Proof that Oceanic Salt is BAD!!!!

[alrha]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10758944#post10758944 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Serioussnaps
I am hearing good things about Seachem Reef salt lately though.

I have been using Seachem's Reef Salt and am quite happy with it.

 

[Mavrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10781435#post10781435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jdieck
I tried both salts as well as the one I am using now Reef Crystals and have seen the brown film. In my opinion they are different, while the one in oceanic was more slimy and showed up one or two days after preparing the mix, the one in Oceanic and RC shows up as soon as it is dissolved and is more like mud or dirt. I think in the case of IO and RC, either the manufacturer might be using clay as an anticaking agent or the salt they use for the formulation has lots of dirt in it.
To clearly see the dirst try putting an airstone in the freshly mixed water and cover the bucket, the bubbles will skimm out the dirst and accumulate it on the underside of the cover, sweep it with a paper towel and you will see.

Obviously your are using RC for a reason. I have read some threads saying that the tests between IO and RC don't show much of a difference. What are your observations? I am thinking of ordering RC instead of getting IO.

Yes, the brown slime only shows up if I let it sit more than 24 hours or so (even with powerhead running).

 

[jdieck]

RC comes with higher calcium and magnesium and the same high alkalinity.
At full NSW strenght I measure calcium at 420 to 430, alkalinity at 11 dKh and magnsium at 1300 to 1350.
IO I used to read calcium at 380 to 390, magnesium at 1150 to 1200 and alkalinity at 11 dKh.
I did not note it but when using Oceanic I got a golden algae blooms, with the dirt I see in IO and RC (as weel I saw it in TM, TM pro and Kent. I did not get any algae efect.
This what it looked with oceanic:

 

[Mavrk]

Okay, I am going to switch to RC. I can't believe the difference in price online vs. LFS! I guess I will make the change slowly so I can use up my Oceanic and not stress the livestock. Thanks for the help.

 

[jdieck]

Enjoy!