New Saltwater Deficient in Some Parameters

[Littlesquishy]

Hey guys, so i've been mixing new saltwater and assumed parameters were all good. I found out yesterday that it isn't. My magnesium in the new saltwater turned out to be 1050 ppm. The calcium levels were 375 ppm. Alk was okay it was 8.7 dkH. The s.g. was 1.025. How do you guys remedy this problem? Dose any parameter up to level or mix the salt bucket? If you do mix the salt bucket how do you do it?

 

[Reefahholic]

Hey guys, so i've been mixing new saltwater and assumed parameters were all good. I found out yesterday that it isn't. My magnesium in the new saltwater turned out to be 1050 ppm. The calcium levels were 375 ppm. Alk was okay it was 8.7 dkH. The s.g. was 1.025. How do you guys remedy this problem? Dose any parameter up to level or mix the salt bucket? If you do mix the salt bucket how do you do it?

First of all, you need to start out with a quality salt that has a guaranteed analysis.

Secondly, you can dose back the elements individually.

 

[Waters]

My salt mix (Red Sea Blue) mixes up to the parameters that I stick with other than Mg. I add additional Mg directly into my water change water weekly.

 

[Snoopy 67]

To mix a bucket of salt you roll it on the floor & tip it frequently.

 

[Uncle99]

Hey guys, so i've been mixing new saltwater and assumed parameters were all good. I found out yesterday that it isn't. My magnesium in the new saltwater turned out to be 1050 ppm. The calcium levels were 375 ppm. Alk was okay it was 8.7 dkH. The s.g. was 1.025. How do you guys remedy this problem? Dose any parameter up to level or mix the salt bucket? If you do mix the salt bucket how do you do it?

I’d mix up a second batch to 1.025, wait 24 hours, then test again to see if those initial results hold.

Whenever I get weird numbers, I retest first.

If the salt you use has MG at that number, I’d change salts. You would have to dose up the MG in your salt and that would be quite expensive. CA is not far out.

Check that MG number, I’ve never seen lower than 1150ppm.

 

[ptrusk]

Might be s.g. is actually lower than 1.025. I suggest you verify that before making any additions.

 

[Littlesquishy]

I finished mixing a new batch of saltwater this time I added about half of the salt from reef crystals that I have laying around. I plan to test later today and see what kind of numbers I get for alk, magnesium, and calcium. I do know its 1.025 s.g overnight. If it doesn't increase 8 hours from now i'm going to consider it done mixing. If any of the three are deficient i'll dose it.

 

[Littlesquishy]

Might be s.g. is actually lower than 1.025. I suggest you verify that before making any additions.

I'll check the glass hydrometer I have against the refractometer. Its been consistent so far.

 

[rtparty]

All of your parameters are quite low for Reef Crystals which says your salinity is actually low. You need to recalibrate your refractometer and have it checked by a third party such as a local store or hobbyist.

If you are using “scoops” as your measurement, stop. This is highly inaccurate and inconsistent. Weigh your salt. A cheap kitchen scale works wonders. It’s roughly 161grams per gallon of water for RC.

All of your numbers are 20-25% low. Suggesting your actual salinity is 1.020 or so. Adding 20% to each value you listed, puts you pretty close to what RC should be.

 

[Littlesquishy]

All of your parameters are quite low for Reef Crystals which says your salinity is actually low. You need to recalibrate your refractometer and have it checked by a third party such as a local store or hobbyist.

If you are using “scoops” as your measurement, stop. This is highly inaccurate and inconsistent. Weigh your salt. A cheap kitchen scale works wonders. It’s roughly 161grams per gallon of water for RC.

All of your numbers are 20-25% low. Suggesting your actual salinity is 1.020 or so. Adding 20% to each value you listed, puts you pretty close to what RC should be.

I'll see if I have a scale around the house to use. I use a measuring cup because I wanted an estimate of the amount of salt I need. It was convenient for me to keep the measuring cup in the bin versus buying more stuff to mix salt. I always test s.g. before I use so I didn't think it mattered which approach I used.

I think there is merit now in mixing with a scale because I would have noticed my refractometer would be off. I do use instant ocean as my default choice not reef crystal. I used a blend of instant ocean and instant reef for the second time making new saltwater to supplement the potential for deficient parameters. Do you know what the parameters mix up to for instant ocean?

In hindsight, I'll tumble my salt bucket before use. I thought a couple of tumbles at the beginning would be satisfactory for a "well mixed" bucket of salt mix. Any suggestions to avoid damaging the bucket or avoid the lid to the bucket from accidentally opening?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I finished mixing a new batch of saltwater this time I added about half of the salt from reef crystals that I have laying around. I plan to test later today and see what kind of numbers I get for alk, magnesium, and calcium. I do know its 1.025 s.g overnight. If it doesn't increase 8 hours from now i'm going to consider it done mixing. If any of the three are deficient i'll dose it.

Far more likely than magnesium below 1100 ppm at sg = 1.025 or higher (ocean average is 1.0264) is test error for magnesium.

