[Potatohead]

Originally Posted by Aquaforest

All batches available in USA and other countries are good. The Problem was fixed immediately. You can buy salt without worries. We are in touch with distributors, stores, dealers all the time. Unfortunately - most problems with parameters that we have seen on the forums are showing problems with measuring by home tests kits. If someone has problems with our salt - tests kits are showing higher/lower results than in Quality Certificate - please contact us and send us a sample of the salt . In order for us to see what your situation maybe then we need to have salt to test it. We are talking about parameters/numbers but we didn’t get a sample of salt to test it on ICP-OES spectrometer.

About our Quality CertificatesAquaforest products are manufactured in the EU under strict laboratory supervision to meet the highest quality standards. Each product is prepared from carefully selected raw components in quantities proven to yield consistent composition.

How is our Marine Salt product range tested?
We mix our Marine Salt in 1 metric tonne (2204lb) batches, and 3 separate samples per batch are collected during the production stage for testing. Each of these samples is dissolved in 15 litres (4US gal) of RO water. Our experienced team of professionals perform ICP-OES analysis to verify that the chemical composition is within consistent range, and to rule out the presence of unwanted contaminants at the same time.
Note:
Even though our salt is thoroughly mixed, not every bucket/box will be identical. The parameters can vary slightly between containers and around a 2-3% variation is acceptable. This fluctuation is a result of both physical properties of the mix and the limitations of the processing techniques available.
These variations are still smaller than the typical margin for error for popular hobbyist test kits.

How to identify the Batch number of my Aquaforest Salt?
Labels displaying Batch numbers are present in 2 locations:
On the outside of the bucket or cardboard box
Inside the packaging (e.g. on the inside of the bucket lid or cardboard box)


Sometimes my home tests show different parameters to those stated on the label. Why?
There are no hobbyist test kits available on the market that are able to measure small discrepancies with 100% accuracy. Variations of parameters are typically still smaller than the acceptable error of the test kits available, and therefore there is little chance of a negative impact on aquarium life.

How to prepare salt for testing?
We recommend to prepare at least 15 litres (4 US gal) of saltwater.
Mix your RO water with 585g (20.63oz) of salt, and perform the test at least 2 hours after fully dissolved. Always check the salinity in which the test was made, as this will influence the measured parameters. A salinity refractometer is recommended, together with a calibration fluid.
*Note that salinity readings also depend on the temperature. Please check your salinity at 20°C (68°F).

If you detect a small difference in parameters between your tank and the salt, the impact is also minor.
For example if you make the typical recommended 10% water change, the change in parameters of your tank will only be 10% of the difference.

If the Calcium level in your aquarium is 430ppm and the water change water is 450ppm, the difference is 20ppm. But as you are actually only changing 10% of aquarium volume, 10% of that 20ppm is only 2ppm. Changing water this way, with that discrepancy, would only result in a difference of 2ppm of Calcium. That’s 0.5%.

E.g.
Tank Ca = 430ppm
New salt water Ca=450ppm
The difference: 450-430 =20ppm
Estimated impact: 10% *20 =2
Tank Ca after change will be 432ppm

That difference (Ca - 2ppm) should be consumed in few hours.

Regards,
Aquaforest

I'm sure we can all do math, you are missing the point. If you tell me the salt mixes from 410 - 440 I don't want to test it and find it's 480. That gives me no confidence in the product. Do you guys not keep samples of each batch? You should be, so why do you need people to send salt in? This is just odd. Your stance seems to be it's user error, but I have a hard time believing home test kits and basic refractometers are an issue when other salts check out fine and many people online report the same findings. If ten people test mag at 1500 I have a hard time believing it's actually at 1300. Why are you publishing these numbers at 33 ppt anyway, 95% of reefers with hard corals are keeping higher salinity than that.

I switched away from AF salt about six months ago, my own testing revealed parameters that I just wasn't happy with. I would rather have parameters too low and adjust them in my mixing container before doing a water change and I am sure many people would agree. With calcium and/or mag too high there is not much you can do. I did consider using sea salt instead but I can't find any information online about whether or not it contains the same type of trace elements as the reef salt necessary for hard coral health, so I just switched back to what I was using before. If I had more confidence in the parameters I would use the salt because I was happy with it in other areas.