Pro Reef salt from Turkey

[Frogspon]

If they have an issue with their mix they replace it for no cost including shipping with proof of purchase, plain and simple. There should be no debate. It is their fault, not the customers.

I was one of the original people that pointed out the sludge problem a few months ago, even got contacted by Lou for more info.

Unfortunately I ordered a box, so that container is long gone. I emptied the contents into my previous bucket for better storage. I have proof of purchase, anecdotal evidence it's probably from Turkey given the mess it causes... but no way to prove it was from Turkey now.

 

[Frogspon]

I just emailed BRS asking essentially exactly that. I bought the 160 gal box because they were out of the buckets in November, and the box was burst and smashed when it arrived. But the bag was unharmed, and I stuffed it into the empty 200 gal bucket. Too bad there isn't a sticker on the bag so you can know one way or the other. I don't have a way to know where it came from, but I can't help but be a bit afraid to use it.

Exactly what happened to me. The box was bashed to hell and back so I put it in my bucket. Shame there is no labeling on the bag.


Mix up a few gallons in a bucket and leave it for a few days. It will look like a diatom bloom happened in the container if it is from Turkey.

 

[Karen00]

Note on Saltwater Aquarium Facebook page. They will provide a return label so you can return Tropic Marin Turkey products free of charge. Top marks from Saltwater Aquarium. BRS could learn a thing or two from them.

I just saw a video on YouTube earlier from BRS on their live feed that spoke directly to the TM Turkey salt issue and they they would take back all unopened TM salt from Turkey and wod waive the shipping fee. I assume people have to contact them. I don't know if they're offering store credit or refunds. I wonder how long this will last if there is an onslaught of returns. The very end of the video said it would be best for everyone to hang tight until TM figures out how they're going to handle returns, etc but it could take a couple weeks to figure out something with TM's global supply chain. I'm sure a lot of suppliers would prefer if TM handled this directly instead of salt being returned to all of the individual stores. What is interesting is that someone posted a comment saying this is also happening with their German salt. Someone posted the same thing on one of these threads (maybe it's the same person). Hopefully it's not affecting the German salt as well.

 

[FishyFishFish]

I thought that was a bit of a weird video from BRS.

Yes, they said you could send the salt back, but they also said that they don't want it back so they would prefer people not to return it and to wait for TM's response, which could take a couple of weeks. They didn't really seem too clear on their own policy.

They also acknowledged that they've been seeing this for months, yet even last week were still saying that there was no problem.

My personal opinion is that video did not paint them in a very good light and they would probably have been better off not doing it.

 

[Karen00]

I thought that was a bit of a weird video from BRS.

Yes, they said you could send the salt back, but they also said that they don't want it back so they would prefer people not to return it and to wait for TM's response, which could take a couple of weeks. They didn't really seem too clear on their own policy.

They also acknowledged that they've been seeing this for months, yet even last week were still saying that there was no problem.

My personal opinion is that video did not paint them in a very good light and they would probably have been better off not doing it.

Exactly. As for returning the salt I think they kept it vague in hopes people would wait it out to see what TM does. Having said that they did say they would take it back and waive the fee but they didn't say what customers had to do. Obviously people who bought the salt from them will have to call to get details and they're probably hoping people will just wait for word from TM. I'm currently using Fritz RPM and have had no trouble with it. The salt mixes a bit cloudy but clears within a couple hours with no residue. Having said that I'm new and with all the hype about how great TM is I was thinking of switching after I finish my bag of Fritz. I'm happy I wasn't finished yet. It's already a challenge for newbies with new tanks in trying to get things under control and troubleshooting issues whether it's water issues, algae, corals that aren't happy, etc. Throw in a salt that's having issues which in turn can sink a tank and the poor newbie thinks it's something they've done and has no idea where to begin troubleshooting and TM salt wouldn't be top of mind as the problem. Hopefully it all gets resolved. I might still try their salt someday.

 

[Ryan Avery]

They also acknowledged that they've been seeing this for months, yet even last week were still saying that there was no problem.

I was thinking the same thing. As if it’s only a problem now that people are noticing.

 

[Karen00]

I was thinking the same thing. As if it’s only a problem now that people are noticing.

The video seemed like a cya with a bunch of excuses... And they made it sound like they were the ones that figured out it's clay in the salt (at least that was my impression when I watched it).

 

[FishyFishFish]

They also appeared to rubbish the reports that customers were posting of their experiences, on R2R, but then said they were going to stop using it!

Surely, if they hadn’t had any problems and were convinced the salt was fine, why would they do that? They could take back the salt from dissatisfied customers and use it, if they were so sure it was fine all along.

 

[1ocean]

I just saw a video on YouTube earlier from BRS on their live feed that spoke directly to the TM Turkey salt issue and they they would take back all unopened TM salt from Turkey and wod waive the shipping fee. I assume people have to contact them. I don't know if they're offering store credit or refunds. I wonder how long this will last if there is an onslaught of returns. The very end of the video said it would be best for everyone to hang tight until TM figures out how they're going to handle returns, etc but it could take a couple weeks to figure out something with TM's global supply chain. I'm sure a lot of suppliers would prefer if TM handled this directly instead of salt being returned to all of the individual stores. What is interesting is that someone posted a comment saying this is also happening with their German salt. Someone posted the same thing on one of these threads (maybe it's the same person). Hopefully it's not affecting the German salt as well.

