Switching salt

[Salty_Northerner]

Hey everyone, I'm getting rid of the Red Sea Coral pro salt and I'm going to be using Tropic Marin bio-actif salt mix.

I can't remember where I read it but apparently if memory serves correctly you're not supposed to use a conductivity meter when mixing the salt. Is it something with the polymers that they use in assaults that interferes with the salinity conductivity checker? Or am I going to need to pull out my big ol TM hydrometer?

 

[blaxsun]

I just mix my Tropic Marin salt per the recommended amount and adjust as needed after the fact.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I just mix my Tropic Marin salt per the recommended amount and adjust as needed after the fact.

What TM salt you using?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hey everyone, I'm getting rid of the Red Sea Coral pro salt and I'm going to be using Tropic Marin bio-actif salt mix.

I can't remember where I read it but apparently if memory serves correctly you're not supposed to use a conductivity meter when mixing the salt. Is it something with the polymers that they use in assaults that interferes with the salinity conductivity checker? Or am I going to need to pull out my big ol TM hydrometer?

The conductivity comment is wrong. It works fine with any salt mix.

 

[blaxsun]

What TM salt you using?

Tropic Marin Pro Reef.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

The conductivity comment is wrong. It works fine with any salt mix.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not believe that is accurate and I’m disappointed to see it. I do not think the small amount of organic matter added can cause a whopping 10% drop in conductivity of seawater. There is no rationale to believe it, IMO, especially without any evidence.

Before believing this truly extraordinary claim, I’d want to see the conductivity of any salt mix, then add these organic materials at the levels present in the salt mix, and note a 10% reduction in conductivity.

@Lou Ekus
@Hans-Werner

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I have both, the TM hydrometer and Hanna conductivity salinity tester. I'll test the Hanna after the hydrometer and post what I've experienced.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have both, the TM hydrometer and Hanna conductivity salinity tester. I'll test the Hanna after the hydrometer and post what I've experienced.

Ok, but since there are endless threads of different devices not matching, it will be of limited use.

By far the best way is as I suggested: adding the polymer at an appropriate dose to a salt mix without it, and looking for a conductivity change (and a specific gravity change, if any, since TM seems to think it impacts conductivity and not specific gravity).

Perhaps TM can indicate whether the Reef Actif material sold separately is identical to that in the salt mix, and folks can test this assertion for themselves.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Ok, but since there are endless threads of different devices not matching, it will be of limited use.

By far the best way is as I suggested: adding the polymer at an appropriate dose to a salt mix without it, and looking for a conductivity change (and a specific gravity change, if any, since TM seems to think it impacts conductivity and not specific gravity).

Perhaps TM can indicate whether the Reef Actif material sold separately is identical to that in the salt mix, and folks can test this assertion for themselves.

Ok I should've been more clear in my post. I have a 100gal box of TM Reef actif salt mix. Hopefully I didn't confuse anybody:/

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ok I should've been more clear in my post. I have a 100gal box of TM Reef actif salt mix. Hopefully I didn't confuse anybody:/

Thanks. I think, however, that one cannot readily prove or disprove their claim with those devices and the salt mix already formulated due to the inherent variability of hobby testing devices.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Thanks. I think, however, that one cannot readily prove or disprove their claim with those devices and the salt mix already formulated due to the inherent variability of hobby testing devices.

Well hopefully they can chime in and set things straight. I won't be mixing any water up until tomorrow so I won't be in too much of a panic. I'll just keep an eye open for Lou or Hans to see what they have to say regarding.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well hopefully they can chime in and set things straight. I won't be mixing any water up until tomorrow so I won't be in too much of a panic. I'll just keep an eye open for Lou or Hans to see what they have to say regarding.

There’s nothing wrong with using the hydrometer, I just contend one can also use a conductivity meter.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Sounds good and thank you Mr Randy

 

[Hans-Werner]

I do not believe that is accurate and I’m disappointed to see it. I do not think the small amount of organic matter added can cause a whopping 10% drop in conductivity of seawater. There is no rationale to believe it, IMO, especially without any evidence.

