Reef Crystals This Cannot Be Normal?!

[NanaReefer]

Have been told by IO that this "brown residue" is a harmless by product that occurs during their mining procedures.

If this harmless by product does this to my mixing bucket & pumps is it not safe to say that it is also having some effect on my DT & equipment?

These pictures were taken after the bucket & power head were soaked in hot vinegar for 8hrs.

 

[Sabellafella]

Not sure if you seen this but i think i tagged you in my builthread about a week ago

I get this tan detritus looking crud build up in my on hand 5g bucket that i refill once a week. After everytime i mix up fresh rscp, my pumps and wc tank have this filthy tan gunk buildup on everything. It annoys me a little bit that i have to clean everything for every water change so ive ben slowly switching salt mix

 

[ritter6788]

My barrels have chunks of built up brown stuff I rarely clean out. It hasn't had any effect on the tank that I've seen and there is no brown residue there.

 

[zoomonster]

I really don't get that. I have seen similar mention of the brown residue but I have yet to see it and I use reef crystals (problem mentioned with IO and RC). I was curious and went out with a clean paper towel and wiped the inside of my 44g mixing can and hardly a trace of anything. Always a little salt in the bottom that refuses to mix but that's about it. Of course I never have standing mixed water more than a few hours (well once recently overnight) and I wonder if that's the issue much like Red Sea precipitates snow if let sit more than a few hours.

 

[Sabellafella]

I really don't get that. I have seen similar mention of the brown residue but I have yet to see it and I use reef crystals (problem mentioned with IO and RC). I was curious and went out with a clean paper towel and wiped the inside of my 44g mixing can and hardly a trace of anything. Always a little salt in the bottom that refuses to mix but that's about it. Of course I never have standing mixed water more than a few hours (well once recently overnight) and I wonder if that's the issue much like Red Sea precipitates snow if let sit more than a few hours.

I forgot to mention, i start to mix my sw friday night, by the time 5pm comes the next day (saturday) the new saltwaters mixed and clear. But i do my changes on sunday, and thats when i start to see the brown residue. I keep a 5 gallon bucket on hand for testing/skimmer makeup/frags ect.. And after 4-5 days ill get this detritus on the bottom of the bucket

 

[NanaReefer]

I really don't get that. I have seen similar mention of the brown residue but I have yet to see it and I use reef crystals (problem mentioned with IO and RC). I was curious and went out with a clean paper towel and wiped the inside of my 44g mixing can and hardly a trace of anything. Always a little salt in the bottom that refuses to mix but that's about it. Of course I never have standing mixed water more than a few hours (well once recently overnight) and I wonder if that's the issue much like Red Sea precipitates snow if let sit more than a few hours.

I have been known to let mix for up to 72hrs but as a rule I use it within 24hrs or less.
So it seems the longer it's allowed to mix the worse the residue accumulates.

 

[jiminy_crime]

From what I understand, that residue happens in most salt mixes that are mixed due to precipitation. I may have been told incorrectly but mine does the same if left mixing for long periods of time.

 

[jiminy_crime]

I use Kent Marine Reef Salts btw

 

[JasReef]

I have only used reef crystals and I get a little brown every once in a while. Sometimes I let my mix sit for a week to ten days and I don't notice a difference in the barrel having more brown. About every 3 months I take my barrel out and pressure wash it but thats just quarterly maintenance.

These threads come up all the time and I don't think I have ever heard of any salt (besides a manufacturer error) to be the cause of any major problems.

Relax and enjoy but if you have to worry concentrate on keeping your alkalinity, calcium and magnesium stable.

 

[mcarroll]

Try skipping the extended mixing to see if that helps.

It should take around 5-10 minutes to mix saltwater completely - so just use it on the spot.

That's how I've done practically every water change I've ever done...water temp is usually around 70ºF while tank is at 79-82ºF (depending what period of the tank we're talking about).

I've done up to 30% water changes this way with no noticeable effects. (Never had to try bigger...)

 

[twilliard]

This is the reason I quit using it

 

[FDAWG]

This is the reason I quit using it[/QUOTE

I also have gotten this brown residue in the past. What are you using now?

 

[twilliard]

I have been using brightwell now for over 2 years

 

[jsker]

I have noticed a few thread in the past two weeks with members displeasure with RC.

 

[mcarroll]

I have noticed a few thread in the past two weeks with members displeasure with RC.

Consider those few against the likely hundreds or thousands on R2R using it without issue (who have no reason to post).

IO and RC are crazy popular - real issues would not be spotty or related to particular users.

(Been using mostly RC for about 8 years....occasionally IO.)


$0.02

 

[jsker]

Consider those few against the likely hundreds or thousands on R2R using it without issue (who have no reason to post).

IO and RC are crazy popular - real issues would not be spotty or related to particular users.

(Been using mostly RC for about 8 years....occasionally IO.)


$0.02

Just mentioning that there have been more frequent rumbling in other threads.

 

[HiddenUser]

I have the same stuff left over in my mixing container...I just wipe it up and rinse it out. I mix for 24-72 hours before using the water. No ill effects have been noticed thus far with the tank.

 

[Rob's Reef]

My RC does the same thing... :/

 

[reefn247]

I have the same issues here thought it was just a bad batch...so bought another box after and still the same brown residue. My friend bought a whole pallet of rc for his 700 gal tank and all the boxes so far mix brow

 

[reefn247]

Io response