Would You Use This Salt?

[DeepBrew]

I've been using SeaChem Reef Salt since I set up my tank a bit less than a year ago. Early on I would test kH and Ca of new water after I got the salinity to 35ppt. It always seemed consistent so I stopped testing everything but salinity of new water before using it.

I was going to do a water change today and tested the tank water before hand. The test results using API test kits were:

Salinity 35ppt
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Ca 480
kH 9
Mg 1350 (salifert)

The calcium never runs that high in my tank so I decided to test the new water:
Salinity 35ppt
Ca 600
kH 10
Mg greater than 1500, would not read on salifert test

I remembered I recently got a 60lb box of Reef Salt from Amazon and realized the Ca has been creeping up since I started using it a couple weeks ago.

I took a water sample to the LFS, they tested it and verified my results.

I think something is off with this box of salt and am wondering whether I should use it. I'm working really hard to maintain stability in the tank to get the best coral health possible. If I'm trying to keep calcium in the low 400s, it seems like every time I do a water change with this salt it's going to throw the tank's chemistry out of whack.

Am I missing something or do you consider this a problem too?

Thanks!

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

My experience, and whether it's right or not I'm not sure, is that since I've been running my tank, I have been using IO Reef Crystals. My mag and calc have always been high. Mag 1470-1500, calc 470-500. I have personally seen no ill effects. I can not explain on a chemical composition level as to whether it is good, bad, or indifferent. But, it has worked for me. I believe the key is maintaining a stable alk. Again, just my .02 and personal experience.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've been using SeaChem Reef Salt since I set up my tank a bit less than a year ago. Early on I would test kH and Ca of new water after I got the salinity to 35ppt. It always seemed consistent so I stopped testing everything but salinity of new water before using it.

I was going to do a water change today and tested the tank water before hand. The test results using API test kits were:

Salinity 35ppt
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Ca 480
kH 9
Mg 1350 (salifert)

The calcium never runs that high in my tank so I decided to test the new water:
Salinity 35ppt
Ca 600
kH 10
Mg greater than 1500, would not read on salifert test

I remembered I recently got a 60lb box of Reef Salt from Amazon and realized the Ca has been creeping up since I started using it a couple weeks ago.

I took a water sample to the LFS, they tested it and verified my results.

I think something is off with this box of salt and am wondering whether I should use it. I'm working really hard to maintain stability in the tank to get the best coral health possible. If I'm trying to keep calcium in the low 400s, it seems like every time I do a water change with this salt it's going to throw the tank's chemistry out of whack.

Am I missing something or do you consider this a problem too?

Thanks!

You need to make sure you properly mixed the box/bag of salt prior to mixing with RO water. IF you've done this, confirm with seachem that that is suppose to be the levels provided. The worst that could happen, is you wouldn't have to dose as much?

 

[redfishbluefish]

The other consideration is what you are using to measure salinity. If that is off, you'll get funky numbers with the tests. If it's a swing arm hydrometer, pitch it and buy a refractometer....and calibrate it with calibration fluid, not RO/DI water.

 

[DeepBrew]

The other consideration is what you are using to measure salinity. If that is off, you'll get funky numbers with the tests. If it's a swing arm hydrometer, pitch it and buy a refractometer....and calibrate it with calibration fluid, not RO/DI water.

I use a refractometer. I calibrated it with a 35ppt solution from BRS today before I tested. The LFS checked salinity with their refractometer too, they got 36ppt. I think that probably about as close as can be expected from hobby type instruments.

Thanks!

 

[cmcoker]

I would contact seachem, their website indicates the levels should be lower:
"NOTE: Depending on specific gravity, alkalinity should be about 4.0–5.0 meq/L, calcium should be between 380–430 mg/L, magnesium should be between 1200–1350 mg/L, and strontium should be 8–12 mg/L."

 

[DeepBrew]

I've sent an email to SeaChem.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

 

[lion king]

Some salt does higher concentrations of certain elements and people that don't dose rely on their water changes to maintain their major elements. I personally have found a salt that is within the range I like to keep my tank, so when I do a water change everything is predictable and stays in line.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I think the issue that the OP has justifies why that isn't always a good idea. Can be costly also.

 

[vladandlilith]

Seachem's Reef Salt is Instant Ocean with more calcium, alk., and a few other things added to it. The Aquavitro Salinity is a different story. Yes, this did come from someone I know that works at Seachem.

 

[DeepBrew]

I picked up some Instant Ocean at the LFS yesterday evening when they tested the new water and verified my result. I made up a batch with RO/DI water last night, the alkalinity was a bit high but calcium and magnesium were spot on where my tank's been running with the Reef Salt. I ended up mixing the two waters half and half for my water change. I'll test again tomorrow and see where the tank stands.

