Reef Crystals - The results are in...

[Billybeau1]

That's close enough. I'd say Reef Crystals is back.

Alk is a little high but not a problem IMO. Could be a little noise.

If your tank looks good, it probably is.

 

[fred fishstone]

I haven't put any in the tank yet.

I guess I'll try a few changes and see what happens. Maybe pick up a new Alk test kit too!

 

[spleify]

Ok, so long story short. I just opened up a new bucket of reef crystals that I have had for a couple months now. Last time I ordered I ordered 2, I will usually order once I open my last bucket, so it has been a while since I got these. The last bucket tested out pretty consistent at 410-425 CA. I open up the new bucket and make a 25 gallon batch, tested it today(after 3 days mixing in the bucket) and my CA tested at 300, Salifert. I thought for sure I did something wrong, so I tested again, still 300.
I brought a sample to my LFS, and HE tested it with Salifert 340, I tested it with his kit, again 340. ARGGG, man I thought I was over the bad batches of salt, this is so frustrating. I guess its good at least I test my new water, and bolster it any way, I will just have to add more Calcium.

The alk tested 12
MAG 1200
79 degrees
35 PPT

Spleify

 

[Phantom Phish]

I just mixed up a new batch of Reef Crystals, from a new bucket I recently got from Drs F & S. I mixed the dry salt, then made up a little less than 44 gal in a Brute trash can using about 19-20 cups of salt. I let it aerate overnight with a mag drive pump, and warmed it to about 80 degrees F.

Here's what I get when I test the ASW...

Temp.= 80 degrees F
pH= 8.18 (Pinpoint electronic meter)
SG= 35-36 ppt; 1.026 (Sybon refractometer, recently calibrated)
calcium= 440 ppm (Salifert kit)
alkalinity= 10.4 - 10.6 dkH ; 3.71 - 3.77 meq/l (Salifert kit)
magnesium= 1125 ppm (Elos kit)

I'm happy enough with the calcium and alkalinity, but I'm a little disappointed in the magnesium, as I was hoping to get at least 1200 ppm, based on the above posts which showed people were getting ~1260 ppm. So I guess there's still some variablity in the mix from bucket to bucket.

Just underlines the importance of testing each new bucket, so you can figure out what and how much to supplement...

 

[Lightsluvr]

Cracker Jack prize?

Cracker Jack prize?

This is a little OT, but I was surprised mixing my weekly water change batches today when I discovered a large Instant Ocean towel wrapped in a plastic bag in my Reef Crystals bucket...kinda like a prize in the Cracker Jacks box.

It was printed with the IO logo and some starfish - kinda cheap, but free, so what the heck. The first time I have come across this in many, many buckets of Reef Crystals.

Merry Christmas... :lol:

LL

 

[Billybeau1]

Wow, first Coralife with T-shirts and now RC with towels. What is the world coming too. :lol: