Reef Crystals Calcium content?
- Thread starter Wippjas
- Start date
DFS/LA1
.Registered Member
Instant Ocean and Drs. Foster and Smith are working together closely to analyze the information being forwarded by you. Drs. Foster and Smith is supplying Instant Ocean with order information and dates that some of you have provided us with so testing can immediately be started. Both Instant Ocean and Drs. Foster and Smith appreciate the feedback and information you are providing, and will work together to ensure superior customer satisfaction. We would also like to collect salt samples if you have them available, preferably two Ziploc bags of salt, with one cup of salt in each. We are more than happy to provide you with a prepaid shipping label to avoid causing any expense and inconvenience to you. Having these samples will assist both Instant Ocean and Drs. Foster and Smith in determining what is causing the problem. If you have a sample available, please pm us with your name and address information so we may send out your prepaid label.
Please rest assured that both companies are working together to ensure you are receiving the product quality you’ve come to expect, and will work with each of you to either refund or replace any defective product. Please do not hesitate to pm us with your information if you have product you are concerned about, so that we may assist you.
Jaimie A
Customer Service Manager
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster & Smith
Please rest assured that both companies are working together to ensure you are receiving the product quality you’ve come to expect, and will work with each of you to either refund or replace any defective product. Please do not hesitate to pm us with your information if you have product you are concerned about, so that we may assist you.
Jaimie A
Customer Service Manager
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster & Smith
bluetmax
Member
I have used Instant Ocean since I started this hobby, and I have now begun to mix it with RC and intend to eventually switch over all together. Since the company is following this thread, I have a suggestion I would like to throw out there, FWIW. Would it not be possible to place the supplements in the bags/buckets seperately from the salt? For example, if I purchased a 55 gallon mix of RC, why not have 11 small pouches inside, and have each pouch pre-sealed for each five gallons of water? Just a suggestion, and I feel that this may solve a few of these problems. I don't know of anyone who mixes an entire package of salt at once, although I am certain a few probably do. I've never had any problems with either company personally, and I hope I can always say this. Drs. F&S is probably the best company I have ever dealt with, especially when it comes to live stock. That's what keeps me coming back and recommending them to others...
dfs/la2
.Registered Member
Bluetmax and USC-Fan,
Thank you for your posts. Samples of the Reef Crystals Salt can be sent to the address below for testing. Please let us know if you need a pre-paid label sent to cover your cost of sending the salt to us.
Drs. Foster & Smith
2389 Air Park Road
Rhinelander, WI 54501
When sending salt samples, we recommend marking the outside of the package “Aquarium Salt†so that it can be properly processed.
Bluetmax, we appreciate your excellent suggestion. Your message has been forwarded to our Merchandising Department for review.
Mike S.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster and Smith
Thank you for your posts. Samples of the Reef Crystals Salt can be sent to the address below for testing. Please let us know if you need a pre-paid label sent to cover your cost of sending the salt to us.
Drs. Foster & Smith
2389 Air Park Road
Rhinelander, WI 54501
When sending salt samples, we recommend marking the outside of the package “Aquarium Salt†so that it can be properly processed.
Bluetmax, we appreciate your excellent suggestion. Your message has been forwarded to our Merchandising Department for review.
Mike S.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster and Smith
dfs/la2
.Registered Member
TriGa22,
We apologize, however at this time, there are no specific dates or lot numbers. Please test your salt as usual when mixing. If you have any concerns with the results, please contact us. We would be happy to work with you for a resolution.
Tina C.
Live Aquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
We apologize, however at this time, there are no specific dates or lot numbers. Please test your salt as usual when mixing. If you have any concerns with the results, please contact us. We would be happy to work with you for a resolution.
Tina C.
Live Aquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
The best way to find out is to first test the water after you make it. Second, look at your inhabitants. If you are keeping mostly soft corals, the Ca content will problably not be much of an issue for you.
If you are keeping stony corals and the salt is deficient in Ca and Mg, you can add supplements to bring the params up to par. A very handy calculator to let you know how much to supplement can be found here:
http://reef.diesyst.com/flashcalc/flashcalc.html
reefitup
New member
I didn't order any of the salt or anything, and I normally don't get involved too much with online ordering just because I like to see what I'm getting, race home, and open it...
but i just wanted to chime in for what it's worth...
It's downright REFRESHING to see DFS stepping up the way they are in a world today where most compaines and even industries would just assume shrug you onto someone else...
It's not their responsibility for QC'ing salt, but they're standing behind the products they carry because they chose to carry those products. Unbelievably freaking refeshing! (say that 10 times fast)
To DFS... :thumbsup:
Just seeing how you stand behind what you sell has me off to your site looking to see what my FIRST order with you guys will be for my new set up!!
YOU ROCK! You really do!
but i just wanted to chime in for what it's worth...
