Long time Reef crystals user has had enough!!

[stepnic2]

Sea World Orlando uses RC for there Manta reef tank.Good enough for me.

 

[jimmy_beaner]

that "brown crap" is clay that's added as a stabilizing/binding agent. It's normal and helps the mix be as concentrated as it needs to be.

 

[dattong]

you got the white powder from dumping too much salt at the same time. You should pour slowly where the powerhead blowing out. I had the same problem then I figured it out. Water should be clear in 10'

I switched to neomarine, on my second bucket, no complaints.

this is what my powerhead looks like every time I make a salt mix using reef crystals.
it looks like I used the powerhead to mix concrete

 

[d0ughb0y]

you got the white powder from dumping too much salt at the same time. You should pour slowly where the powerhead blowing out. I had the same problem then I figured it out. Water should be clear in 10'

I mix the same way using a different brand and have no problem. I thought I may have a bad batch, but after 5 buckets, I decided to switch and never had that problem with another brand. not to mention other brand gallon rating is based on 1.025, not 1.020 like RC, which is strange considering it is targeted for reef application, where nobody would run a reef tank at 1.020.

 

[dublo8]

you got the white powder from dumping too much salt at the same time. You should pour slowly where the powerhead blowing out. I had the same problem then I figured it out. Water should be clear in 10'

That's not the case with this salt. I had the same issue before I switched. It didn't matter how slowly I mixed it or even if I sprinkled the stuff in grain by grain it would still make a mess. I was only mixing 5 gallons at a time too. It only recently started about my last 2 buckets but before that I never had the problem. Decided to just kick the habit and buy RSCP instead. I will never look back now. This has been discussed in great detail before and the issue hasn't been fixed and people are starting to switch, even the loyal reef crystal's users such as myself. I'm just done with that salt all together.

 

[dattong]

That's weird then. Since I figured it out what caused the white powder residue, I have never had any problem. I always made sure no salt settled on the bottom before pouring the next cup into the mix. I use a Hydor 1400 to mix 10g at a time. Maybe its broader flow helps mix the salt better

That's not the case with this salt. I had the same issue before I switched. It didn't matter how slowly I mixed it or even if I sprinkled the stuff in grain by grain it would still make a mess. I was only mixing 5 gallons at a time too. It only recently started about my last 2 buckets but before that I never had the problem. Decided to just kick the habit and buy RSCP instead. I will never look back now. This has been discussed in great detail before and the issue hasn't been fixed and people are starting to switch, even the loyal reef crystal's users such as myself. I'm just done with that salt all together.

 

[allsps40]

I got it way worse with D-D H2Ocean. I just switched back to Reef Crystals and have had great results again.

I hear good things about Tropic Marin though...just can't justify the price!

I had the same experience with the new Reef Crystals, way inconsistent, high alk, mixed up really brown. I really liked the old Reef Crystals before they changed it, used it for about 2 years with great results, but they changed the formula. So I switched to D-D H2Ocean and it has low mag, 1100 low, customer support from D-D was a total joke. I think I will be trying Red Sea Coral Pro or Brightwells salt next. Tropic Marine Pro Reef is a very good salt and one of the few I have never had problems with, but at $100 a bucket that just to much.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

precip when mixing new saltmix

precip when mixing new saltmix

who else reading this has experienced it?

my saltmix turnover rate is probably much quicker than most so I'm using recently manufactured saltmix. The precip forms on the bottom and sides of the mixing vessel and also on any pumps used for mixing.

it happens with many brands of saltmix

it doesn't appear to be harmful and (in at least one case) a salt manufacturer has actually stated that it's beneficial to the final outcome of the product:

read this
Brown deposit in H2Ocean Pro Plus Salt
Question:
I have recently bought a new tub of the ocean salt.
When mixed it is leaving a brown residuue on the bottom of the buckets.
I belong to a marine club and no of many other members who are experiancing the same problem.
Can you comfirm if the salt is contaminated of this is a harmfull substance.



Answer:
This brown residue is detailed on the instructions in the tub and is a residue of ferric oxide/hydroxide from the manufacturing process, (like Rowaphos). This product will bind to any phosphates and heavy metals in the water and allow them to precipitate out for removal via the skimmer.

The presence of the ferric deposits depends on the calcium source that we use to boost the calcium level. The best calcium source to use for incorporation and solubility into the final salt solution is the one which contains this ferric residue however as people tend not to like the brown deposits we do not generally use it. We have however had one batch in the UK, of which you must have received a drum, which did have such a residue as there was a supply issue on the normal calcium chemical.

This deposit is not harmful in any way and is actually beneficial to the final mix.

I hope this answers your query


related thread

and there's more to be found with a search....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1971241

FWIW I have continued to use Reef Crystals with great results and not all batches cause a precip to form.

 

[rkaires]

I switched to neomarine, on my second bucket, no complaints.

this is what my powerhead looks like every time I make a salt mix using reef crystals.
it looks like I used the powerhead to mix concrete

This is what my pump and mixing container looked like when I used RC.

 

[skh]

I use RC and also get the brown residue in the mixing bucket and pump. But I'm honestly not concerned with it as long as it's not harming anything, and I have no reason to think that it is. If the residue is binding phosphates (like the residue in kalk) then all the better.

 

[BrassMonkey]

had the same lite brown covering using red sea coral pro few years ago. just mixed some i/o and some petco brand and havent had any issues, well except the petco was at 5.5 alk, but i adjust the numbers ne ways.

 

[albano]

I think I will be trying Red Sea Coral Pro or Brightwells salt next. Tropic Marine Pro Reef is a very good salt and one of the few I have never had problems with, but at $100 a bucket that just to much.

Why not try ESV salt...mixes clean and ready to use!...should be able to purchase for $60-70 / 200g box

 

[Mindflux]

Why not try ESV salt...mixes clean and ready to use!...should be able to purchase for $60-70 / 200g box

I've not seen it for less than about $72 a box in a while, and I think that's below MAP?

 

[albano]

I've not seen it for less than about $72 a box in a while, and I think that's below MAP?

Really? then I won't dare tell you what I pay for it...10 boxes at a time!

 

[J-Burns]

Is Crystal Sea Marine salt still around ?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Is Crystal Sea Marine salt still around ?

hopefully not.

If I didn't know better I would think you're pulling my chain

 

[J-Burns]

I had some laying around and just finished off a bag. My snails and Limpets were spawing and laying eggs like crazy. I used Reef Crystals the last couple of weeks and they don't seem a spawn as well. Marine Depot used to carry it but not any more. Was something wrong with it?

 

[Mindflux]

Really? then I won't dare tell you what I pay for it...10 boxes at a time!

I'm sure if you are buying palettes you can get better deals.

:uhoh2:

 

[r6justin]

wow, never realized the salt is causing that issue. i've always used RC

 

[Ron Reefman]

Sea World Orlando uses RC for there Manta reef tank.Good enough for me.

You have to be kidding me? Just because RC was the low bidder to provide Sea World Orlando with salt, that makes you think it's good? Sea World is running a business not a ornimental reef. They'd get their salt from Acme Salt Supply if it worked and was cheap enough. And the Georgia Aquarium (MUCH bigger than Sea World) uses IO... does that make IO the best? In a word... NO.