Phosphate in Brightwell NeoMarine

[Adamantium]

I’m perplexed. The BRS website states that NeoMarine has no detectable phosphates at normal reef salinity levels. I just mixed up a batch at 35 PPT, and am getting a reading of .32 PPM. I even did the test multiple times to make sure this wasn’t an erroneous reading.

Has anyone else seen this before?

 

[MnFish1]

I’m perplexed. The BRS website states that NeoMarine has no detectable phosphates at normal reef salinity levels. I just mixed up a batch at 35 PPT, and am getting a reading of .32 PPM. I even did the test multiple times to make sure this wasn’t an erroneous reading.

Has anyone else seen this before?

Did you double check the test?
Did you check your RODI water?
to answer your question - no.

 

[Adamantium]

Did you double check the test?
Did you check your RODI water?
to answer your question - no.

As mentioned, I did the test multiple times, yup. Always .32, or close to it.

RODI came out to 0.0.

So confusing. BRS customer service is saying that all salts have some phosphates, and I can use GFO to remove it, but their own website says it should be undetectable. .32 PPM is hardly undetectable.

 

[MnFish1]

As mentioned, I did the test multiple times, yup. Always .32, or close to it.

RODI came out to 0.0.

So confusing. BRS customer service is saying that all salts have some phosphates, and I can use GFO to remove it, but their own website says it should be undetectable. .32 PPM is hardly undetectable.

This is why I asked you - did you shake up the bucket quite a bit before adding to your water. You have to mix up the whole salt bucket before adding it to water. My guess is its totally insignificant. I have never had problems with Brightwell neomarine. My suggestion - I would call the company. BTW - also - a test can come out as 0 on a test - but mis-measure when the result is .5. Take for example - the calibration of refractometers - at 0 (RODI) they are 0 - but with test solutions they are incorrect. you need to calibrate with solutions that are appropriate. The proper thing (IMHO) would be to double check your hanna checker with your water - not with RODI water. (i.e. test the PO4 with another separate tester) - if they are both .32 - its either a problem with that bucket of salt - or its a problem with your mixing

EDIT - by the company I meant bright well technical support. I do not think its reasonable to use GFO from a product that is supposed to have no pO4

 

[Adamantium]

This is why I asked you - did you shake up the bucket quite a bit before adding to your water. You have to mix up the whole salt bucket before adding it to water. My guess is its totally insignificant. I have never had problems with Brightwell neomarine. My suggestion - I would call the company. BTW - also - a test can come out as 0 on a test - but mis-measure when the result is .5. Take for example - the calibration of refractometers - at 0 (RODI) they are 0 - but with test solutions they are incorrect. you need to calibrate with solutions that are appropriate. The proper thing (IMHO) would be to double check your hanna checker with your water - not with RODI water. (i.e. test the PO4 with another separate tester) - if they are both .32 - its either a problem with that bucket of salt - or its a problem with your mixing

EDIT - by the company I meant bright well technical support. I do not think its reasonable to use GFO from a product that is supposed to have no pO4

Yeah, I already emailed Brightwell. I can follow up on this thread when I hear back.

I did mix the bucket fairly well, and I don’t think it’s a massive issue, as my tank has good PO4 levels (hover between .02 and .08 PPM). But it still kind of irks me, considering it’s supposed to have undetectable levels. It makes me feel like doing water changes is kind of pointless (I know there are lots of other benefits, but reducing PO4 is a big one). I’ll let everyone know what they tell me.

 

[MnFish1]

Yeah, I already emailed Brightwell. I can follow up on this thread when I hear back.

I did mix the bucket fairly well, and I don’t think it’s a massive issue, as my tank has good PO4 levels (hover between .02 and .08 PPM). But it still kind of irks me, considering it’s supposed to have undetectable levels. It makes me feel like doing water changes is kind of pointless (I know there are lots of other benefits, but reducing PO4 is a big one). I’ll let everyone know what they tell me.

Great - because I think its a testing problem rather than a salt problem - but I suppose every company can have a bad batch once and a while

 

[Adamantium]

Great - because I think its a testing problem rather than a salt problem - but I suppose every company can have a bad batch once and a while

Hmm, testing problem how? I’m doing the test the same way I do for my tank. I’m also getting consistent, repeatable, results.

 

[MnFish1]

Hmm, testing problem how? I’m doing the test the same way I do for my tank. I’m also getting consistent, repeatable, results.