It's downright REFRESHING to see DFS stepping up the way they are in a world today where most compaines and even industries would just assume shrug you onto someone else...
It's not their responsibility for QC'ing salt, but they're standing behind the products they carry because they chose to carry those products. Unbelievably freaking refeshing! (say that 10 times fast)
To DFS... :thumbsup:
Just seeing how you stand behind what you sell has me off to your site looking to see what my FIRST order with you guys will be for my new set up!!
YOU ROCK! You really do!
As some of you may have seen I mailed some Reef Crystals to Aquarium Systems to be tested.
This afternoon I got a call from Bob Studt, the Quality Controll manager. He said they tested my salt 3 times each with very similar results. At 1.026:
Mg: 1150
Ca: 380
He stated that currently there are no batch numbers on buckets so there is no way to track if a bucket is good or bad.
He also apologized to everyone who is having these troubles but explained they can not send out salt to everyone who quotes low numbers on an internet thread.
If you would like your salt replaced by Aquarium Systems you'll need to mail them a sample. I find this pretty resonable... Although I'm not sure what it is yet, Bob did tell me he'd throw in some goodies for my trouble. If your salt is low, I'm sure he'll do the same for you...
Ben
This afternoon I got a call from Bob Studt, the Quality Controll manager. He said they tested my salt 3 times each with very similar results. At 1.026:
Mg: 1150
Ca: 380
He stated that currently there are no batch numbers on buckets so there is no way to track if a bucket is good or bad.
He also apologized to everyone who is having these troubles but explained they can not send out salt to everyone who quotes low numbers on an internet thread.
If you would like your salt replaced by Aquarium Systems you'll need to mail them a sample. I find this pretty resonable... Although I'm not sure what it is yet, Bob did tell me he'd throw in some goodies for my trouble. If your salt is low, I'm sure he'll do the same for you...
Ben
DFS
.Registered Member
I just wanted to touch base here and thank everyone for your patience while we address the concerns some of you have conveyed about Aquarium Systems Reef Crystals Sea Salt. Your complete satisfaction is very important to all of us here at Drs. Foster and Smith and we stand behind every product that we sell.
I have personally used Aquarium Systems sea salt as a hobbyist and in a professional capacity for well over 30 years. In my opinion Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals is the most reasonably priced and consistent Synthetic Sea salt on the market.
We have used Reef Crystals sea salt in our Aquaculture Coral and Marine Life Facility since we opened the doors in July 2005. Currently we go though one pallet (36- 160 gallon Buckets/pallet) of this salt every 6 days. The pallets of sea salt used here come from the same batches/trucks that deliver the salt that we distribute to our customers.
The first bucket from every new pallet of Reef Crystals is tested here at our facility so that we can adjust the batch to match the water parameters of our coral rows. In my opinion any sea salt brand on the market today will require some minor adjustment if we are trying to match the exact parameters of our system or aquarium. In reef aquaria that are heavily stocked with small polyp stony corals, this is very important, where in reef aquaria that contain little or no stony corals, this is not as critical.
We test each new pallet by first mixing a full bucket with RO/DI water to 53mS (1.0259) and let this aireate for 24 hours. From there we take a sample of water in a clean glass beaker, and then test the pH, Conductivity (Specific Gravity), Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium levels.
In the two and a half years of testing this water I have never had a batch that was significantly different than the others. I am not saying that bad batches cant happen during manufacturing, but I have never experienced this phenomenon here at our facility with Reef Crystals sea salt that we use in house.
We have consistently tested Reef Crystals salt which has yielded the following results when mixed for 24 hours and tested with a calibrated conductivity meter or refractometer to 53mS (1.0259).
Specific Gravity- 1.0259/53mS- (Conductivity meter calibrated with 53mS solution)
pH- 8.18-8.38 (Electronic pH meter calibrated with 7.0 and 10.0 standard calibration solution)
Alkalinity- 11.7-12. 9- (Aquarium Systems Test Kit calibrated with a standard reference solution prepared in our Pharmacy)
Calcium- 385-440 mg/L (Salifert Test Kit cross referenced with Aquarium Systems Calcium Test Kit).
Magnesium- 1200-1350 mg/L (Salifert Test Kit cross referenced with Sea Chem Magnesium Kit)
One mistake that I have personally made in the past is not calibrating my equipment properly. Most manufacturers of Refractometers recommend calibrating these devices with distilled water which leaves a reasonable margin of error when testing seawater at in the 1.025 range. The most accurate way to calibrate any swing arm hydrometer, refractometer, or conductivity meter is with the use of a 53mS solution. This can either be purchased, or even made at home with table salt and distilled water. There are several articles here on RC by Randy Holmes-Farley, one of which is titled:
Reef Aquarium Salinity- Homemade Calibration Standards
I just wanted to add some additional information to this thread to convey our own results and to reiterate that we will refund or replace any defective product. Thank you all for your patience and understanding again.