I got two boxes of German TM Pro salt in Jan 22 and had no problem.

 

[ReefRxSWFL]

I just received a box of Pro Reef salt from the plant in Turkey and am weary to use it. I understand that @Lou Ekus has stated that the Turkey salt should be exactly the same as the German, however I've noticed some differences and wanting to see if anyone else has noticed or have encountered issues using the Turkish salt.

First, the salt and final mixed water has a sweet acidic citrus smell to it, where the German made salt has no smell at all. What is causing this, a different binder or chemical? When adding the salt to water it produces a milky solution before dissolving rather than a normal cloudy appearance from the German batches. These changes may just be superficial and the salt is fine, but there is definitely a difference between the Turkish and German made batches.

Thank God it was out of stock for so long, because i may have switched. A good lesson to remind myself.

Dont look for a solution to a problem you don't have.

 

[1ocean]

Lou and TM have been really good with this issue and I feel confident Lou and the TM company are doing all they can to figure this all out. I am sure they are getting swamped with customer complaints and problem solving within the Turkey plant.
I am just gonna sit back and wait for the outcome.
In the meanwhile, I been using the salt since the late 1980 and I just used TM Pro from Germany in my new 300 I am building. Yes I am hesitant to use the salt made in Turkey..
The Turkey issue has not changed my mind about using the Tropic Marin salt or products..
Just my view and I respect and believe everyone has the right to their own individual ideas, process and choice.
Have a great day everyone...
CIAO

 

[Karen00]

I got two boxes of German TM Pro salt in Jan 22 and had no problem.

Awesome. Thanks! I would like to try the salt but when I saw those two posts from reefers (one here on R2R and one on YouTube on the BRS channel) saying they had issues with the German salt I thought I better hold off. I began thinking maybe it's sporadic with the German salt just like it seems to be with the Turkey salt. The two posts mentioned the same residue. Not sure about any smell. Hopefully it was just a mixing issue with those reefers.

 

[1ocean]

Awesome. Thanks! I would like to try the salt but when I saw those two posts from reefers (one here on R2R and one on YouTube on the BRS channel) saying they had issues with the German salt I thought I better hold off. I began thinking maybe it's sporadic with the German salt just like it seems to be with the Turkey salt. The two posts mentioned the same residue. Not sure about any smell. Hopefully it was just a mixing issue with those reefers.

or maybe it was just a certain batch..Just like when the FDA recalls a certain food we eat or drink. They do not recall it all, just a certain brand(s) made on a certain day or came out of a certain building or Country..

 

[jcdeng]

In regards to the return issue, I think its better if TM just tell people to return their turkey box/buckets to local retailers like "petco" and get a replacement, this could avoid spending a lot more $$ on return labels. And TM can just credit the local retailers back based on how many turkey units they received back.

 

[shadow1013]

Or just tell them to keep it or dispose of it. No real point getting it back unless they intend to use it.

In regards to the return issue, I think its better if TM just tell people to return their turkey box/buckets to local retailers like "petco" and get a replacement, this could avoid spending a lot more $$ on return labels. And TM can just credit the local retailers back based on how many turkey units they received back.

 

[jcdeng]

Or just tell them to keep it or dispose of it. No real point getting it back unless they intend to use it.

not to reuse it but bringing it in is just a way to verify customer actually has the problem salt.

 

[ceaver]

I just emailed BRS asking essentially exactly that. I bought the 160 gal box because they were out of the buckets in November, and the box was burst and smashed when it arrived. But the bag was unharmed, and I stuffed it into the empty 200 gal bucket. Too bad there isn't a sticker on the bag so you can know one way or the other. I don't have a way to know where it came from, but I can't help but be a bit afraid to use it.

So has anyone been credited by BRS yet? I received a response from them saying I would be several days ago, but it hasn't actually happened yet. Anyone else received it yet? I am waiting to put that credit toward a different salt, and don't have any other salt laying around right now so I'm saltless until I get that credit...

 

[BriansBrain]

I had recent sludge issues with the last couple German only made buckets. I’m not going to say it was the reason my acros were doing poorly, because that’s extremely difficult to prove.

The way folks were responded to earlier in the thread, (other than Lou, he was helpful) was a turnoff. I get how they could think people were coming out of the wood work to blame their issues on TM’s product. It was denied and denied, now they finally accept there’s an issue.

Maybe I just got a bad batch from Germany, but from what I physically saw, it wasn’t a tan typical clay residue you’d see in other salts, but black sludgy material. I’ve since switched salt brand and got rid of what I had. My wife thought I got new acros from the polyp extension I got in just a few water changes. I hope TM gets this issue resolved. I really do. I’m sure after this they’ll be the most extensively researched and safest salt, but they’ll have to earn folks trust back.

 

[FishyFishFish]

The next problem could be lack of supply.

It will be difficult to earn trust back if they don't have enough stock to replace all of the questionable salt. Those who have German buckets with no problems and are still confident in it, who run out, might struggle to get more in the near future.

If was a TM Pro user, and I was happy with the German origin salt, I might be tempted to stock up now.

 

[Frogspon]

IMO...customers are not a retail store, they should not be dealing with manufactures to sort out large scale problems like this. Hopefully retail stores act responsibly.