Reef Crystals Residue

[DesertReefT4r]

Just cleaned my mixing can. I don't know exactly how many gallons i change a week but I do 2 cups ( my personal salt bucket cup) of salt a week. Changed my filters on RODI unit today so cleaned everything and this build just seemed excessive, supposedly regular instant ocean doesn't leave this brown crud. Been thinking I may switch after I use what I got.

Brown water and crud in mixing tank are the 2 main reasons I stopped using RC and IO and will not ever again. New saltwater should never be brown. Not mention alk at 14+. HW or Fritz for me. Just finished a 200g bucket of HW and my mixing Brute is spotless and has proven to be clean and consistant. Fritz is proving to do the same.

 

[Frogger]

The brown clay is just likely from an impure source. They say it is harmless but that is of course what they have to say or they would be out of business.

I will be switching to DD H2Oceans Pro plus because it mixes closer to my tank parameters. Not a lot of selection at local fish stores.

 

[reefwiser]

Its part of what you get when you buy IO or Reef Crystals. I am not a fan of the stuff. Back 30 years ago it was all you could buy but now days we have choices and I choose not to buy dirty salt any more.

 

[Waters]

I am another former RC user that stopped partially due to the brown residue. All the mixes seem to do it, but RC is by far the worst. I got tired of cleaning my mixing pump and heater all the time.

 

[ScottB]

I get the same residue and need to clean up my mix tank/pump every couple of months. If the water sits around (a week or so) it accumulates a little more.

I stay with IORC though, because it comes out of the Brute with the same parameters my tanks have.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

That’s interesting. Seems like that would make sense I guess.... but isn’t all salt mined? Where is this mine I wonder?

Not all aquarium salt is mined. There are lab made salts mixes and some that evaporate natural seawater (like Red Sea).

 

[Reefdiculous22]

I bought IORC because brs was out of original IO. The only problem I’ve had with regular IO was som salt crystals wouldn’t mix staying at the bottom of the brute even after mixing. I’ve mixed one 44 gallon brute and it sat for 3 days before I did my water change today and everything from the pump to the heater is caked. Still waiting to see how it reacts with my DT. But there has to be a better soulution.

 

[Privateye]

Oh, BRS is out of IO too? Interesting...so is a company I'm associated with. Sounds like the options are stock-up or find an alternative.

Even when I empty the bottom of my calcium chloride reservoir it's somewhere between tan and brown. I don't believe Reef Crystals is harmful because of it, it's just some sort of additive or impurity that looks ugly. Just my speculation though. I've cared for many tanks that use various salts and I think Spectrum Brands' salts are fine. Personally I tried RC on my tank and I went back to IO with a little extra dosing. I know people who mix IO with Red Sea Coral Pro too because the latter "Has too much nutrients. It grows too much algae"

IO is more bare-bones in my experience. More of a blank slate. Add what you want.

 

[ScottB]

The brown residue from IORC is completely normal. Never been an issue for me in the last 13 years or so. There is no reason to worry about it. I clean my brute every years or two.

A valid reason to choose different salt would be that it mixes so high in ALK. If you do a LARGE water change, but run a lower level of ALK (7-8) it can be an issue.

 

[PatW]

If you are interested in getting rid of the brown residue from instant ocean or reef crystals dilute muriatic acid (HCl) will do it quickly. You just add the acid to RODI to a 5% solution by volume. It will dissolve the residue quickly.

 

[Squidward]

Funny thing is reef crystals leave that brown crud whole regular instant ocean doesn't.

 

[Derrick0580]

I just drag my brutes out in the drive way every couple water changes and hit them with the power washer…good as new! My problem is making saltwater and then letting it sit 4-5 days mixing before I do the water change and I have to add more rodi because of evaporation, that’s when I notice the excessive brown crud. If I mix the salt and do the change within the same day I don’t really get the residue.

 

[Reefdiculous22]

Oh, BRS is out of IO too? Interesting...so is a company I'm associated with. Sounds like the options are stock-up or find an alternative.

Even when I empty the bottom of my calcium chloride reservoir it's somewhere between tan and brown. I don't believe Reef Crystals is harmful because of it, it's just some sort of additive or impurity that looks ugly. Just my speculation though. I've cared for many tanks that use various salts and I think Spectrum Brands' salts are fine. Personally I tried RC on my tank and I went back to IO with a little extra dosing. I know people who mix IO with Red Sea Coral Pro too because the latter "Has too much nutrients. It grows too much algae"

IO is more bare-bones in my experience. More of a blank slate. Add what you want.

Yes. That seems to be the way it is. That’s why I got 3 160 gallon buckets of IORC. I don’t believe the residue is harmful it just sucks, more maintenance. My LFS use fritz rpm. I thought about switching to that I just dk. There are some pharmaceutical grade salts to try. I thought about using those but the alk lvls are kinda low for my liking. Around 7dkh I believe.

 

[SamsReef]

Brown water and crud in mixing tank are the 2 main reasons I stopped using RC and IO and will not ever again. New saltwater should never be brown. Not mention alk at 14+. HW or Fritz for me. Just finished a 200g bucket of HW and my mixing Brute is spotless and has proven to be clean and consistant. Fritz is proving to do the same.

Less demand, good price for the rest of us who love reef crystals. Love it . Win win for everyone.

Sam