Reef Crystals Parameters

[Alex T.]

I've noticed many have previously posted high alkalinity in their testing of Reef Crystals batches. I'm reading anywhere from 11 - 13.

I switched over to RC about 4 months ago. Each time I bought two buckets.. One purchase was at a LFS near my home, and another time it was on a trip to the Hidden Reef in Levittown, PA which is approximately 80 miles away.

Every bucket equally tested with the following parameters:

dKH: 8
Ca: 450
Mg: 1350

Did they change the mix? I would like to have all the above parameters stay right where they are and was wondering if anyone else was finding the same numbers. Also, does anyone know what the extra "vitamins" are that they claim they've added? Possibly amino acids?

 

[geaux xman]

what sp gravity is your mix?

 

[lbaldrey]

Tested some new RC last week at 7dKH @ 1.025

 

[Alex T.]

SG is 1.026

 

[redfishblewfish]

I do not test my new water, except for SG. However, they must have changed something. I always had a light tan precipitate (scale on the sides) build up in my mixing bucket. Each batch, it was very obvious. After every 8 – 10 batches I would powerwash the Rubbermaid tub. With a new bucket about two months ago, I noticed I wasn’t getting any scale buildup in the mixing bucket. The past 6 – 7 batches have come out clean. So they had to have done something.


I’m not sure if this bucket came from Hidden Reef or OGII in NJ, but the red sticker (which might be the lot number??) is 1184 - 1901.

 

[teesquare]

That is encouraging to hear....Perhaps - just like any other competitive marketplace - the manufacturer is listening to what customers want.
I used IO, then RC for years....but they did push me away with all of the "crud in the tub".....

T

 

[Alex T.]

I still get the "crud in the tub" from time to time. I never really understood why so many people focus on that. If you've ever been in the ocean and come out to sit in the sun, you'll notice small salt deposits with "precipitate" on your arms, legs, body, etc. It's already been established in this forum that there's nothing to worry about. I live and work in a beach town so when we have flooding the salt water backs up through the storm drains. After driving "gingerly" through it the next day there is salt residue and buildup all over our cars that needs to be washed off, and this is from natural seawater.

Personally, I would worry about all the salt mixes that instantly mix clear. For a while I used to use Oceanic and that mixed clear and fast with no residue. It also grew a weird algae in my tank that stopped me from ever using it again. That's when you know some other water clarifiers and God knows what have been added to cover something up. We have saltwater tanks. There's going to be buildup of minerals and calcium deposits. If there weren't, it's not saltwater IMO.

But I digress. Anyway, I think some of the salt mix comparisons need to be amended to show this alkalinity change. Since I've gotten 4 buckets more than 80 miles apart over the span of months, I think it's safe to say the high alkalinity concerns aren't in the new mix. For the record, I also have the buckets with the snap on lid. I also think it's interesting to point out that the only parameters listed on the bucket are what will be achieved with regard to calcium and magnesium when mixed to a specified specific gravity. There's no mention of alkalinity. Is that intentional?

 

[djkms]

I have purchased a couple of the 200 gallon boxes online in the last couple of months and I am about 7dkh as well, around 450 CA. 35ppt

 

[teesquare]

I still get the "crud in the tub" from time to time. I never really understood why so many people focus on that.I think it is because for those of us that used it many years ago found that it mixed up cleaner, with far less residue. If you've ever been in the ocean and come out to sit in the sun, you'll notice small salt deposits with "precipitate" on your arms, legs, body, etc. But that is a homogenous , evaporated salt - not residue that is one or more of the trace elements or other constituentsIt's already been established in this forum that there's nothing to worry about.Well...it has been discussed, and postalated - that is true, but I don't know how we can conclusively say there is no harm...there can't be a positive benefit to all the crud...? I live and work in a beach town so when we have flooding the salt water backs up through the storm drains. After driving "gingerly" through it the next day there is salt residue and buildup all over our cars that needs to be washed off, and this is from natural seawater.Yeah... just I don't know if we can compare those with what we are seeing in mixing RC

Personally, I would worry about all the salt mixes that instantly mix clear. For a while I used to use Oceanic and that mixed clear and fast with no residue. It also grew a weird algae in my tank that stopped me from ever using it again. That's when you know some other water clarifiers and God knows what have been added to cover something up.Yep - agree there! I have seen the same thing with Oceanic. As well their perameters were really out of whack We have saltwater tanks. There's going to be buildup of minerals and calcium deposits. If there weren't, it's not saltwater IMO.

But I digress. Anyway, I think some of the salt mix comparisons need to be amended to show this alkalinity change. I am with you there!Since I've gotten 4 buckets more than 80 miles apart over the span of months, I think it's safe to say the high alkalinity concerns aren't in the new mix. For the record, I also have the buckets with the snap on lid. Is this new?I also think it's interesting to point out that the only parameters listed on the bucket are what will be achieved with regard to calcium and magnesium when mixed to a specified specific gravity. There's no mention of alkalinity. Is that intentional?

