reef crystals is a scam!!

[d0ughb0y]

I mix in a 5 gallon bucket and always use 3 cups of reef crystals to get 1.026.
I agree the label "reef" then using 1.021 as basis is self contradictory and misleading.

but based on the 3 cups instead of 2.5 cups, I think one bucket should yield 133 gallons and not 100 gallons Were you really mixing 4 cups every 5 gallons to get 1.026? if so then you probably got a bad batch or the bucket you got is reduced. I know the local LFS here opens the buckets and takes some salt from each bucket for their own use and still sells them as new unused and full Thats the problem with unsealed packaging.

 

[d0ughb0y]

I have seen other brand (red sea if I remember correctly), use 1.021 to calculate the yield, but use 1.026 to calculate the trace mineral contents to make the number appear higher. now that is a scam.

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Have you considered writing Spectrum Brands to give them your feedback? Posting here doesn't do a whole lot except maybe make you feel better. Writing the actual company gives them valuable information which may lead to a change in process.

THe company is no longer spectrum, its United Pet Group.

 

[JMalone81]

I can't honestly believe that the mods didn't lock this out when they saw the title. Anyways..........I agree if you aren't happy with the product, don't buy it. I started with Reef Crystals, then switched to Coralife mostly for the free shirt in the bucket . But I was much happier with the results from Coralife than Reef Crystals. I just bought another bucket of Reef Crystals cause I was in the middle of making water up and ran out of salt. RC was all the LFS had, but once this bucket is gone, I'm going back to Coralife. I do understand your b!t€h about the subject but there's really nothing you will be able to do about it other than use something else.

+1 I don't see the scam? Most people read before they use a product.

 

[jbird69]

If your giving up on reef crystals, get coralife. Its the best major brand salt for reefs.

 

[stubby 58]

I was always under the impression that all salts where figured on a sg of 1.021 and at that sg that is how many gal you will get ie 50, 150 or 200 . May be wrong I do not know , but thats what I always took it as . I use Coralife and mix 3 cups per 5 gal o get 1.026 , if I mix 2 1/2 cups it gives me 1.021 . JMT

stubby

 

[polyppetey]

You should read the label before buying, it clearly states 1.4 lbs makes 5 gallons at 1.021. To get to a target of 1.026 I need 1.7 lbs. After stating that Other salt mixes differ in the weight needed to get to the targeted SG. I THINK IO is 1.5 lb. to get to 1.021

BTW for everything reefers do I am still suprised people still use measuring cups and not a good scale.

 

[Yogre]

THe company is no longer spectrum, its United Pet Group.

FWIW, United Pet Group is owned by Spectrum Brands. Spectrum Brands is in Chapter 11. Where that'll end up nobody knows.

 

[Haksar]

We use Marinium and IO but very few hobbyist and LFS here use RC.But recently an LFS has started selling RC here but this thread will make me think twice before changing.

 

[speedo2wet]

im kinda happy with the brand red sea salt mix that I use (i don't use the red sea reef crystals) and I'm running two reefs with excellent growth. plus my sg is usually kept from the 1.023-1.024 mark. I use just about 12 lbs of salt for every water change that I make. everyone seems to be happy.

 

[qn5reef]

+1 there is nothing scam about it, just read the label.

You should read the label before buying, it clearly states 1.4 lbs makes 5 gallons at 1.021. To get to a target of 1.026 I need 1.7 lbs. After stating that Other salt mixes differ in the weight needed to get to the targeted SG. I THINK IO is 1.5 lb. to get to 1.021

BTW for everything reefers do I am still suprised people still use measuring cups and not a good scale.

 

[maynardjames]

+1 there is nothing scam about it, just read the label.

+2

 

[lordofthereef]

what gives? started buying this salt because its cheaper then seachem however when i mix my 55 gallon jug it uses 3/4 of the bucket! im lucky if i get 100 gallons out of a supposid 160 gallon bucket!

mixing salt at 75 degree's to 1.025!

anyone else have this problem?

I can tell you that you either measured incorrectly or you simply got a bad batch (the latter is unlikely, but I personally cannot rule it out). Either way, something is amiss. Either way I wouldn't go calling the company a scam. Clearly everyone using reef crystals out there isn't an imbecile who simply hasn't noticed that they are using much more salt than they should be. This seems to be a specific issue with you...

 

[jayb12]

well when you mix up 60 gallons of salt a week, that extra 50 or so gallons really hurts the wallet on the salt budget!

after 3 buckets i had enough. i wont buy reef crystals again because in reality im paying 75 bucks for a bucket that nets me 100 or so gallons. thats pretty expensive stuff!

 

[graveyardworm]

Somehow your logic has become skewed. Regardless of what the label says you are getting what you are paying for, a certain amount of salt by weight. To get to the higher SG requires more salt, you would have to pay for that salt, or pay the same for a bucket that makes less gallons per the label.

 

[lordofthereef]

well when you mix up 60 gallons of salt a week, that extra 50 or so gallons really hurts the wallet on the salt budget!

after 3 buckets i had enough. i wont buy reef crystals again because in reality im paying 75 bucks for a bucket that nets me 100 or so gallons. thats pretty expensive stuff!

I think the point we are trying to get across is that being 50 gallons off on a 160 gallon bucket is way more than it frankly should be... Your difference is about 30% when it should be about 10-15%

 

[Jeff]

I think the point we are trying to get across is that being 50 gallons off on a 160 gallon bucket is way more than it frankly should be... Your difference is about 30% when it should be about 10-15%

I agree. I understand their marketing strategy, but that is too far off from reality. It makes it as expensive as the good salt brands and doesn't deliver the same results in my opinion.

 

[stanlalee]

now we are going from if reef crystals is a rip off to what salt we like.

Bottom line in order to be a rip off by definition you must be paying an uncompetitive price for a like product. itis not grossly more expensive or cheaper than ANY reef specific salt on the market (yes I did the math and all are within a range of about 2.2-2.7gallons per $1)

redsea pro and seachem reef salt, probably the second and third most readily available and common reef salts on the market use the same 1.023 or less standard for marking their salts.

some of you are making my case on why it would be just plain stupid for reef crystals to change their label. if you cant decifer reef crystals isn't a rip off because of its labeling even though its the same amount of salt as IO for $2-5 more and no more expensive or mislabeled than its main competitors imagine what the same people will think when they go to the store or online and see 150-160g buckets of seachem reef and redsea coral pro for $45-50 and 100g buckets of reef crystals for the same price. the only other option would be to put more salt in and jack up the price. then you'll be complaining on the price hike on 160g buckets or how expensive RC has become using the same non abstract reasoning.

but yep all you reef crystal users are getting bamboozled!

 

[graveyardworm]

The OP still hasnt indicated how they are measuring salinity. Also if its being measured with a swing arm hydro or floating hydro temp could be a factor especially this time of year in Canada.

How are you measuring the salinity and what is the temp of the mixing barrell at the time of measurement?

 

[radicaltimes]

I only have a 120 gallon Reef system, The Reef Crystals salt is the cheapest part of the aquarium. I weight mine out at 1.6 pounds for 5 gallons.