Oddly enough, I'd been sort of considering switching to Instant Ocean because of the high boron content of Reef Salt and the fact that so many people have success with IO. I have no idea if boron is really an issue, everything in my tank seems fine using Reef Salt. But I/O is cheaper and I lot of people swear by it.

 

[Sabellafella]

Ive seen alot of tickets the past couple of weeks about the seachem salts with bad batches. Maybe give it a quick lookup to varify if you need to replace it

 

[DeepBrew]

I'm too efficient for my own good. The box of salt had 4 bags in it. When I opened the first one I dumped it into an empty bucket. Then I put the other three bag into another bucket and recycled to box. If it had a lot number on it, that's gone. Two of the bags are still unopened but they don't have a lot number or anything printed on them. I sent SeaChem an email, we'll see what they say Tuesday after the holiday.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions!

 

[DeepBrew]

I received a reply from SeaChem today. They basically told me that they don't manufacture Reef Salt in house so the levels will vary. And that they are working on moving manufacturing to their own facility "where the quality control will be much better". Then they suggested that if a want "a higher quality salt that comes with a guarantee" I should switch to Salinity.

I've sent them a polite reply letting them know that I don't think the solution to their QA problem of telling me to buy Salinity is a very good one. I also told them that using the box of salt in question will cause stability problems and extra work for me to correct it and since the levels of calcium and magnesium are nowhere near the typical values listed on their web site they should refund my money.

I seriously doubt that will happen, but I've decided I'm not using the rest of that box of salt.

 

[cmcoker]

I received a reply from SeaChem today. They basically told me that they don't manufacture Reef Salt in house so the levels will vary. And that they are working on moving manufacturing to their own facility "where the quality control will be much better". Then they suggested that if a want "a higher quality salt that comes with a guarantee" I should switch to Salinity.

I've sent them a polite reply letting them know that I don't think the solution to their QA problem of telling me to buy Salinity is a very good one. I also told them that using the box of salt in question will cause stability problems and extra work for me to correct it and since the levels of calcium and magnesium are nowhere near the typical values listed on their web site they should refund my money.

I seriously doubt that will happen, but I've decided I'm not using the rest of that box of salt.

That is a disappointing response..

 

[DeepBrew]

I sent SeaChem a detailed explanation of why this particular box of salt is causing stability issues in my tank. Today they responded with an offer to replace the box of reef Salt or send a bucket of salinity. I think that's fair enough.

I don't have much confidence in Reef Salt these days so I asked them to send a bucket of salinity. I've never tried it but a lot of folks like it. It's so expensive it will have to really impress me to keep me using it though.

DeepBrew

 

[cmcoker]

I sent SeaChem a detailed explanation of why this particular box of salt is causing stability issues in my tank. Today they responded with an offer to replace the box of reef Salt or send a bucket of salinity. I think that's fair enough.

I don't have much confidence in Reef Salt these days so I asked them to send a bucket of salinity. I've never tried it but a lot of folks like it. It's so expensive it will have to really impress me to keep me using it though.

DeepBrew

Glad they are trying to make it right!

 

[Gamma]

Best of luck...I am having huge problems similar to yours with stability and i am using Seachem Salinity Salt.

plus mixing this salt is horrible...
1. It never clears
2. Leaves a horrible residue on walls of my mixing container that has to be physically scrubbed off.
3. Have developed a film on top if my water in tank that even adjusting powerheads does not go away.
4. When put into tank for water change...reef looks like 2% milk for hours.
5. Having huge problems with maintaining stability that never had before using another high quality reef salt.

Contacted Seachem and they basically said it was user error and I was not mixing it correctly...hope you have better experience than I have.

I did three water changes with my bucket of Salinity and after their not our problem response I put it in garage and went back to my Red Sea Coral Pro Salt which is more expensive than the Seachem Salinity Salt.

All issues have gone away with just one water change...I will be rethinking future use of Seachem products if they provide this bad support for their products not taking any responsibility.

 

[DeepBrew]

Best of luck...I am having huge problems similar to yours with stability and i am using Seachem Salinity Salt.
2. Leaves a horrible residue on walls of my mixing container that has to be physically scrubbed off.

I've had trouble with Reef Salt leaving scum in my mixing tub as well. It doesn't happen with every bucket of salt but the box in question left a terrible mess that required a vinegar bath to clean up. I've heard that Salinity is Reef Salt with a batch testing label on the bucket. I have no idea if that's really true but if it is I doubt I'll care for salinity any more than reef salt at this point.

 

[MrD]

Glad they are sending you a new bucket of salt. In my experience, high calcium levels near 600 ppm have no ill effects on a reef tank. It could cause your Alkalinity level to drop if precipitation occurs.