Live Aquaria salt smell funny?

[XNavyDiver]

I'm not really familiar with the salt the OP is talking about, but I'm on my 2nd box of Fritz, and I've never smelled anything remotely "organic" about it (what ever that means). I'm almost positive that Fritz is not a "pro-biotic" salt. I'm not even sure what that means really. Is that in the sense like a live cultured yogurt? Live bacteria?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not really familiar with the salt the OP is talking about, but I'm on my 2nd box of Fritz, and I've never smelled anything remotely "organic" about it (what ever that means). I'm almost positive that Fritz is not a "pro-biotic" salt. I'm not even sure what that means really. Is that in the sense like a live cultured yogurt? Live bacteria?

Probiotic means different things to different people, probably depending on what they are selling.

Google says it means:

"denoting a substance that stimulates the growth of microorganisms, especially those with beneficial properties (such as those of the intestinal flora)."

Which in an appropriate context might mean any of dozens of inorganic chemicals normally in a salt mix, or organic molecules they they could feed on (like ethanol or sugar).

But the home human supplement industry uses the term to mean actual bacteria. From dictionary.com:

noun
1.
a usually dairy food or a dietary supplement containing live bacteriathat replace or add to the beneficial bacteria normally present in thegastrointestinal tract.
2.
a bacterium in such a food or dietary supplement.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Probiotic means different things to different people, probably depending on what they are selling.

Google says it means:

"denoting a substance that stimulates the growth of microorganisms, especially those with beneficial properties (such as those of the intestinal flora)."

Which in an appropriate context might mean any of dozens of inorganic chemicals normally in a salt mix, or organic molecules they they could feed on (like ethanol or sugar).

But the home human supplement industry uses the term to mean actual bacteria. From dictionary.com:

noun
1.
a usually dairy food or a dietary supplement containing live bacteriathat replace or add to the beneficial bacteria normally present in thegastrointestinal tract.
2.
a bacterium in such a food or dietary supplement.

Lol. Gut probs here.
Most pro biotica are either Bactria or something Bactria feeds on well. I'm most cases when you read into it , it's good bread and fruits and vegetables.

It didn't make sense that an organic would be used in a salt mix just due to spoilage concerns.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It didn't make sense that an organic would be used in a salt mix just due to spoilage concerns.

I certainly don't prefer them, but some brands do add organics.

Tropic Marin Bioactif adds "organic polymers" and Reef Crystals adds vitamins.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I certainly don't prefer them, but some brands do add organics.

Tropic Marin Bioactif adds "organic polymers" and Reef Crystals adds vitamins.

Thank you.

So a smell from a salt mix dry could indicate rot and spoilage in some brands.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thank you.

So a smell from a salt mix dry could indicate rot and spoilage in some brands.

It could, but one wouldn't normally expect bacteria could grow in dry salt mix, only after it is dissolved.

A different possibility is that one of the ingredients is breaking down abiotically, perhaps an impurity in one of the ingredients. Or maybe a wrong ingredient was added.

I'm not certain what the smell is chemically, so its hard to speculate too usefully, but maybe something was added as the sulfide salt when it was supposed to be a sulfate salt. That would be a huge problem if it was a big time ingredient such as magnesium sulfate, but maybe not so bad if it was a trace element at very low concentration to begin with. Something like manganese sulfide instead of manganese sulfate.

 

[Roggio]

I bought the Live Aquaria so when they had a special. $25 for a 50 pound bag and you got a $25 gift certificate and you could stack promo codes on that. Needless to say I'm going to be using the salt for a long time. The only downside is Dr. Foster's doesn't sell a lot of products I like so my huge credit with them can only really go towards salt. I have had a lot of success with this song and see a big improvement over reef crystals. The next you're typically mixes with and alkalinity of about 8. It must contain some trace elements or some other type of additives as well because after a water change everything seems to perk up quite a bit. I have never smelled a fowl smell and my nose is extremely sensitive.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It could, but one wouldn't normally expect bacteria could grow in dry salt mix, only after it is dissolved.

A different possibility is that one of the ingredients is breaking down abiotically, perhaps an impurity in one of the ingredients. Or maybe a wrong ingredient was added.