1. There could have been some contamination in the mixing container.
2. There could be a problem with your checker
3. There could be a mixing problem - some confounding element (did you mix the salt and let it mix overnight in the RODI?
4. Did you make sure there was nothing in your mixing area (i.e. did you test your RODI before you mixed the salt in the container the RODI was in - or did you test your RODI out of the 'tap' and it was zero,

etc etc - there are numerous reasons (potential) I googled it - there was another person (in 2013) with similar issues - when they mixed up one batch the level was .13 - then it was ok with the next, then ok . To me this suggests - poorly mixed salt - some other source of PO4 than the product itself - a problem with testing - or lastly a problem with that batch of salt (which seems to be the least likely) - hopefully you will get some answers from Brightwell

 

[Adamantium]

Update! I spoke with one of Brightwell’s Technical Experts and he explained that they make NeoMarine in many small batches, and he suspects that I did, indeed, get a bucket from a batch that went out with a small phosphate issue.

Without prompt, not only did he offer to send a new bucket, he also offered either phosphate-e or their phosphate export media so I could continue using the current bucket. I went with the latter.

Needless to say, I’m very pleased with the outcome. I’ll continue to be a happy Brightwell customer.

 

[Doglips56]

Update! I spoke with one of Brightwell’s Technical Experts and he explained that they make NeoMarine in many small batches, and he suspects that I did, indeed, get a bucket from a batch that went out with a small phosphate issue.

Without prompt, not only did he offer to send a new bucket, he also offered either phosphate-e or their phosphate export media so I could continue using the current bucket. I went with the latter.

Needless to say, I’m very pleased with the outcome. I’ll continue to be a happy Brightwell customer.

Good to hear as this is the salt we use. I’ve honestly never thought to check the components of the water because the salinity always tests exactly where I want it every time and it’s the cleanest salt we’ve ever used

 

[Adamantium]

Good to hear as this is the salt we use. I’ve honestly never thought to check the components of the water because the salinity always tests exactly where I want it every time and it’s the cleanest salt we’ve ever used

Yeah, it’s been the salt I’ve had the most success with, hands down. This is hardly a big enough issue to dissuade me from using it. As has been mentioned, more phosphate is added from frozen food. And all other parameters check out just fine.

 

[cwerner]

I’m perplexed. The BRS website states that NeoMarine has no detectable phosphates at normal reef salinity levels. I just mixed up a batch at 35 PPT, and am getting a reading of .32 PPM. I even did the test multiple times to make sure this wasn’t an erroneous reading.

Has anyone else seen this before?

I was literally just about to make a thread about this.

I'm getting .25 on a brand new Salifert test on my batch of Neomarine salt. RODI water tested at 0.00.

Could be that they have a bad batch. I was wondering why my phosphates were so high in my tank, appears that at least some of it is from the salt itself.

 

[Doglips56]

I was literally just about to make a thread about this.

I'm getting .25 on a brand new Salifert test on my batch of Neomarine salt. RODI water tested at 0.00.

Could be that they have a bad batch. I was wondering why my phosphates were so high in my tank, appears that at least some of it is from the salt itself.

I’ve never thought to test the freshly mixed water but my PO4 ranges from .01 - .08 max so I’m not too concerned

 

[Adamantium]

Well, I’m absolutely blown away. Not only did they send a full bucket of salt (with very fast shipping, to boot), they also included the ExtraxPhos phosphate and silicate remover, as promised, AND a container of Reef Blizzard coral food. Exceptional customer service.

Before anyone goes thinking about trying to get free stuff, though, they did confirm the batch number was a bad batch. Sorry

 

[MnFish1]

Well, I’m absolutely blown away. Not only did they send a full bucket of salt (with very fast shipping, to boot), they also included the ExtraxPhos phosphate and silicate remover, as promised, AND a container of Reef Blizzard coral food. Exceptional customer service.

Before anyone goes thinking about trying to get free stuff, though, they did confirm the batch number was a bad batch. Sorry

well - at this point - a dishonest person would ask the number... JK.. Glad they did well for you. I have never had a problem with this salt - its the only one I've used for years

 

[Betex]

You just made me check mine and low and behold same PO4. I just contacted them and my batch number matches that of the bad batch. Same as you great Customer Service will be sending me a brand new bucket along with a bottle of aminos.

Thanks for posting this!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wouldn't throw away that old stuff unless you perceive something else wrong with it.

IMO, it is OK to use for water changes and won't do much to tank phosphate.

 

[MnFish1]

I wouldn't throw away that old stuff unless you perceive something else wrong with it.

IMO, it is OK to use for water changes and won't do much to tank phosphate.

Or sell it to someone wanting to raise their PO4... JK

 

[cmoore806]

I'd like to resurrect this thread a little to ask how are you testing for phosphate in your RODI water? I have a Hanna checker which cannot be used for freshwater. How do you check it?

 

[Adamantium]

I'd like to resurrect this thread a little to ask how are you testing for phosphate in your RODI water? I have a Hanna checker which cannot be used for freshwater. How do you check it?

The HI713. It can be used for both freshwater and saltwater.