Users of Red Sea

bknapp · Dec 2, 2013

If you use Red Sea Salt (Regular not Coral Pro) could you test your next batch of fresh salt mix for phosphates? I tested mine today and was shocked and unhappy with the result.

Just as a precursor I make my own RO/DI water using all NEW SpectraPure filters, resins and, their brand new 99% rejection rated RO membrane. All About a month old.

Here is my result from this morning:

I know of one other MTRC member who had a similar result.

poolkeeper1 · Dec 2, 2013

bknapp said:
If you use Red Sea Salt (Regular not Coral Pro) could you test your next batch of fresh salt mix for phosphates? I tested mine today and was shocked and unhappy with the result.

Just as a precursor I make my own RO/DI water using all NEW SpectraPure filters, resins and, their brand new 99% rejection rated RO membrane. All About a month old.

Here is my result from this morning:

I know of one other MTRC member who had a similar result.

That's not good, I will check next time i mix some water. But a tank i care for has high Po4 and this may be a factor as red sea salt is used @ 100gal at a time for water changes.
Bill

bknapp · Dec 2, 2013

Yea this is a little troubling, although most of my acros are showing great color. I plan on another water change tomorrow with water I'm making today and I will test them again to see if this is just some sort of anomaly, but others results would help as well.

I've been considering switching salts, this may push me that way.

Dowtish · Dec 2, 2013

You should test again.

pickupman66 · Dec 2, 2013

yikes... thats not a good thing. I am goin gto try a bucket of the Kent marine salt this time around. I was upset at the last box of Reef Crystals I got because one of the bag had a leak and the salt absorbed moisture and all the calcium precipitated out when I added it to my mix water. looked like it had snowed in there. 50 gallons worth of wasted water and salt. I ordered the Kent in the bucket this time around.

bct15 · Dec 2, 2013

Did you test the RO water before? Just new filters isn't good enough, you need to verify the phosphates in your RO water is zero first.

ToXIc · Dec 2, 2013

bct15 said:
Did you test the RO water before? Just new filters isn't good enough, you need to verify the phosphates in your RO water is zero first.

this..

bknapp · Dec 2, 2013

bct15 said:
Did you test the RO water before? Just new filters isn't good enough, you need to verify the phosphates in your RO water is zero first.

Straight RO:

Dowtish · Dec 2, 2013

Did you test again?

bknapp · Dec 2, 2013

Dowtish said:
Did you test again?

No, I will test the salt mix tomorrow just making the water today.

bct15 · Dec 2, 2013

bknapp said:
Straight RO:

That is better. I'm assuming that is water straight out of your RO. Your next step would be to eliminate the mixing container and method, you should fill your mixing container with RO water and run your mixing pump for however long you typically mix your water for. Just don't add any salt. Then test that RO water, seeing how much phosphates leach from your container and pump. Then obviously mix some fresh water with that freshly measured RO water, and see how much it changed again. If you get a big jump again it's time to call res sea.

schooleyosis · Dec 2, 2013

I was texting this same thing about redSea salt about a month 2 months ago to some other members. I can't remember what the reading was but I'm thinking it was 0.08.

I'll test again later this week and post. I am also curious what RC and IO mix at???

p woodard · Dec 3, 2013

Man that is low I just tested my tank and it was 2.50 not good at all

bknapp · Dec 3, 2013

As an update I am out of reagents so I can't test until they show.

But with the way I mix I doubt that the mixing containers are leaching the phosphates. Although any thing is possible. The water stays in one jug for at most five days and is mixed in another container for an hour or so so once I have the reagents I will test the water inside of both containers and report my findings. If anyone else could chime in with what they find that would be great.

bct15 · Dec 3, 2013

p woodard said:
Man that is low I just tested my tank and it was 2.50 not good at all

You can't test your tank water and assume it is the salt

bct15 · Dec 3, 2013

bknapp said:
As an update I am out of reagents so I can't test until they show.

But with the way I mix I doubt that the mixing containers are leaching the phosphates. Although any thing is possible. The water stays in one jug for at most five days and is mixed in another container for an hour or so so once I have the reagents I will test the water inside of both containers and report my findings. If anyone else could chime in with what they find that would be great.

I tested a couple batches of red sea coral pro in the past and the phosphates were zero on both. I haven't tested this bucket I just got though.