell aquatics salt. We will see how it goes!

 

[Jeff]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15467104#post15467104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
So what do you use now Jeff?

Seachem and Tropic Marin. No adjustments, no need to test it to see how far off it is, no brown slime...

 

[luther1200]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15466123#post15466123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magikfly
Go with H2Ocean, have been using it for the last few months and am happy

H2Ocean has the same brown film. I have heard its even worse sometimes.

 

[Mcubed]

Brown sludge here also using reef crystals. My heater and powerhead get covered in a thick film. Anyone kow what it is that's not disolving in the salt mix? I have 3 more buckets to use up before I can switch to something else. Not sure what though.

 

[jbird69]

I have been using nothing but coralife salt going on 10 years now. Never had one single problem and the consistency is perfect.

 

[Henryreef]

I have been very happy with Tropic Marin, never had any problem I also have tried Seachem and am happy with that too. I have never had any problem with brown sludge. I find it really surprising that RC causes the sludge. I would think it is from the source water in a specific area, but it seems like the complaints are coming from all over so that is unlikely. I would love to see a picture of the stuff just to see what people are dealing with.

 

[tbpb3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15466123#post15466123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by magikfly
Go with H2Ocean, have been using it for the last few months and am happy

It is good stuff.

 

[pledosophy]

Re: Done with IO Reef Crystals--Officially

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15465965#post15465965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by connecticut cichlids
I'm tired of wiping dark brown sludge from the walls of my nsw mixing drum after mixing up a new batch for a water change...I've been using reef crystals since my inception in the hobby in 2003. Well, it is over!... Looking at seachem reef salt.

You actually clean the container afterwards? I never do, it is just brown. If I cleaned it, I would just have to clean it again next time. I see no point.

 

[tbpb3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15467533#post15467533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
H2Ocean has the same brown film. I have heard its even worse sometimes.

Wrong!