One other note - I have been using the Aqua Vitro "Salinity". Like it. And it is great bang for the buck, the perameters are based on a bucket mixed up at 1.026 makes 225 gallons.

T

 

[Boomer]

RC was reformulated a few months back, as was IO

 

[teesquare]

Was it a positive reformulation? Not tring to be funny. Just asking if anyone has a comparitive analysis?
T

 

[Boomer]

They just made some shifts in the Alk , Ca++ and Mg++ to better numbers. Red Sea just did the same thing only RS announced it and IO-RC hide it We had to drag it out of the rep

 

[teesquare]

Maybe a raw material source mined out? Or a changes to save money? It is interesting that one company decides to announce it, and the other wants to keep quiet...Corporate culture ?

Boomer - any word from anyone on whether the change has yielded a percived product improvement - i.e. less deposits in mixing vats?

PS - I am headed your direction next month and would enjoy buying you a beverage or two of your choice....

T

 

[Boomer]

I'll be waiting for my Windsor -Seven Humm, do you really know where you are coming to, as in, the second coldest town in 50 States. NC ? You will need a big parka, for me just a T-Shirt

No, just from what I have seen just a shift in AlK, Ca++ and Mg++

Corporate culture = We have claimed x ,y and z for years but all those reefers have figure out we are way off from x, y and z so lets fix it and maybe they will not notice it. So, when they make the next claim we can say "what do you mean we are right on in our claim. You guys must have had bad test kits or where measuring wrong"

Well, if you want to see some deposits go buy RS, DD or the other salts made by RS You will find sand in the bottom of your mixing bucket. Yes, real sand and lost of brown crap Of course, that if it is a off season batch, made during the "wind season". But on season batches are really nice .

 

[teesquare]

I'll be waiting for my Windsor -Seven Humm, do you really know where you are coming to, as in, the second coldest town in 50 States. NC ? You will need a big parka, for me just a T-Shirt

Yep - afraid I do know...I have a daughter that married the son of a 3-M big-wig, and they live in Stillwater, so i can hook up a dog sled and get to Duluth if need be. I talked to a couple of the crazies in your neck of the woods...you know The Filter Guyz...and Dirk. Good bunch. And it has been too long since I had Walleye!
As for cold - I live at some elevation in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Last winter we had a total of 42 inches of snow here. Not Bad. Not the North Pole where you live tho!:lolspin:

No, just from what I have seen just a shift in AlK, Ca++ and Mg++

Corporate culture = We have claimed x ,y and z for years but all those reefers have figure out we are way off from x, y and z so lets fix it and maybe they will not notice it. So, when they make the next claim we can say "what do you mean we are right on in our claim. You guys must have had bad test kits or where measuring wrong" Ain't it the truth!

Well, if you want to see some deposits go buy RS, DD or the other salts made by RS You will find sand in the bottom of your mixing bucket. Yes, real sand and lost of brown crap Of course, that if it is a off season batch, made during the "wind season". But on season batches are really nice .

Been looking into Royal Nature might get a skid of it to try out around here...ideas?

OP- sorry for the hijack/distraction:worried:

T

 

[Alex T.]

Ok, well it's good to hear that the mix was changed with lower alkalinity. Regardless of whether they tried to hide it or not, a change for the better is all we can ask for. For the money, there really isn't a better salt that I have such easy access to. I can get a 160 gallon bucket of RC for just under $40, and every once in a while it's on sale for $29.99 when I buy two.

I like what I hear from those that use Tropic Marin,but at over $80 per bucket I'd rather save the money and do larger water volume water changes than worry about when I need to buy another bucket of $80 salt.

Thanks for the tip Boomer. For a second there I thought I was going crazy.

 

[Boomer]

Royal Nature

I did some consulting, so to speak, for somebody that sells it. It is RS in another bucket It like DD just has some small changes to it so they do not test out exactly the same. Technically speaking, since I have full blown classified data sheets of some of these, the new SeaChem AquaVitro is about the best. Tunse and the new ESV multi-component are two others that are high on my list. TPM is also good

The Files Guys. That is Jim He is one of my best friend and lives < 1 mile away. I'm at his house at least 1 / wk

 

[teesquare]

Royal Nature

I did some consulting, so to speak, for somebody that sells it. It is RS in another bucket It like DD just has some small changes to it so they do not test out exactly the same. Technically speaking, since I have full blown classified data sheets of some of these, the new SeaChem AquaVitro is about the best. Tunse and the new ESV multi-component are two others that are high on my list. TPM is also good

The Files Guys. That is Jim He is one of my best friend and lives < 1 mile away. I'm at his house at least 1 / wk

Well, I need a good refractometer, - with a scale I can read - so I will just come up and get one! Will PM you once I have my flight itenerary. I would ike to relax and shoot the (fish) poop!
T

 

[Boomer]

Ok

 

[Felixc]

RC was reformulated a few months back, as was IO

Do you now what parameters we can expect with the new formulated IO? The new RC might warrant swap for me. It's previous high Alk has always been the deciding fator between the two for me.