It was something I noticed when checking conductivity, and so we thought we should mention it. Maybe we should write "may show 10 % low results". My explanation was that the organic substances impede the movement of some ions. The impediment is only temporary.

 

[Pod_01]

Hey everyone, I'm getting rid of the Red Sea Coral pro salt and I'm going to be using Tropic Marin bio-actif salt mix.

I can't remember where I read it but apparently if memory serves correctly you're not supposed to use a conductivity meter when mixing the salt. Is it something with the polymers that they use in assaults that interferes with the salinity conductivity checker? Or am I going to need to pull out my big ol TM hydrometer?

Just out of curiosity, how content /satisfied are you with the Hanna conductivity tester.
I use probe and the daily variation took me for a spin at the start:

Nothing changes really, but up it goes down it goes etc… all day. My evaporation is controlled with float and gravity, so I don’t think that is the cause.
I tried refractometer and with same water sample and 5 measurements I got 5 different readings. Gave up on that real quick.
I really don’t have luck with some of these tech solutions .
Next I tried Hydrometer and eventually settled on the TM Hydrometer, nice large scale, easy to read and that has been consistent and repeatable.
I am not sure if it is accurate because after 5 years I only think I am between 34-35PSU. I based that on the salt I mix and there I am at the mercy of my kitchen grade scale….

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It was something I noticed when checking conductivity, and so we thought we should mention it. Maybe we should write "may show 10 % low results". My explanation was that the organic substances impede the movement of some ions. The impediment is only temporary.

I think it is worth doing the exact thing I mention to test the idea because, IME, ppm levels of organics wont cause a 10% drop in conductivity of a highly conductive solution such as seawater.

 

[mike550]

Why don’t you test when youre done mixing and then 24 hours later to see if there’s a material change.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Just out of curiosity, how content /satisfied are you with the Hanna conductivity tester.
I use probe and the daily variation took me for a spin at the start:

Nothing changes really, but up it goes down it goes etc… all day. My evaporation is controlled with float and gravity, so I don’t think that is the cause.
I tried refractometer and with same water sample and 5 measurements I got 5 different readings. Gave up on that real quick.
I really don’t have luck with some of these tech solutions .
Next I tried Hydrometer and eventually settled on the TM Hydrometer, nice large scale, easy to read and that has been consistent and repeatable.
I am not sure if it is accurate because after 5 years I only think I am between 34-35PSU. I based that on the salt I mix and there I am at the mercy of my kitchen grade scale….

You know what, that was the problem I was having with my refractometer. It wasn't even all that old and I would calibrate it and then check it and I would always get variations in my reading. Anyways I bought the Hannah salinity tester and it was off one point. Example if my TM hydrometer read 1.026 the Hanna would show 1.025. I believe the solution had a provides and sells isn't the best for hobby grade testing solution so I tried something that I read online.

People are actually having successful luck using the Neptune conductivity 53000 calibration fluid over the Hannah calibration fluid.

I do check it with a fresh package once in awhile and the unit has not drifted from my observance. I find the Hannah solution might be okay but to get very very close to actual SG I've been using the Neptune calibration fluid. I just walked by the tank and dip the end in the water and give it a shake and observe exactly what my TM hydrometer shows. So to answer your question I'm actually very content and satisfied that it's not misleading me anymore.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

I think it is worth doing the exact thing I mention to test the idea because, IME, ppm levels of organics wont cause a 10% drop in conductivity of a highly conductive solution such as seawater.

Mr Randy I will be checking this this morning, I will take some photos using the TM hydrometer and also the conductivity meter and see if there's any difference. I will be recalibrating the unit prior to my mixing. I know I spent about 5 hours last night making up enough RO/DIi water for the salt swap.