Reef Crystals - The results are in...

[SPStoner]

Originally posted by midas blenny
i called io when this salt first came out and told them they had problems. never got a call back. plus the smell of the salt made me worry smelled like a doctors office or just smelled weird compared to other salts. i have great colored acros but when i started using this salt i lost all my digis and did not hurt the acros or plating montis at all so i swithched back to regular io. i can only keep digis in very low light right now we will see.

Your profle says you have 7 years of hobby experience. This salt has been out for close to 20 years.


By the way, that smell you are talking about is the vitamins they add to the salt.

[Sparty00]

What does manufacturer say the Calcium level be for a new mix of Reef Crystals at the following level.

SG. 1.026 35ppt.
Temp 78

Thanks !

[bdare]

420

[Sparty00]

Thanks BDare. So if I am getting 400 then I should be concerned and send a test amount to manufacturer?

[jpndave]

Your test kit could be off that much easily, either the Ca test or salinity or a combination of the two. I have 5 buckets all from DFS and all testing low. Two buckets about 1yr old test between 55 and 80 depending on bucket and test kit. The others are from Nov 07 and test about 250 (calcium). They were tested multiple times with both a Seachem and Salifert kit, salinity was verified by two different brand refractometers, both the same. The Seachem and Salifert kits were verified with a test solution and both were testing slightly low (showing 420-425 with a 437 solution). Personally I would think 400 is close enough and woud be thrilled if my buckets were even remotely close to that.

Needless to say, I will be on the phone today. Thanks to all for posting their results here. It has helped out a lot to answer my low Ca & Mg levels and coral problems.

Dave

[Mr. Ugly]

Retested one of my most recent buckets. I'd gotten 900ppm Mg on a quick and dirty test, so thought it might have been an error.

The retest showed:

Alk 4.6 meq/L
Ca 360 ppm
Mg 860 ppm

Some of my friends are also seeing 900ppm on Mg with their salt.

[Billybeau1]

I have a bag (not bucket ) of RC and it is running about 1290 on the mag which is the RC I used to know. 420 cal too. @1.0264

I agree 400 is nothing more than test noise, but I would be concerned about the low magnesium.

[raynist]

FWIW, I just tested a 5 gallon batch I just made. I will have to check the exact purchase date on my email receipt. The last time I ordered I ordered 3 buckets from DFS and I am about half way through my last bucket. I suspect I purchased them around October 2007.

Here are my results using salifert kits

35ppt SG
78 degrees

CA - 410
MG - 1250
KH - 12.5 dkh

I also mix the salt (dry) into a different bucket when I open them. I noticed on this last bucket that the lid was not on tight. I barely had to hit it to unscrew it.

--Ray

BTW, has anyone received a good bucket from DFS lately?

[Billybeau1]

Those numbers are close to what I would expect from RC.

How you measured s.g. is the key. This affects calcium and magnesium quite a bit.

[raynist]

Originally posted by raynist
FWIW, I just tested a 5 gallon batch I just made. I will have to check the exact purchase date on my email receipt. The last time I ordered I ordered 3 buckets from DFS and I am about half way through my last bucket. I suspect I purchased them around October 2007.

Here are my results using salifert kits

35ppt SG
78 degrees

CA - 410
MG - 1250
KH - 12.5 dkh

I also mix the salt (dry) into a different bucket when I open them. I noticed on this last bucket that the lid was not on tight. I barely had to hit it to unscrew it.

--Ray

BTW, has anyone received a good bucket from DFS lately?

I checked my receipt and I ordered these from DFS on 9/7/07.

---Ray

[midas blenny]

Originally posted by SPStoner
Your profle says you have 7 years of hobby experience. This salt has been out for close to 20 years.


By the way, that smell you are talking about is the vitamins they add to the salt.

said that wrong lol

[masonicman]

bdare

I noticed the RC salt mixing issue when doing water changes. I've been addind more RC salt to get 1.025 on my pin point. CA is 380 as tonight. I thought my meter was bad. I just thought I was doing something wrong.

How much of a sample is to be sent? and what do I send the sample in? zip lock bag, container etc. etc.

[bdare]

You only need to send 1/2 cup of salt in double zip locked bags.

You can send it to:
Gershwin Asari
Quality Control
Aquarium Systems/Instant Ocean
8141 Tyler Blvd.
Mentor, Ohio 44060

I would include a note as to why you are sending the salt and your contact information.

You can also call:
(800)822-1100 Ext. 3901

or email: info@aquariumsystems.com


I recieved my replacement salt earlier this week. To be honest, I haven't tested it, but I'm pretty sure it will come out right

[masonicman]

thanks

[masonicman]

Bdare

Where can I find this info.

What does manufacturer say the Calcium level be for a new mix of Reef Crystals at the following level. Basically where can I find mixing info. on the web. I remember seeing it before. can't find now

SG. 1.026 35ppt.
Temp 78

Also how much RC per gal will give me a 1.026 salinity

[bdare]

The levels should be pretty close to Ca: 420 / Alk: 11 / Mg: 1250

When I do water changes I usually do it 5 gallons at a time. A little more than 2.5 cups usually gets me to 1.026, but someone else said 3/4 of a cup per gallon. I tend to think it's somewhere in the middle.

[masonicman]

OK. I have be following that process also with five gallons at 2.5 cups. salinity a little lower then 1.026 though.

[masonicman]

What should my tank mag parameter be for fish and soft corals?

[bdare]

Originally posted by masonicman
What should my tank mag parameter be for fish and soft corals?

Mg is not as important for just fish and soft corals. It is helpful to keep it up however if you want to grow coraline. 1250-1350 is a good target.

[masonicman]

What if it's a little higher like 1395?

[bdare]

No harm. Right no in my tank it's at 1410.

[masonicman]

Good deal. It seems after about a good year with this tank my numbers are now staying within the proper ranges.

[masonicman]

Preparing my shipping package and letter today at work. I will be shipping my salt sample off tomorrow. Do i need to email Asari first?

[ReefDreamz]

Just tested a fresh batch of RC
All test kits salifert
SG.=1.027 Temp=72

Ca=400
Alk=12.6
Mg=1260

[bdare]

Does anyone worry about the high alk in RC burning thier Acros?