AF Reef Salt, mg reading 1600+ppm

[goober]

I have also had high MG in the range of 1550-1600 since switching from reefers best to AF Probiotic salt and after reading a bunch of posts about the salt having high mag I tested my salt. I am getting readings of 1600+ from fresh made salt. Salt was purchased in november of 2017.

I guess my initial plans will be to dump and remake my component 3 with just mineral salt and no MG. I understand there is a low amount of MG added when making component 3 but with that high level of MG in my salt already the weekly water change will be more than enough.

I will also note that I just started dosing 123 a couple weeks ago and my MG has been high well before that so the increase was not due to balling 123.

 

[Perry]

FWIW,
I have used the Probiotic Salt, and now the Reef Salt, I have never seen any high levels with main minerals, if anything, I would say that I typically need to buffer both Ca and Mg after saltwater change. The levels for me in over 2 years have always been in range, none exceeding NSW values. I am not dismissing claims. and know that there were batches out there with accelerated levels at one point, but email them batch info, and they can work things out.

 

[Tommy's Reef]

Did af ever test your salt. My newest batch is super high I mag.

 

[BigJohnny]

curious to know as well. Also, did you mix the salt completely. I normally pour any brand of salt i get into an empty 5 gallon bucket then roll it around for a few mins. They tend to settle during shipping

 

[jhatfield]

More findings:

I made two new batches of water, with two different buckets of AquaForest Reef Salt. These were purchased pretty recently (they have the new lid and metal handles). Again, 1680ppm on my Red Sea test kit, and off the charts completely with my Salifert test kit.

I made sure my refractometer was calibrated with two different calibration solutions.

At least it's consistent. But it doesn't seem like this is isolated to one bucket. All three buckets I currently have, purchased over a 5 month period (give or take), all have 1680ppm magnesium in a newly mixed batch. I find it to be a pretty insane coincidence.

Anyone else use Aquaforest Reef Salt? Can you test your Mg with your next batch of salt?

Did af ever test your salt. My newest batch is super high I mag.

This has happened with various batches of AF salt last year. There should be a few threads reg. this going back a year or two. I had two separate batches/lots of AF salt from two different buckets both with high MG. Bulk Reef Supply refunded both with no problem.

Since I was just starting a new tank I didn't see any ill effects of elevated MG but I wanted to start out as stable as possible with no drama so I went with Red Sea reef salt- blue bucket.

 

[Perry]

New salt has ICP cross reference moving forward. I too heard of higher mineral concentration in the past. I personally have never had any levels that were reported. I guess I was lucky. I have been through at least 10 boxes of Probiotic, and 3-4 Reef, and if anything, I would say I need to buffer minerals.

 

[Tommy's Reef]

New salt has icp cross reference. What' that mean?

 

[Anirban]

New salt has icp cross reference. What' that mean?

It means all new batches of AF salts come with a ICP validated result. You can put your batch number in this link and cross check the icp result for your salt batch..

https://aquaforest.eu/en/icp-oes-results/

 

[Tommy's Reef]

Nice will do

 

[rob safron]

It’s pretty unlikely that the number of folks getting high mag results with hundreds of different test kits including myself could be wrong. I believe the salt is high in mag. Having said that I also believe in AF products and having mag in the 1500 range is not an issue so why fret about it. As others have said, you can reduce the amount of mag in your #3 bottle to compensate.

 

[Powder_Blue]

Every bucket I used for the last year was off the charts for mag. Therefore I have gone back to Red Sea blue bucket. I really liked the price and fast mixing but the lack of consistent parameters was unacceptable.

 

[BigJohnny]

It means all new batches of AF salts come with a ICP validated result. You can put your batch number in this link and cross check the icp result for your salt batch..

https://aquaforest.eu/en/icp-oes-results/

Thats pretty cool. nice job AF

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

AquaForest Reef Salt
Salinity: 1.026
Temp: 78F
Magnesium: 1600+ppm
RO/DI Water TDS: 0

That's in a newly mixed batch (within 1 hour of mixing).

It's too easy to blame the test kit. But I'm using a Red Sea test kit that came with the reef tests. I know it can read about 20-50ppm higher than other test kits, but this is way off. I consistently use 0.9ml of the titration fluid in both my display tank water and my newly mixed water. Two of my buckets read the same.

