Weird batch of instant ocean salt

trmiv · Dec 21, 2019

So I’ve been using IO for years, and typically the levels in the new batches I get are pretty consistent, and usually around what everyone reports. (420ish calcium, 10.5 alk). I recently got in a new 200g box of salt. I throughly mixed one of the bags and then made two batches of saltwater. One 8g batch at 1.026 for my display and one 5g batch at 1.025 for my QT.

I noticed this time I got a lot more precipitation than usual so I tested the batches. The 1.026 batch maxed out my Aquaforest alk test just as it was turning so I’d guess it was somewhere above 14 which is what that test tops at. The 1.025 batch started turning a little quicker but still looked to be above 14. So I tested calcium on the 1.026 batch with a salifert calcium and it still hadn’t turned colors when I was done with the syringe so it’s somewhere above 500.

The SG on these was tested with a Milwaukee digital Refractometer that was freshly calibrated. I also rechecked the calibration to make sure I wasn’t crazy. Also I always make the same amount of salt measured accurately with 8g ro/do and 1260 grams of IO so I’m sure I did it the same.

the levels I got make me think I somehow got Reef Crystals bags mixed up in an IO box since the levels seem close to what RC is. Anyone experienced this?

PatW · Dec 21, 2019

I once had a bag whose ALC was way off. I forget if it was RC or IO. So strange things can happen.

trmiv · Dec 21, 2019

So I just opened another bag from the box to check it. Mixed up a gallon to test. Same thing. Over 14 dkh. Verified that my test kit is fine with a Fauna Marin Multi-reference solution and tested spot on what the bottle says, 6.6 dkh.

all I can think is a got reef crystals in a instant ocean box.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2019

trmiv said:
So I just opened another bag from the box to check it. Mixed up a gallon to test. Same thing. Over 14 dkh. Verified that my test kit is fine with a Fauna Marin Multi-reference solution and tested spot on what the bottle says, 6.6 dkh.

all I can think is a got reef crystals in a instant ocean box.

did you try measuring the alk of the fresh water you are using to make the salt?

salinity can also still be the explantation.

trmiv · Dec 21, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
did you try measuring the alk of the fresh water you are using to make the salt?

salinity can also still be the explantation.

I did not but it’s the same RO/DI I always use.

Don’t see how it could be salinity. Calibrated the Milwaukee a few times to be sure. Also crossed checked my tank, and it was reading the same 1.026 as always. Also checked the Brightwell calibration fluid and the Fauna Marin multi-reference and both read what the bottles say. (1.026 for brightwell. 35 psu on the Fauna Marin switched to psu on the Milwaukee.). Also verified my alk kit against the Fauna Marin.

Unless everything is lying to me or I’ve gone crazy (a possibility), it seems I got some mixed up box of salt.

Flippers4pups · Dec 21, 2019

Is the salt caked or clumpy in the bags?

trmiv · Dec 21, 2019

No it looks totally fine. No clumping or caking.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2019

It could be a bad batch. You might also try mixing the salt well. It can settle in a bag or bucket

Flippers4pups · Dec 21, 2019

trmiv said:
No it looks totally fine. No clumping or caking.

The reason is I had a box of it that was clumped back during the summer and it mixed high in alkalinity.

Flippers4pups · Dec 21, 2019

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It could be a bad batch. You might also try mixing the salt well. It can settle in a bag or bucket

This^. Randy, even with CA high, could one be okay with reducing alkalinity via muriatic acid and still use the salt?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 21, 2019

Flippers4pups said:
This^. Randy, even with CA high, could one be okay with reducing alkalinity via muriatic acid and still use the salt?

Yes, or just using it for small water changes that do not boost alk too high.

trmiv · Dec 21, 2019

Yea I mixed it well. Flipped the bag a bunch. Then poured it into an old IO bucket and rolled that around and then mixed it with a big kitchen spoon.

not sure if I will use it or not. I may just use it for quarantine tank setup and water changes and buy another box. I don’t like dealing with muriatic acid.

The Aquatic Arsenal · Dec 21, 2019

I have had this issue with IO Reef Crystals for 6 months now at least. From what I read, they do it on purpose. I just changed the amount of the water change along with frequency as well to keep parameters where I want them. On some batches I have to dose Alkalinity though.

trmiv · Dec 21, 2019

I’ll admit it puts me off IO a bit. I’ve been mostly using IO for 15 years with a few times switching over the years to Oceanic, Kent, Reef Crystals and Red Sea once. Usually come back to IO for the price. But I definitely don’t like that a mix up like this can happen. I’ve been tempted to switch to HW Marine mix Reefer since it mixes closer to what I actually keep the tank at. This may be my moment lol.

Dr. Dendrostein · Dec 21, 2019

trmiv said:
So I’ve been using IO for years, and typically the levels in the new batches I get are pretty consistent, and usually around what everyone reports. (420ish calcium, 10.5 alk). I recently got in a new 200g box of salt. I throughly mixed one of the bags and then made two batches of saltwater. One 8g batch at 1.026 for my display and one 5g batch at 1.025 for my QT.

I noticed this time I got a lot more precipitation than usual so I tested the batches. The 1.026 batch maxed out my Aquaforest alk test just as it was turning so I’d guess it was somewhere above 14 which is what that test tops at. The 1.025 batch started turning a little quicker but still looked to be above 14. So I tested calcium on the 1.026 batch with a salifert calcium and it still hadn’t turned colors when I was done with the syringe so it’s somewhere above 500.

The SG on these was tested with a Milwaukee digital Refractometer that was freshly calibrated. I also rechecked the calibration to make sure I wasn’t crazy. Also I always make the same amount of salt measured accurately with 8g ro/do and 1260 grams of IO so I’m sure I did it the same.

the levels I got make me think I somehow got Reef Crystals bags mixed up in an IO box since the levels seem close to what RC is. Anyone experienced this?

I once made a batch of 200 gallons I checked pH and low pH(7.7ph?, I emailed them and they told me before using to mix the salt around in it's plastic bag each bag . I didn't tell him anything but I said to myself why don't you tell us on the box somewhere that was 200 gallons of salt. Then I went with Fritz salt no issues. Now I use real ocean water

Flippers4pups · Dec 21, 2019

trmiv said:
I’ll admit it puts me off IO a bit. I’ve been mostly using IO for 15 years with a few times switching over the years to Oceanic, Kent, Reef Crystals and Red Sea once. Usually come back to IO for the price. But I definitely don’t like that a mix up like this can happen. I’ve been tempted to switch to HW Marine mix Reefer since it mixes closer to what I actually keep the tank at. This may be my moment lol.

I hear you. Tried switching over to Fritz blue box some months ago and didn't test the newly made saltwater. After three water changes I had some SPS die off and tank looked bad. Tested newly made saltwater and it's alkalinity was over 14 dkh. I test every batch of new salt now. Still using IO with no issues.

I think you got a bad batch. For that matter, any salt brand could have a bad batch.

Larry L · Dec 21, 2019

Dr. Dendrostein said:
I once made a batch of 200 gallons I checked pH and low pH(7.7ph?, I emailed them and they told me before using to mix the salt around in it's plastic bag each bag . I didn't tell him anything but I said to myself why don't you tell us on the box somewhere that was 200 gallons of salt.

Mixing the dry salt first is not going to make any difference if you mix up the whole 200 gallon bag at once, because everything ends up in the water anyway. The recommendations for mixing the dry salt are to make sure that if you make a partial batch, it won't accidentally get more or less of some component because of settling and separation.