Sincerely,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
I have personally used Aquarium Systems sea salt as a hobbyist and in a professional capacity for well over 30 years. In my opinion Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals is the most reasonably priced and consistent Synthetic Sea salt on the market.
We have used Reef Crystals sea salt in our Aquaculture Coral and Marine Life Facility since we opened the doors in July 2005. Currently we go though one pallet (36- 160 gallon Buckets/pallet) of this salt every 6 days. The pallets of sea salt used here come from the same batches/trucks that deliver the salt that we distribute to our customers.
The first bucket from every new pallet of Reef Crystals is tested here at our facility so that we can adjust the batch to match the water parameters of our coral rows. In my opinion any sea salt brand on the market today will require some minor adjustment if we are trying to match the exact parameters of our system or aquarium. In reef aquaria that are heavily stocked with small polyp stony corals, this is very important, where in reef aquaria that contain little or no stony corals, this is not as critical.
We test each new pallet by first mixing a full bucket with RO/DI water to 53mS (1.0259) and let this aireate for 24 hours. From there we take a sample of water in a clean glass beaker, and then test the pH, Conductivity (Specific Gravity), Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium levels.
In the two and a half years of testing this water I have never had a batch that was significantly different than the others. I am not saying that bad batches cant happen during manufacturing, but I have never experienced this phenomenon here at our facility with Reef Crystals sea salt that we use in house.
We have consistently tested Reef Crystals salt which has yielded the following results when mixed for 24 hours and tested with a calibrated conductivity meter or refractometer to 53mS (1.0259).
Specific Gravity- 1.0259/53mS- (Conductivity meter calibrated with 53mS solution)
pH- 8.18-8.38 (Electronic pH meter calibrated with 7.0 and 10.0 standard calibration solution)
Alkalinity- 11.7-12. 9- (Aquarium Systems Test Kit calibrated with a standard reference solution prepared in our Pharmacy)
Calcium- 385-440 mg/L (Salifert Test Kit cross referenced with Aquarium Systems Calcium Test Kit).
Magnesium- 1200-1350 mg/L (Salifert Test Kit cross referenced with Sea Chem Magnesium Kit)
One mistake that I have personally made in the past is not calibrating my equipment properly. Most manufacturers of Refractometers recommend calibrating these devices with distilled water which leaves a reasonable margin of error when testing seawater at in the 1.025 range. The most accurate way to calibrate any swing arm hydrometer, refractometer, or conductivity meter is with the use of a 53mS solution. This can either be purchased, or even made at home with table salt and distilled water. There are several articles here on RC by Randy Holmes-Farley, one of which is titled:
Reef Aquarium Salinity- Homemade Calibration Standards
I just wanted to add some additional information to this thread to convey our own results and to reiterate that we will refund or replace any defective product. Thank you all for your patience and understanding again.
Sincerely,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
gary faulkner
New member
Drs. Foster and Smith just gave me credit for my salt and yes it did test low. They are sending return labels so I can send in samples to help resolve the issue.
Great company. I will always do business with them.
Great company. I will always do business with them.
SuperAWE
Member
Before, I purchase my next few buckets of Reef Crystals from DFS I would like to know what the current batch they have in stock tests out at. It would definitely save the hassle of myself, others, and DFS of the burdensome returns/credits/samples to send cycle if it is still testing low.
As a side note this, this may be a wake up call for Aquarium Systems to start using production run lot numbers/packaged dates.
Thanks and and big kudos to DFS for all of their wonderful customer support!
As a side note this, this may be a wake up call for Aquarium Systems to start using production run lot numbers/packaged dates.
Thanks and and big kudos to DFS for all of their wonderful customer support!
dfs/la2
.Registered Member
SuperAWE,
Thank you for your inquiry. While all of the reef salt we have tested has been within the parameters listed by Kevin, the LiveAquaria Director, we will be happy to test the Reef Crystals salt currently in our warehouse. The test results will be posted on Monday.
Mike S.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster and Smith
Thank you for your inquiry. While all of the reef salt we have tested has been within the parameters listed by Kevin, the LiveAquaria Director, we will be happy to test the Reef Crystals salt currently in our warehouse. The test results will be posted on Monday.
Mike S.
Technical Support
Drs. Foster and Smith
Thales
Active member
Thanks Race and the DFS team, and it looks like AS as well. I have 3 or 4 buckets left from my order in November 07, but I'll just use them up because I alter Mg and Ca levels anyway.
It would be great however, if RC could be formulated to a smaller range of higher Mg and Ca - or a set of reliable, easy to read test kits
Anyway, it is great to see a company saying 'we'll make it right' instead of 'its your fault'.
It would be great however, if RC could be formulated to a smaller range of higher Mg and Ca - or a set of reliable, easy to read test kits
Anyway, it is great to see a company saying 'we'll make it right' instead of 'its your fault'.
