Heavy Metals

[edandsandy]

Are their heavy metals in I/O Reef Crystals?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There are heavy metals in all salt mixes. There is no reason to think IO has any more than other mixes. It has lower copper, for example, than my aquarium in which I use only IO, at least that was true the last time I compared them which was a few years ago. So salt mixes are often not the main source of problematic metals.

Did you read one of Ron Shimek's old rants against IO?

 

[edandsandy]

I know this is a "dumb" question, but is there arsenic in synthetic sea salt?

 

[bertoni]

There's going to be some as a contaminant, if nothing else, but hopefully the amount is small. We don't have any cost-effective way to monitor the amount of trace elements in salt mixes. Testing is expensive and the salt products likely are changing frequently.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

GFO is good at removing arsenate, if it is elevated.

Only one data point I saw in a study by Ron Shimek claimed arsenic was a bit below NSW levels in 1 aquarium, but I do not know if it is reliable.

 

[edandsandy]

Ok, thanks for your help, I cant rule out my aquariums yet! I have to test that water too.