I'm not certain what the smell is chemically, so its hard to speculate too usefully, but maybe something was added as the sulfide salt when it was supposed to be a sulfate salt. That would be a huge problem if it was a big time ingredient such as magnesium sulfate, but maybe not so bad if it was a trace element at very low concentration to begin with. Something like manganese sulfide instead of manganese sulfate.

Thank you.

 

[Fishhands]

I think i may have an answer to help... i use Brightwell neo marine and on the label it states:"may have a sulphurous odor at first; this is a result of the use of anhydrous MgCl2 and will dissipate." Hope this helps.

 

[Violetdasy]

I would not use or put anything in my tank that smell like rot. someone on here said fritz is not good salt I don't know. that's why I use redsea im not interested in a totally man made salt mix

Not sure why we would assume that? Do they say it somewhere?

Do they sell more than one mix?

They do not claim it on their web site:

https://fritzaquatics.com/product/rpm-reef-pro-mix/

• Complete Professional Marine Salt Mix for Reef or Fish Only Systems
• Contains All Essential Major, Minor & Trace Elements
• Enhanced Buffer Levels; Reaches a Stable pH Shortly After Mixing
• Enhanced Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium Levels
• Nitrate, Phosphate & Ammonia Free

Fritz ProAquatics Reef Pro Mix (RPM) is manufactured using only the highest quality raw materials. Formulated by researchers and marine scientists, RPM contains all of the necessary major and minor elements of natural sea water that are utilized by living marine and reef animals. Correct pH and buffering capacity, essential minerals and trace elements have been added in precise ratios to ensure a correctly blended mix for the health and longevity of your livestock.

 

[Violetdasy]

if live aquaria is using this salt I will stop buying from them................sad

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would not use or put anything in my tank that smell like rot. someone on here said fritz is not good salt I don't know. that's why I use redsea im not interested in a totally man made salt mix

I wouldn't either, but maybe the "rot" is a little dead fish in evaporated salt.

kind of makes you want to have a chemist weighing out the ingredients.

 

[Violetdasy]

I wouldn't either, but maybe the "rot" is a little dead fish in evaporated salt.

kind of makes you want to have a chemist weighing out the ingredients.

heck give me the ingredients and ill make it myself

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think i may have an answer to help... i use Brightwell neo marine and on the label it states:"may have a sulphurous odor at first; this is a result of the use of anhydrous MgCl2 and will dissipate." Hope this helps.

Anhydrous magnesium chloride is odorless.

Either they use a grade with impurities in it, or they got the chemical name wrong and they mean something else.

 

[Violetdasy]

If your referring to my statement, I didn't say Fritz was bad I just don't use that box of salt if it smells when I open, I bought bulk load from supply chain , and boxes might set for a good time, there bags are not sealed, sometimes it's hard when I open bag, sometimes it smells like rotten eggs , most of the time it's ok..it seems the smelly boxes are dirtier than the "normal " ones. 20 bucks a box I can throw it away..

dose not sound very consistent which is what we want in a reef

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If your referring to my statement, I didn't say Fritz was bad I just don't use that box of salt if it smells when I open, I bought bulk load from supply chain , and boxes might set for a good time, there bags are not sealed, sometimes it's hard when I open bag, sometimes it smells like rotten eggs , most of the time it's ok..it seems the smelly boxes are dirtier than the "normal " ones. 20 bucks a box I can throw it away..

What do you mean by dirtier? Discolored?

 

[Potatohead]

LA salt is likely repackaged Fritz. It has the same parameters and the packaging (aside from the actual graphics) is exactly the same.

I do not believe Fritz has any organics in it.

 

[Roggio]

LA salt is likely repackaged Fritz. It has the same parameters and the packaging (aside from the actual graphics) is exactly the same.

I do not believe Fritz has any organics in it.

I keep hearing this but haven't heard any kind of creditable reasoning. The parameters are simply those desired.

 

[DracoKat]

Wow, lots of reading here!

I started to test the water to see what's up, then I saw the salinity was up 1.030. I could've sworn I had it at 1.025 when I mixed it. maybe I didn't mix it properly.

I am going to reduce it, maybe too high of salinity caused the smell? not sure but it's pretty high.

 

[DracoKat]

I smelled the tank again, and it does smell like Sulphur. I'd say that's a more accurate description of the smell