Synthetic Sea Salt
Synthetic Sea Salt
Instant Ocean over the past 20+ years has had one of the best, consistent synthetic sea salts there is, in my opinion.
It's unusual to hear they had a possible bad batch, but, I wouldn't panic, as they will get it corrected.
I personally always premix my seawater in safe poly. containers for a minimum of 24+ hours prior to waterchanges.
During that time, I set the fresh seawater to near EXACT numbers of the system I am doing a water change on. By this, I mean specific gravity, temp, ph, calcium, magnesium, etc..
I would personally advise always testing, and modifying your new seawater to match your display tank numbers for better consistent conditions (other than say nitrate, or phosphate if it is measurable, of course).
I also double check my test kit reagents if I notice an inconsistent new batch of seawater. Sometimes it is simply expired reagents, or a contaminated test vial, rather than the salt manufacturer.
Keep in mind that the manufacturers of synthetic sea salts are using ion selective membrane testing equipment to monitor their batches, which aren't perfect, but far superior to our drop count titration test kits.
You will also get different test numbers on your fresh mixed seawater based on temperature and specific gravity levels you adjust it to as well. So sometimes it may be the aquarists mixing techniques vs. the synthetic sea salt manufacturers mixing recommendation that "throw" numbers off.
Keep us posted on what you find out Ryan!
:mad2:
