I bought a large box of salt, which I have slowly used over the past 2 years. I emptied one bag into a sealed air-tight food container. I've noticed that the salt has become one large brick, very difficult to break apart. What causes the salt to harden and form like this? Is there any way to prevent this from happening, and make sure it stays loose? I have trouble breaking it up.
Breaking up Salt
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xxkenny90xx
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That's from moisture getting into the "sealed" container. I recommend in the future keeping the salt in the bag (hopefully it's resealable) and putting the bag into the sealed container.
((FORDTECH))
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Honestly have only ever had this issue with instant ocean and reef crystals. Garbage salt and stopped using it long time ago
xxkenny90xx
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I once received a whole box of unopened hardened Kent salt. IO and reef crystals I've never had an issue with (and will never as long as they're stored correctly). What makes these salts garbage? It's salt, same as all the other brands...
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I have had this with several kinds of salt. As @xxkenny90xx said it’s from moisture getting into the container. It doesn’t take much! I try to keep my salt dry by keeping it in its bag then keeping it in a 5g bucket with a screw on lid.
((FORDTECH))
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The brown crud that is left in my mixing station after only couple weeks. And if you think all salt is the same please do more research
xxkenny90xx
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@Randy Holmes-Farley has commented on that thoroughly, its not anything to worry about. And correct me if I'm wrong but from what I remember regular instant ocean doesn't leave the brown residue, just RC
xxkenny90xx
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Oh and all salt is the same (with the exception of one brand that is made in a lab. Only difference is the added trace elements
((FORDTECH))
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I wish I took pictures to show you how much usta float on top while salt was fully mixed. And you can’t tell me that the brown crud does not make it into display Tank because it has to. I have 100 gallon mixing containers that every 6 months I had to disassemble and then buy 10 gallons of vinigar to clean. It was a 3 day process. Now I use tropic Marin pro for o we a year and my container is as clean as it was on day one.
((FORDTECH))
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How can you say all salt is the same and then end of the sentence with the exception is the added trace elements that seems pretty large to me
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
I've used IO for decades and never had any issues with it.
Let's keep the thread on topic.
I've seen this "bricking" with a lot of salts. Heat and moisture from storage before selling in warehouses can cause this. Even though some salt is in boxes sealed with plastic bags, moisture can form in the form of condensation.
As long a a "bricked" bag of salt tests okay for alkalinity, magnesium and calcium when hydrated with water, it should be okay to use. If not, don't use it.
As others have stated, keep any opened bag of salt in a bucket with a tight sealed lid and you should be good.
melanotaenia
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As someone who has used different salts for over 20 years and currently uses Tropic Marin Pro Reef, I can say that this statement is 100% false.
Flippers4pups
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Once again, please keep the thread on topic. thanks!
xxkenny90xx
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Feel free to start a new thread and we can debate it!
((FORDTECH))
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Thank you
So I'll start by agreeing that bricking is due to water vapor getting into the salt. It's harmless, but can cause some calcium carbonate precipitate IME. That little bit of stuff that never dissolves, and supplementation may be needed to restore it.
Second, not all salts are the same except trace elements. The calcium, magnesium, and carbonate can vary between products/brands. There are many resources online that post these concentrations, but they are sometimes difficult to find depending on the search terms.
Third, I have used Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals for years and had great success. I think they are perfectly fine, though others can be too. I dose many things, but I have also had people tell me that some of the premium brands do not work as well for them. For instance, a former LFS manager/boss (an LFS that had people come from other states and has been in business for over 30 years) told me that he preferred to mix 50/50 Instant Ocean and Red Sea Coral Pro because the latter had too many nutrients in his experience. He has a significant amount of high-end and/or celebrity clients, so his experience is noteworthy at the least imo.
Second, not all salts are the same except trace elements. The calcium, magnesium, and carbonate can vary between products/brands. There are many resources online that post these concentrations, but they are sometimes difficult to find depending on the search terms.
Third, I have used Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals for years and had great success. I think they are perfectly fine, though others can be too. I dose many things, but I have also had people tell me that some of the premium brands do not work as well for them. For instance, a former LFS manager/boss (an LFS that had people come from other states and has been in business for over 30 years) told me that he preferred to mix 50/50 Instant Ocean and Red Sea Coral Pro because the latter had too many nutrients in his experience. He has a significant amount of high-end and/or celebrity clients, so his experience is noteworthy at the least imo.
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