What is going on with Instant Ocean salt??

[ahl]

Hi guys,

Just measured my fresh mixed water (suspected it after a big drop in Mg with my last WC). I made a small mix in a 3 cups container to eliminate variables and my measures are:
78F
Gravity - 1.025
NO3 - 0
NH4 - 0.5 <<<<??? See pic below
PO4 - 0
Mg - 1200 <<<< low
Ca - 370 <<<< low
Alk - 10.2

I read a review in BRS of someone complaining that his IO salt came high in ammonia so I decided to run the entire panel.

Pic below is my rodi vs mix.

Any issues with IO salt mix?

 

[Hitman]

Oh wow!!! I just bought 4 of the 200 gallon boxes of it. Your talking the regular IO not the reef crystals right?
My new tank will be ready for water mid July so I’ll definitely be running a full set of tests like you did.

 

[atomic081]

Ive never had a problem with IO. I did notice they are using better bags in the 200 gallon boxes. I think these will hold up to breakage and water penetration better.

 

[Water Dog]

The API ammonia test is notorious for giving a false positive at the low end. I personally wouldn’t sweat it.

 

[road_runner]

The API ammonia test is notorious for giving a false positive at the low end. I personally wouldn’t sweat it.

Agreed. I would not trust api on low range..

 

[Hitman]

The API ammonia test is notorious for giving a false positive at the low end. I personally wouldn’t sweat it.

Problem is there are folks with Salifert, RedSea, and those badge things claiming the same thing on web reviews lately.

 

[JimFuller]

Hi guys,

Just measured my fresh mixed water (suspected it after a big drop in Mg with my last WC). I made a small mix in a 3 cups container to eliminate variables and my measures are:
78F
Gravity - 1.025
NO3 - 0
NH4 - 0.5 <<<<??? See pic below
PO4 - 0
Mg - 1200 <<<< low
Ca - 370 <<<< low
Alk - 10.2

I read a review in BRS of someone complaining that his IO salt came high in ammonia so I decided to run the entire panel.

Pic below is my rodi vs mix.

Any issues with IO salt mix?

Please be aware the the ammonia test kit in API are notorious for showing small amounts when it is zero. Also, saltwater kits are not always valid for freshwater (RO/DI) testing.

The other values look about right for Straight Instant Ocean.

I use Reef Crystals with good results.

 

[Fiesty]

Reef Crystal's from 200 gal box tested with calibrated Trident and mixed at 35

 

[Water Dog]

Problem is there are folks with Salifert, RedSea, and those badge things claiming the same thing on web reviews lately.

That’s news to me... I just picked up a new bucket of IO, so the next time I do a water change, I’ll have to test it and see. I use a Red Sea ammonia test kit. I’ve used IO for years with no issues as have most of the experienced and successful stickheads in my local reed club.

 

[Hitman]

I just picked up a new bucket of IO, so the next time I do a water change, I’ll have to test it and see. I use a Red Sea ammonia test kit. I’ve used IO for years with no issues as have most of the experienced and successful stickheads in my local reed club.

Oh I agree it’s the only salt I’ve used the entire 25 going on 26 years I’ve had saltwater. It’s cheap and it has not been the cause of me not being able to grow anything. Light and flow in the past years well that’s another story.

 

[bluprntguy]

How are you testing specific gravity? It’s odd that almost everything is low.

 

[Red1CA]

I’ve used IO several times, corals didn’t like it. RC is where it was at, but at the moment using live aquaria.

 

[ArizonaAquatics]

I personally love IO. If anything, Reef Crystals usually tests high in every category for me. I dont do as many water changes these days so luckily I'm not worrying about it too often. I always test the batch when I do just in case though[emoji1303]

 

[ahl]

I use the 200g box of the plain sea salt. Most params check too low for what they advertise and it is causing me a swing downward when I do WC.

 

[fuelman]

I use to reef crystals & tested mine with API fresh & salt test kits & salifert both API kits showed 0.5 salifert showed 0.00

 

[ahl]

So, I called @instantocean to hear their take on the mater...... and what a bust! They could not tell me the expected parameters for a fresh mixed batch for either of their salt products. They said my Mg at 1200 has no problem and that "salt buffer" would help with my Ca and my high ammonia. Also that the recommended gravity is between 1.020 and 1.024. The guy on the phone was clueless.

 

[biecacka]

I use IO and don’t mind. I run a calcium reactor so it replaces all the trace elements most ppl say IO lacks. I do run AWC at about 2 gallons a day though so I don’t see any swings .


Corey

 

[ArizonaAquatics]

Interesting that you called them and got that response. Probably just some call center dude that doesnt know much about the salt mix specifically.

On that note, I don't do a w/c without testing the batch first. No matter what salt I use. I had a couple bags of RS Coral Pro that mixed up at almost 12 alk one time.

Recently I've been using the RS Trace Colors regimen and it's been working great for me. Haven't been doing many water changes recently to avoid throwing the parameters off!

 

[amoore311]

I've been a Reef Crystals user for 15 years. I just divorced them myself due to lack of consistency, lack of quality, and the minuscule cost difference of running a much better quality salt.

I ended up with Brightwell NeoMarine myself.

 

[Hitman]

Just did a full test on all 1000 gallons of fresh mixed water for my new build, I mixed it at 200 gallons a time as that’s how I buy it, added top off water to keep a 1.026 salinity with a refractometer, filled the tanks and sump with the fresh mix after each batch mixed for 36 hours. I then allowed it to run in the tanks and sump for 24 hours topping off as needed to keep 1.026 salinity.
All tests were done 3 times to verify human error/accuracy.
IO reg salt :
ALK. 11.8 DKH Hanna ( 11.9 DKH on first test )
CA. 400 ppm Salifert
MG. 1200 ppm Salifert
NH4. 0.5 API
PO4. 0.0 Hanna ULR
NO3. 0.0 API

The NH4 and MG are very upsetting.