this is me
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Post# 39
Have enough of Tropic Marin Pro Salt
- Thread starter this is me
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Gotcha!
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I have been using TM and TMP for 2 - 3 years. Until this last summer I have not had an issue with TMP and dkh was always around 7.5 - 8.0 range. The last 2 buckets I purchased were bricks and on the last bucket - lot #21519 I decided to do some testing since a few of my corals were not doing well and all my parameters seemed fine and I could not put a reasoning into the decline and I noticed that in this lot, #21519 I went from 7.5 - 8.0 (previous bucket) down to 5.5 in the lot #21519 bucket. Since i do not do large water changes (I.E. 10 gallons every 2 weeks in my 90 gallon) I do not think that the salt was my issue yet its the only thing that had me hitting my head since I was having to chissel it out of the bucket. Anyway, I just got a bucket of Bio actif and wanted to test this salt out so I will now test this salt to see if its hitting the spec numbers.
I am no pro when it comes to salts. I have used this product for some time with great results until the last two buckets which were bricks and required a hammer to break it up LOL. Now you all have me testing my salts more then I expected to have too. Its just ironic I ran into this thread while serfing. I guess and will follow it to see what info Hans may bring back to the thread.
I am no pro when it comes to salts. I have used this product for some time with great results until the last two buckets which were bricks and required a hammer to break it up LOL. Now you all have me testing my salts more then I expected to have too. Its just ironic I ran into this thread while serfing. I guess and will follow it to see what info Hans may bring back to the thread.
So what have we learned?
So what have we learned?
That there may be a problem with one or two batch numbers of Tropic Marin pro. OK now what? We all switch to a different salt and hope that they never have a bad batch or two or do we just want the company rep to be more apologetic and less condescending? Are we sure that our coral health issues were the result of low alkalinity readings and that nothing else could have caused or contributed to it? Now I personally don't like using solid salt buckets or boxes as that can mean it's been sitting in a humid environment or not sufficiently dry when packaged or maybe a slightly warped/open lid, But I would use and adjust it as needed and make note of everything tested including what test kits I used and how old the regents were as old regents can give different results then new ones etc... Taking a water sample to your favorite reef shop for testing couldn't hurt as well as using the salt makers test kit. Reef keeping is a science, but not an exact science so some redundancy with regard to testing should be the norm.
So what have we learned?
That there may be a problem with one or two batch numbers of Tropic Marin pro. OK now what? We all switch to a different salt and hope that they never have a bad batch or two or do we just want the company rep to be more apologetic and less condescending? Are we sure that our coral health issues were the result of low alkalinity readings and that nothing else could have caused or contributed to it? Now I personally don't like using solid salt buckets or boxes as that can mean it's been sitting in a humid environment or not sufficiently dry when packaged or maybe a slightly warped/open lid, But I would use and adjust it as needed and make note of everything tested including what test kits I used and how old the regents were as old regents can give different results then new ones etc... Taking a water sample to your favorite reef shop for testing couldn't hurt as well as using the salt makers test kit. Reef keeping is a science, but not an exact science so some redundancy with regard to testing should be the norm.
tkeracer619
New member
Drs Foster and Smith has 200g IO boxes for $43. Randy has already shown that buffering IO is cheaper then the salt itself by volume so as you increase mag and calcium (if you need to) actually makes the salt even cheaper per gallon.
I am also having issues with Pro I switched from Brightwell salt after reading all the pros about this salt and from recommendations from fellow reefers. my tests on 24 hour mix is dkh at 6 mag at 1120 and calc at 360 at 1.025 I have never had to add as much calcium to my tank with the brightwell salt like i do with this salt. I might as well buy stock in their bio calcium. after my last water change (Sunday) my two show size Frogspawns are dying. My friend is having the same issue with the three buckets of pro salt he just purchased also so evidently there is an issue somewhere! I am chucking this bucket of salt out and going back to Brightwell
I have used TMP through to brick like containers and back to soft material again. Can not say I've had an issue as all sps have grown well to extremely depending on who you ask. I do run turf scrubber that is not commonly used on sps tank.
