I/O Reef Crystal

[Blue Spot Octopus]

So I bought a bucket of I/O Reef Crystal I usually use I/O normal stuff. So I made about 30 gallons of SW and I went to open it again and the first 3 inches were concrete hard, I had to use a big hammer and pry bar to loosen it up. It has not rained and the bucket is outside.
First question: Is the salt still good?
Second: Why does RC do that and regular stuff does not?
Thanks in advance

 

[Bryn]

From my experience the salt from a salinity point is still good, but I found it precipitated out more, so needed to does my SW to the levels I wanted.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Thank you I will continue to use it and move the bucket indoors for now on.

 

[blasterman]

I've had bags of salt turn as hard as cinder blocks with no issues. I would rather have that than anti coag agents added. Water just takes a bit longer to mix. I also use IO.

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

The biggest issue with bricked salt mix is the calcium and alkalinity, and maybe magnesium. The other elements in our salt mix do not tend to combine when the mix gets wet. As long as you dose you test and adjust the alkalinity, magnesium and calcium, you should be fine.

Reef Crystals does contain organics and amino acids that could potentially spoil if they get wet and dry out again. I'd double check for ammonia before using.