I'll get my water tested with other people and the LFS as well, but let's assume it's way higher than advertised, what can I do? I have three full buckets of AF Reef Salt that I can't use. Would AF refund me / replace the buckets?

Hi there, I am writing to you 2 years later with the same issue. I’ve read the entire thread, but couldn’t find a resolution. Was there one? Is the REDSEA Mg test kit off or is the Mg high (~1600)? My tests consistently = Mg 1600. Thx!

 

[kinetic]

Hi there, I am writing to you 2 years later with the same issue. I’ve read the entire thread, but couldn’t find a resolution. Was there one? Is the REDSEA Mg test kit off or is the Mg high (~1600)? My tests consistently = Mg 1600. Thx!

My resolution was to just never dose Mg. I just mix in reef minerals with my Component +2 (or 1? whichever Calcium is) and called it a day.

But over time, I realized my tank was suffering a lot, so I've since switched to just dosing ESV 2-part and not AF anymore, and things are doing so much better.

It's much easier to just dose what I need, and not worry about all the other stuff that Component 1, 2, and 3 had. With enough water changes, I feel like all those trace minerals were replaced just fine.

I still use AF salt, just because I like how it mixes, and I don't think it's really hurt to have over 1600ppm Mg, now that I think my tank is doing better after ditching Component 1, 2.

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

My resolution was to just never dose Mg. I just mix in reef minerals with my Component +2 (or 1? whichever Calcium is) and called it a day.

But over time, I realized my tank was suffering a lot, so I've since switched to just dosing ESV 2-part and not AF anymore, and things are doing so much better.

It's much easier to just dose what I need, and not worry about all the other stuff that Component 1, 2, and 3 had. With enough water changes, I feel like all those trace minerals were replaced just fine.

I still use AF salt, just because I like how it mixes, and I don't think it's really hurt to have over 1600ppm Mg, now that I think my tank is doing better after ditching Component 1, 2.

I’ve had a Nano 20 tank for 3+ years, it was nothing to write home about. I just built a 50 gallon REDSEA XL200 or, it built itself. I put pretty upscale equipment in it just because I could. Although, I researched everything down to excruciating detail before I purchased anything. My biggest goal is to have a tank where all of the little creatures thrive. I don’t want anything to perish because it really hurts me. All that being said, a lot of this is new to me. 50 gallons is definitely different than 20 gallons which is really only 18 gallons......not very big and very difficult to keep things healthy. Struggle is the word I would use for it. I’m glad I stumbled across your post about the Mg. I spent a few hours last night thinking that I had gone crazy using my new fangled test kit on my new and exciting tank. Thx for the info. Take care! JL

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

My resolution was to just never dose Mg. I just mix in reef minerals with my Component +2 (or 1? whichever Calcium is) and called it a day.

But over time, I realized my tank was suffering a lot, so I've since switched to just dosing ESV 2-part and not AF anymore, and things are doing so much better.

It's much easier to just dose what I need, and not worry about all the other stuff that Component 1, 2, and 3 had. With enough water changes, I feel like all those trace minerals were replaced just fine.

I still use AF salt, just because I like how it mixes, and I don't think it's really hurt to have over 1600ppm Mg, now that I think my tank is doing better after ditching Component 1, 2.

I think I’m gonna dose 1 & 2 and test and dose and test...then, make up my mind. I am dosing on a schedule Monday & Thursday. The other thing I’m gonna look into is the REDSEA Algae Management (Nitrate & Phosphate Control). Have you read any of REDSEA’s philosophy or, their Recipes? The guy who owns REDSEA is pretty smart. From his latest venture, it looks like he has some very serious investors...big money there. REDSEA’s documentation is nicely done for the most part. Back to pretending I’m a mad scientist.

 

[kinetic]

I went fully into AquaForest products, and it just got more and more complicated. They had these theories that just didn't add up. Like Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ were supposed to be dosed all at the same amount, and that your tank HAD to be using Ca/Alk/Mg at the same rate. If it wasn't, everyone would blame something like maturity or something else. I just think that's wrong. I believe I was dosing a high concentration of trace minerals and that was just killing everything.