I have really no clue how kH 5 would screw up a system with 10% water changes, and why buffering with soda ash is a cost to worry about.
Stilll I would only use TMP and IO and may switch back to IO if reports continue. These reports would be more meaningful if length in hobby and how long current tank has been running is reported. I dismissed some of the earlier postings for this reason.
I have really no clue how kH 5 would screw up a system with 10% water changes, and why buffering with soda ash is a cost to worry about.
Stilll I would only use TMP and IO and may switch back to IO if reports continue. These reports would be more meaningful if length in hobby and how long current tank has been running is reported. I dismissed some of the earlier postings for this reason.
justchad
New member
I have been an avid user of TMP for a couple of years now and I havent bought anything else.. I swore that this salt was by far the best UNTIL..... I picked up 3 buckets on my last trip to the LFS... I have to dose for everything now.. alk 5, Mag 1170, and my calcium hasnt been in the 400's at all from these buckets... I am done!
this is me
Active member
If anyone is willing to shell out the cash for the premium price of TMP, I don't think they care about the cost. It's the extra step and the misleading advertising! It's not about the money here, it's the principle that ****es me off.
tozzi
New member
I agree. If u have to add stuff to the mix u might as well just use Instant ocean and add to that. It will cost u half as much. When i buy tmp for 80$ i want to mix it and use it, not add stuff to get it right.
Does anyone know if they fixed this and the buckets out now r ok? Would really s%&k if they changed their mix up and this is what the new one is going to b.
Tmp was my old reliable. D+D numbers r good but the stuff just mixes filthy. Brightwell Alk is too high for me. At this point im thinking of using IO or RC and just adding stuff to the mix to get it to where i want. Anyone have a salt that mixes up super clean and the new water is crystal clear when youe done?
BuckeyeTodd
New member
ahhh yes, the holy grail of salt. It should mix cleanly, have Ideal numbers, and be crystal clear, and the cheaper the better.
Seriously though, I just am using IO and adding some mag and a little calcium. Can't beat the price, and their reliability speaks for itself. Would be great to not have to mix it for 12 hours, but what can you do
RokleM
Premium Member
Recent buckets have the same issue, at least the I got did.
I threw away what I had left and won't return to the brand anytime soon. Unfortunately it looks like they started to look into the issue, then just dropped the ball. Even worse than not even attempting IMO.
I'm back to the old trust IO/Oceanic 50/50 mix from back in the day. Petsolutions had ~$45 buckets of oceanic. 460 calc, 9.5 alk, 1400 mag. Works for me.
I threw away what I had left and won't return to the brand anytime soon. Unfortunately it looks like they started to look into the issue, then just dropped the ball. Even worse than not even attempting IMO.
I'm back to the old trust IO/Oceanic 50/50 mix from back in the day. Petsolutions had ~$45 buckets of oceanic. 460 calc, 9.5 alk, 1400 mag. Works for me.
beastrx
New member
I would like to know how many of you have tried regular TM salt. I bought a bucket of regular TM about a month or two ago and I love it. It was not hard and mixes quickly and clear. I got readings of 13 dKh 400 cal and 1300 mg. I run my tank at 8 dkh and just do not dose the morning after my water change. These 10% water changes with such a difference in alk does not affect my tanks alk in the least bit. So maybe I just got a good batch or regular TM is still good?
RokleM
Premium Member
I personally haven't tried. It's still expensive and quite frankly the calc/mag is too low. IO does it better cheaper. Chemistry experts are reporting the following: 375, 10, 1230. I would have to bump calc by 50, mag by 150-200ish to hit the levels I'd prefer. Understand, I'm not saying it won't work for you, but I would have to modify it too much when I can buy something for less and be closer to target.
dja1980
Active member
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