StrategicReef
New member
I bought from Dr F&S where did you folks buy it?
Why does reef crystals only have 320 Ca?
- Thread starter StrategicReef
- Start date
i consistently seem to get ~360ppm ca with reef crystals. alk is always on the high end at 14dKH +. I've started dosing my fresh mixed sw with calcium.
i wonder if its how i'm mixing it. i generally fill a 5g bucket with rodi water, then add the salt all at once, then mix with a large spatula, then add a powerhead and let age for at least a day.
i wonder if i mixed while adding the salt, if less ca would precipitate (if thats even the cause of my low rc ca readings)
i wonder if its how i'm mixing it. i generally fill a 5g bucket with rodi water, then add the salt all at once, then mix with a large spatula, then add a powerhead and let age for at least a day.
i wonder if i mixed while adding the salt, if less ca would precipitate (if thats even the cause of my low rc ca readings)
Last edited:
StrategicReef
New member
Ok, I complained about this a year ago, I thought I have a bad bucket, now 2 buckets bought 1 year apart shouldn't be the same batch of it... and thanks for confirming those of you with low readings..
I want to know the folks with 400+ Ca where they bought theirs from... or how are you mixing your water
I want to know the folks with 400+ Ca where they bought theirs from... or how are you mixing your water
Mike O'Brien
New member
Mine is from Foster and Smith as well.
Test kits are not the problem here. Or does everyone have a bad kit ? The problem is with the salt, not the user.
Test kits are not the problem here. Or does everyone have a bad kit ? The problem is with the salt, not the user.
Mike O'Brien
New member
Oh yeah, we all have a badly calibrated refractometer too...
Sorry, but we're not all clueless on testing matters.
Sorry, but we're not all clueless on testing matters.
minireef30
New member
I've had this problem too. But my alk was at only 8dkh and Ca at 360. I'm going to try a different brand of salt. The two buckets I bought were from Dr.F&S too.
Mike O'Brien
New member
Sorry. The fact is that there are many that clim to have low Calcium, and few that claim to have high levels with RC. Why is it only the low guys that are repeatedly told that their test kits are bad or their refractometer is not calibrated ? Could not the same be said for those few that claim to have 420 ppm.
Mike O'Brien
New member
Maybe the fact that Rayovac doesn't want to spend money on their pet product companies has something to do with the decline in quality of their products.
StrategicReef
New member
OK I ordered 800G of turbo calcium should be a easy fix, since the alk is already high, just add calcium..
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy with my test kit and I have 2 test kits
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy with my test kit and I have 2 test kits
jdieck
New member
In the last batch of 6 buckets I got three of the buckets had the lids slightly loose on arrival and noticed those buckets had slightly lower levels. Salt mixes are very hygroscopic and moisture can quickly degrade the quality of the buffers in the salt.
Other times I noticed that salt settles in the bucket and I get different readings from the same bucket.
The best generic recommendation I can have and this not new and apply to any salt we use is to keep the buckets or bags properly sealed at all times and re-seal it as soon as possible after each batch is taken.
Also always test (and smell) your mixed water after 24 hours of mixing and before use, you never know when you may get a bad batch and of course if something seems odd double check.
BTW different salts have a distinct odor, RC salt smells different than others, it seems as if it has certain vitamin or chemical that others don't. In addition I get a bit more dirt (or clay?) from it than some others this is very noticeably if you heavily aerate the water and the skimming effects brings up that dirt.
Other times I noticed that salt settles in the bucket and I get different readings from the same bucket.
The best generic recommendation I can have and this not new and apply to any salt we use is to keep the buckets or bags properly sealed at all times and re-seal it as soon as possible after each batch is taken.
Also always test (and smell) your mixed water after 24 hours of mixing and before use, you never know when you may get a bad batch and of course if something seems odd double check.
BTW different salts have a distinct odor, RC salt smells different than others, it seems as if it has certain vitamin or chemical that others don't. In addition I get a bit more dirt (or clay?) from it than some others this is very noticeably if you heavily aerate the water and the skimming effects brings up that dirt.
StrategicReef
New member
Thanks, RC is on the clean side and I have used red sea coral prop which is refined from NSW in another country and it's got all sorts of sand, metal flakes I have seen at the bottom of the bucket, so I stopped using it because the RC was a bit cheaper too.
Wingsfan1477
New member
I to am having an issue with the RC salt. My Ca. is mixing at around 320-360 and the Alk is over 5.08 This is being tested with 3 different test kits and one from my LFS in town.
Ok, mixed up ~ 1G from a new bucket @ 1.026 and Ca is ~ 340! I can see one of two possibilities.
1) There are bad batches, which I also have one
2) It hasn't mixed long enough. This only mixed for 1 hr or so. I usually mix for 24hr before I use it. I'll test again in the morning.
3) I screwed up the test. I dont think so, and dont want to run another test till the morning.
1) There are bad batches, which I also have one
2) It hasn't mixed long enough. This only mixed for 1 hr or so. I usually mix for 24hr before I use it. I'll test again in the morning.
3) I screwed up the test. I dont think so, and dont want to run another test till the morning.