Going back to the very simple basics seems to be working for me. Back when I had a very successful tank, all I did was do Natural Sea Water water changes every week. It thrived.

Lately I've given up the hype and the marketing, and am now back on weekly water changes with just 2 part dosing. Corals stopped dying, and have been growing back.

I can't say one way or another, but I've seen so many successful tanks that barely have a skimmer. I've also seen successful tanks that use about 100 different additives.

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

I went fully into AquaForest products, and it just got more and more complicated. They had these theories that just didn't add up. Like Component 1+, 2+, and 3+ were supposed to be dosed all at the same amount, and that your tank HAD to be using Ca/Alk/Mg at the same rate. If it wasn't, everyone would blame something like maturity or something else. I just think that's wrong. I believe I was dosing a high concentration of trace minerals and that was just killing everything.

Going back to the very simple basics seems to be working for me. Back when I had a very successful tank, all I did was do Natural Sea Water water changes every week. It thrived.

Lately I've given up the hype and the marketing, and am now back on weekly water changes with just 2 part dosing. Corals stopped dying, and have been growing back.

I can't say one way or another, but I've seen so many successful tanks that barely have a skimmer. I've also seen successful tanks that use about 100 different additives.

My water change process is not yet streamlined partially because my tank is so new (I started cycling in May) and I had surgery on my shoulder in June and I have the use of only one arm. I devised a pump and hose system using a 32 gallon garbage can, a 100 micron filter and my tap water which I tested and has no chemicals. I live in Seattle and our water is safe for our tanks here. I top off with RO, but I do use filtered heated tap water. How have you simplified your water changes so that you can do water changes weekly? Don’t you have a fairly large tank?

 

[kinetic]

Interesting, I would never use tap water. It's doubtful that there are no chemicals in the tap, even in Seattle. But sure, it could be harmless.

I use an RODI that's hooked up to my laundry machine's cold water input is. It makes about 75 gallons in a big stock tank I have, so it's on hand whenever I need it. It takes about 1.5 days to fill it back up with a RODI, so I do that every couple of months. It's easy, since there's a float valve in there so it stops the RODI with pressure when it's full.

To mix, I just get 5 gallons of RODI water, put two scoops of Reef Salt, drop a heater and small powerhead and let it sit for about 30 minutes. While I wait, i just go and use a scraper to get rid of algae, clean the skimmer, and then pull out 5 gallons of water. Then I get the mixed 5 and pour it in. Pretty easy.

It all takes about 30 minutes, sometimes less.

My tank is small, only a Reefer 170, so total water is about 40 gallons, display is closer to 32ish.

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

Interesting, I would never use tap water. It's doubtful that there are no chemicals in the tap, even in Seattle. But sure, it could be harmless.

I use an RODI that's hooked up to my laundry machine's cold water input is. It makes about 75 gallons in a big stock tank I have, so it's on hand whenever I need it. It takes about 1.5 days to fill it back up with a RODI, so I do that every couple of months. It's easy, since there's a float valve in there so it stops the RODI with pressure when it's full.

To mix, I just get 5 gallons of RODI water, put two scoops of Reef Salt, drop a heater and small powerhead and let it sit for about 30 minutes. While I wait, i just go and use a scraper to get rid of algae, clean the skimmer, and then pull out 5 gallons of water. Then I get the mixed 5 and pour it in. Pretty easy.

It all takes about 30 minutes, sometimes less.

My tank is small, only a Reefer 170, so total water is about 40 gallons, display is closer to 32ish.

I see. I have almost the same tank, only a newer version. It’s a REDSEA XL200, it’s total 53 gallons/47 gallons display. I like doing bigger water changes closer to 40%. I do 40% - 50% water changes on my freshwater tanks every 2 weeks on the 40 gallon and every 10 days or so on my 20 gallon freshwater tank. I have big, gnarly canister filters on my freshwater tanks. There’s an interesting piece of reading I’ll send you on water changes in general, I gotta find the link. I’ve been reading about it trying to figure out the approach I want to take. Even in the short time that I have been dosing with Ca and KH, I find the levels are going up and down too erratically. Consistency is always better even if it’s not perfect, I think.