 

[rtparty]

I'll see if I have a scale around the house to use. I use a measuring cup because I wanted an estimate of the amount of salt I need. It was convenient for me to keep the measuring cup in the bin versus buying more stuff to mix salt. I always test s.g. before I use so I didn't think it mattered which approach I used.

I think there is merit now in mixing with a scale because I would have noticed my refractometer would be off. I do use instant ocean as my default choice not reef crystal. I used a blend of instant ocean and instant reef for the second time making new saltwater to supplement the potential for deficient parameters. Do you know what the parameters mix up to for instant ocean?

In hindsight, I'll tumble my salt bucket before use. I thought a couple of tumbles at the beginning would be satisfactory for a "well mixed" bucket of salt mix. Any suggestions to avoid damaging the bucket or avoid the lid to the bucket from accidentally opening?

The Ultimate Salt Test

I wanted to get this thread up and going before the holidays soak up all my time. I did a live YouTube with Deven from ReefDudes going over things but it is about 1.5 hours long. I will write up a more detailed explanation here in this first post soon. I am a hobbyist first and foremost. I have...

www.reef2reef.com

I tested quite a fews salts in the above thread. Couple salts tested odd (Reef Crystals and low alkalinity being one but the ICP matched my home test.) Anyway, you can see regular IO there plus many others.

 

[UtahReefer]

What kind of salt was this? There are many good salts on the market. I use AF Reef salt for two reasons. 1) It mixes up quick and clear (15 minutes) with no residue in my container and is ready to use. 2) Every bucket has a batch number on it. You can go to their site and in the menu you will see "Check Your Salt". Put the batch number in and you'll see the ICP test results of your actual batch mixed at 35ppt. When I've tested it myself the results have been either very close to their ICP results or spot on.

 

[Littlesquishy]

I checked my refractometer and measured distilled water. The read was zero. I re-calibrated with distilled water. I read the reef tank water and it turned out to be 33 ppt after multiple tests. So I am bringing up the salinity to 35 ppt slowly. The total amount of salt I need is 759 grams according to Hamza reef direct salt addition calculate. I divided up the salt into four doses to allow the tank to adjust. I'll see how things react a couple of weeks from now.

@UtahReefer Its instant ocean. I think the low parameters was from bad readings. The well of the refractometer had some salt flakes so that elevated results.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I checked my refractometer and measured distilled water. The read was zero. I re-calibrated with distilled water. I read the reef tank water and it turned out to be 33 ppt after multiple tests. So I am bringing up the salinity to 35 ppt slowly. The total amount of salt I need is 759 grams according to Hamza reef direct salt addition calculate. I divided up the salt into four doses to allow the tank to adjust. I'll see how things react a couple of weeks from now.

@UtahReefer Its instant ocean. I think the low parameters was from bad readings. The well of the refractometer had some salt flakes so that elevated results.

I would also caution that calibrating refractometers with pure fresh water often inherently results in incorrect readings, and using an accurately made 35 pot standard is a good way to deal with these issues.

 

[Littlesquishy]

I would also caution that calibrating refractometers with pure fresh water often inherently results in incorrect readings, and using an accurately made 35 pot standard is a good way to deal with these issues.

The electronic refractometer from milwaukee says to calibrate using zero water in the manual. I did not specify I was using an electronic refractometer from milwaukee. The equipment seems to be working properly after thoroughly cleaning the well from dry salt flakes. My fritz calibration fluid gives me 36 ppt on the refractometer which is weird. Planning to go my trusted lfs today to get it sorted out.

I think the salt mix separated a bit from not being shaken up enough before adding it to RODI water. With the separaion of ingredients in salt leading to inadequate parameters to the new saltwater. I'll simply dose them up to parameter. I have a stash of calcium chloride dihydrate (10lb), kalk, and premade magnesium to dose. I plan to refer to your old articles to make the proper concentrations.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The electronic refractometer from milwaukee says to calibrate using zero water in the manual. I did not specify I was using an electronic refractometer from milwaukee. The equipment seems to be working properly after thoroughly cleaning the well from dry salt flakes. My fritz calibration fluid gives me 36 ppt on the refractometer which is weird. Planning to go my trusted lfs today to get it sorted out.

I think the salt mix separated a bit from not being shaken up enough before adding it to RODI water. With the separaion of ingredients in salt leading to inadequate parameters to the new saltwater. I'll simply dose them up to parameter. I have a stash of calcium chloride dihydrate (10lb), kalk, and premade magnesium to dose. I plan to refer to your old articles to make the proper concentrations.

Bear in mind the Milwaukee has large error bars associated with it.

You are right the Milwaukee forces calibration with fresh water, and unlike most refractometers sold to hobbyists, it claims to be a true seawater refractometer that can be calibrated this way. That said, it is still a good practice to check it with a 35 ppt standard otherwise you have to assume it was manufactured perfectly, which maybe it was and maybe it wasn’t.