Reef Crystals - The results are in...

bdare

bdare

Salty Dude
Premium Member
As some of you may have seen in the other thead 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
 
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Thanks Ben. Good to know.

Despite the confirmation from Bill's tests, I kept thinking I might have tested incorrectly, and was about to do another batch of tests.

Yesterday, I made a ~2 liter batch Randy's 35ppt standard... weighed everything to the nearest .01 gram on a Mettler balance, lol.
 
I too had been doing multiple tests with different kits to see if there was an error on my side and while there always could be this was the same measurements I was getting on the first of the 4 buckets i picked up from the df&s coral conference. I will send in a sample and then move on to testing the other buckets.

Thanks.
 
Yeah I have also doubt my tests. I went ahead and brought all new test kits and even some calibration fluid for my refractometer. lol

What salt did he replace? The whole bucket? Might be worth sending in a sample if i can get the bucket replace.

Got to say i'm glad drf&s didn't have to eat the cost!! At least I don't have to worry about finding a new salt mix.

Please keep us update on how the new salt tests!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11521562#post11521562 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by USC-fan
Yeah I have also doubt my tests. I went ahead and brought all new test kits and even some calibration fluid for my refractometer. lol

What salt did he replace? The whole bucket? Might be worth sending in a sample if i can get the bucket replace.

Got to say i'm glad drf&s didn't have to eat the cost!! At least I don't have to worry about finding a new salt mix.

Please keep us update on how the new salt tests!!
Click to expand...

Yes,

They are replacing the whole bucket. I expained to Bob that the good folks and Drs Foster and Smith had already sent me a replacement bucket, but he insisted on sending me one as well...

I also would not be so sure that the Drs aren't eating the costs of the salt they are sending out. As I stated the Aquarium Systems folks want to verify the salt is actually bad. Without batch numbers on the bucket they have no way to tell who's salt is good and who's is bad without testing it. The good Drs could just be sending out salt because this is a wide spread issue and they are key on customer service and satisfaction!

I have not tested the replacement bucket that I recieved from the Drs, but I'll test both buckets in time and let you know my results.

For now it is just good to know that the manufactuer is standing behind thier product and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Ben
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11521760#post11521760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by USC-fan
Wow you got lucky 3 for the price of 1! lol.
Click to expand...

True, but the verdict is still out on how much I'll spend on supplements to bring the salt to the right levels... Especially if the second bucket from the Drs tests low as well...
 
Just tested my tank sw parameters last night. After I changed 45g of water.
alk =12dkh
salinity 1.024
CA = 360ppm
mg = 1100ppm

Salt was from a bucket that I ordered last Feb. I got a couple more buckets that I just ordered 3mo ago but I haven't opened this buckets yet. I might open them up tomorrow and test it too.
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11523195#post11523195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xinumaster
To test each buckets of my RC, how much RODI water do I need to add for 1/2 cup of salt?
Click to expand...
About 1 gallon.
 
Hmm interesting. I know the Drs. are fantastic on customer service. What do you have for contact info in case some os use have bad buckets as well? I regularly order from the Drs. for salt. I'm off to test as I've been fighting browning sps. I do not normally test anything other than SG on new water.

Good work and thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11523707#post11523707 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jorgens
Hmm interesting. I know the Drs. are fantastic on customer service. What do you have for contact info in case some os use have bad buckets as well? I regularly order from the Drs. for salt. I'm off to test as I've been fighting browning sps. I do not normally test anything other than SG on new water.

Good work and thanks!
Click to expand...
Gershwin Asari
Quality Control
Aquarium Systems/Instant Ocean
8141 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, Ohio 44060
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11522969#post11522969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xinumaster
Just tested my tank sw parameters last night. After I changed 45g of water.
alk =12dkh
salinity 1.024
CA = 360ppm
mg = 1100ppm

Salt was from a bucket that I ordered last Feb. I got a couple more buckets that I just ordered 3mo ago but I haven't opened this buckets yet. I might open them up tomorrow and test it too.
Click to expand...

That is a good bucket. I expect those numbers at 1.024

If mixed at 1.0264 (35ppt) your calcium and magnesium numbers will be more in line with the RC I know.

1/2 cup of RC in 1 gallon of water will not yield 1.0264

Thats just the way it is made.

You will need close to 3/4 cup of salt in 1 gallon of water to yield 1.0264 Actually its a little less but certainly more than 1/2 cup.

For what its worth, I've tested about 10 different salt mixes and none of them yielded 1.0264 with exactly 1/2 cup of salt mix. Some were a little better than others but thats a test I'm working on for another day.

When you talk cost per gallon, it is good to know how much salt it takes to make 35 ppt. I believe this makes a big difference in the long run. :)
 
The one thing thing that bothers me about this whole thing... How many of you are re-mixing the salts prior to mix on the entire bucket?

During shipment the salts settle into strata. I typically take 2 empty dry buckets and split my new salt between them and mix them back and forth until I get a true mix again. When I have not done this my testing shows very different levels depending on where I pulled from the bucket. (typically low Ca/Alk on the top of the bucket).

Do those of you who have had bad Ca measurements tried mixing the bucket back up prior to using the salt? Typically you only need to re-mix the salt initially since it's the multiple shipping and vibrations the bucket gets cause it to settle in this manner.

I would be curious to see if all or none of you do this recommended procedure?

For those that don't get what I am talking about, think of it like a bucket of rocks of different sizes (Which is essentially what this is) Give it anywhere from 7-10 days of vibration (Shipment) and then look into the bucket they will sort themselves into layers.
 
Does the Ca sink, or stay at the top ?

I do actually pour the salt back and fourth a few times to mix it. I don't like the covers you have to hit with a hammer, so I use an older one. But I'm not so sure that I go for the settling idea. I've never noticed variations in a bucket prior to mixing the salt the way I do.
 
While I'm sure some settling (separating) can occur, I have not seen too much of a problem over the years in my testing. And I test a lot. :)
 
Gershwin Asari
Quality Control
Aquarium Systems/Instant Ocean
8141 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, Ohio 44060

Will Gershwin Asari replace everyones salt that testing with low numbers if I send a sample? Do I pay for shipping?
 
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