Red Sea Coral Pro Sack

[bsagea]

I've been using Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt for about a year. Mixes quick and clear as can be! I was looking to increase alk for my acros.
This was the first pure 18 gal mixed with Red Sea Coral Pro and boy am I disappointed and disgusted at the way this salt mixes. Dumped about 2 gallons that were on the bottom of trash barrel today. Sides up to where the salt mix was had to be scrubbed off with a scrub brush half a dozen times to remove the film and dried with a towel to get more of the residue off the side and the bottom. Though Tropic Marin is a good deal more expensive, I don't want whatever this garbage is going into our tanks. I was thinking of trying Fritz which we used to use years ago, but there was gunk on the bottom too which caused the switch to Tropic Marin but nothing like this. This is gross! RODI barrels are crystal clear.

 

[Spare time]

I'm pretty sure its usually just precipitant in all of the salt mixes especially those with higher alk. Was it heated and mixed for a while? I haven't ever had that issue unless it was being stored for a while particularly when warm (this was at an lfs I worked at). I've even seen tropic marin salts form the brown crud.

 

[bsagea]

I use a Danner 950 so the water warms. Prepped in Thursday night. Actually mixed it for 36 hrs since the mix of TMP and this had some residue. Never got any better. Saltwater is only stored for a max of 2 weeks. Sometimes not even that long.
My last bucket of TMP says "made in Germany". I will use a tad of the Red Sea to mix with this but I've never seen our saltwater ever look this bad!
bsa

 

[Rhino]

I use a Danner 950 so the water warms. Prepped in Thursday night. Actually mixed it for 36 hrs since the mix of TMP and this had some residue. Never got any better. Saltwater is only stored for a max of 2 weeks. Sometimes not even that long.
My last bucket of TMP says "made in Germany". I will use a tad of the Red Sea to mix with this but I've never seen our saltwater ever look this bad!
bsa

It seems didn’t follow directions on how to properly mix the Red Sea salt. I believe it says not to mix for more than 4 hours or it will precipitate because of the high nutrients. It also has very specific temperature instructions for mixing. Give that at a shot and see if it helps. I used Red Sea coral pro on all my past tanks with no issues.

 

[Jonify]

I love Red Sea salt, but it's a different use case than other salts. For Red Sea, usually you want to mix it up right before you use it, in cold water. (I love this about Red Sea salt--it's not finnicky, I don't need to heat the water and I can do it pretty quickly, when I need it.) I'll tell you how, but if you want to store it, I'll tell you that, too.

For Red Sea salt, you have to mix it when the water is cold/room temp (about 65-72 degrees) and let it mix for about 45 minutes. Then you can add a heater and let it mix for another hour/or until it gets up to your tank's temp. You should use it then. You shouldn't see any precipitate in your bucket this way. I never do.

If you're not planning to use it that quickly, once you're done mixing in cold water, remove your pumps and seal the new water bucket. When you're ready to use it again, heat the water back up and use immediately.

More info here.

 

[Ryan Avery]

This is why you should read the directions

 

[bsagea]

May try mixing another batch in a couple weeks with the specified time and see what happens.

 

[Jeffbear]

I love Red Sea salt, but it's a different use case than other salts. For Red Sea, usually you want to mix it up right before you use it, in cold water. (I love this about Red Sea salt--it's not finnicky, I don't need to heat the water and I can do it pretty quickly, when I need it.) I'll tell you how, but if you want to store it, I'll tell you that, too.

For Red Sea salt, you have to mix it when the water is cold/room temp (about 65-72 degrees) and let it mix for about 45 minutes. Then you can add a heater and let it mix for another hour/or until it gets up to your tank's temp. You should use it then. You shouldn't see any precipitate in your bucket this way. I never do.

If you're not planning to use it that quickly, once you're done mixing in cold water, remove your pumps and seal the new water bucket. When you're ready to use it again, heat the water back up and use immediately.

More info here.

I've been mixing it this way for 3 weeks now and the water parameters are rock steady with the MyBatch readings. Great advice!