Tropic Marin Pro Reef Mixing

badams.one · Nov 23, 2021

Reaching out for some help with TMPR salt mixing. I've been using this salt for years and have recently run into some inconsistencies when mixing.

I'm mixing roughly 35 gallons of RODI with TMPR salt in a brute trash can with a sicce pump and heater. I target 1.026 and have been getting really low magnesium and calcium of late compared to what the salt should be mixing to.

The water I mixed today measured as follows:

SALINITY: 1.026
ALK: 6.6
CAL: 400
MAG: 1150

Is mixing at 80-83 degrees causing precipitation to occur or something?

Is adding RO to bring down the salinity when adding too much salt perhaps causing this?

I assume it's okay to dose these elements to bring up to the proper levels, but feel I shouldn't have to be doing this.

Any insight and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

PeterC99 · Nov 23, 2021

Where did you buy your TMP from?

badams.one · Nov 23, 2021

PeterC99 said:
Where did you buy your TMP from?

Bulk Reef Supply

PeterC99 · Nov 23, 2021

badams.one said:
Bulk Reef Supply

I got mine at Saltwateraquarium.com and I’m getting residue in my mixing barrel. Parameters are ok though.

badams.one · Jan 11, 2022

badams.one said:
Reaching out for some help with TMPR salt mixing. I've been using this salt for years and have recently run into some inconsistencies when mixing.

I'm mixing roughly 35 gallons of RODI with TMPR salt in a brute trash can with a sicce pump and heater. I target 1.026 and have been getting really low magnesium and calcium of late compared to what the salt should be mixing to.

The water I mixed today measured as follows:

SALINITY: 1.026
ALK: 6.6
CAL: 400
MAG: 1150

Is mixing at 80-83 degrees causing precipitation to occur or something?

Is adding RO to bring down the salinity when adding too much salt perhaps causing this?

I assume it's okay to dose these elements to bring up to the proper levels, but feel I shouldn't have to be doing this.

Any insight and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Hey @Lou Ekus I found you linked in on another TM Pro issue with brown residue, which I'm not dealing with thankfully. I am however, running into inconsistencies when mixing. If you would please, review my post above and advise on my questions?

I made a batch this past weekend and got similar results. I unfortunately threw out the box this batch of salt came in so I can't provide any additional information other than what I've experienced.

Thank you!

homer1475 · Jan 11, 2022

Purely out of curiosity as I do not use TM, does the 200G box come in 4 separate bags or is it all one big bag?

HeyLookItsCaps · Jan 11, 2022

I called TM After having a similar issue. They told me the product will stratify (start to separate) if it was on the shelf awhile. They told me to mix it and it should correct and it did. Now part of my routine is to dump my salt back and forth from bucket to bucket a few times when ordering a new batch.

Not saying this is your problem but something I never considered as a routine and think it should be

homer1475 · Jan 11, 2022

HeyLookItsCaps said:
I called TM After having a similar issue. They told me the product will stratify (start to separate) if it was on the shelf awhile. They told me to mix it and it should correct and it did. Now part of my routine is to dump my salt back and forth from bucket to bucket a few times when ordering a new batch.

Not saying this is your problem but something I never considered as a routine and think it should be

Exactly why I asked what I asked. Not having used TM, not sure how it was packaged.

Koty · Jan 11, 2022

Maybe your refractometer is off

Koh23 · Jan 11, 2022

Ahem.....

I tought that this goes into common knowledge that bucket needs to be turned, rolled and "shaked" well before use,storaging for longer time causes separation, larger particles stays in top, smaller goes to bottom.....

Really not sure wich brand if salt was that (sicce maybe, but i dont remember), but they statet that in package - roll, tummble, or stir before use.....

Lou Ekus · Jan 11, 2022

badams.one said:
Hey @Lou Ekus I found you linked in on another TM Pro issue with brown residue, which I'm not dealing with thankfully. I am however, running into inconsistencies when mixing. If you would please, review my post above and advise on my questions?

I made a batch this past weekend and got similar results. I unfortunately threw out the box this batch of salt came in so I can't provide any additional information other than what I've experienced.

Thank you!

Hi, sorry I missed your post above.

In cases like yours, where all measured parameters are measuring low, the most likely cause is a low salinity. This is almost always the case when seeing this. So the first place I would look would be the accuracy of that measurement. Whatever the method is that you are using, I would check it against some other, verified, method.

One word of caution....if you find that your salinity measurement, of your water change water, is off, remember that you have also checked your tank system with the same method. So you would then also measure your tank, and if you find that it is also low, you will need a very slow correction made there as well. Doing that correction too quickly will annoy your corals.

If you find that your salinity is actually correct, please give me a call in the office at 413-367-0101 and I can try to help further. But I am pretty sure that you will find what I am describing. Good luck and let me know what happens.

Lou Ekus · Jan 11, 2022

HeyLookItsCaps said:
I called TM After having a similar issue. They told me the product will stratify (start to separate) if it was on the shelf awhile. They told me to mix it and it should correct and it did. Now part of my routine is to dump my salt back and forth from bucket to bucket a few times when ordering a new batch.

Not saying this is your problem but something I never considered as a routine and think it should be

Just to clarify... It's not really that the product "will" stratify, but rather that is "may" stratify. That kind of stratification is actually only seen in a very tiny percentage of actual buckets/boxes. Also, when it does happen, it is usually a parameter or two that might be off. Not usually everything measuring low.

Reeferbadness · Jan 11, 2022

I love that the CEO of TM chimes in when people report issues with TM products. I use TM Classic for both of my 200 G tanks and have not had any issues - ever! Love the product and the results speak for themselves. Thanks @Lou Ekus for being a brand champ!

Lou Ekus · Jan 11, 2022

Reeferbadness said:
I love that the CEO of TM chimes in when people report issues with TM products. I use TM Classic for both of my 200 G tanks and have not had any issues - ever! Love the product and the results speak for themselves. Thanks @Lou Ekus for being a brand champ!

Thanks @Reeferbadness ....but I do want to clarify that I am CEO of Tropic Marin USA, not the International full company.

But I am appreciative that efforts get noticed. Thanks again!

HeyLookItsCaps · Jan 11, 2022

Lou Ekus said:
Just to clarify... It's not really that the product "will" stratify, but rather that is "may" stratify. That kind of stratification is actually only seen in a very tiny percentage of actual buckets/boxes. Also, when it does happen, it is usually a parameter or two that might be off. Not usually everything measuring low.

Apologies on syntax. I’ve started doing it as a precaution regardless. Makes sense and just another part of the routine now!