instant calcium loss

[Anonymous]

just wanted to let everyone know that i too purchased a bad batch of IO that was low in calcium.
i have actually been using the bucket for some time and was at a loss trying to solve a low calcium problem with waterchanges... turns out i am not too swift at times... the bucket is nearly gone and i just now have discovered this salt mix's deficiency

the water tests as 300 ppm at a SG of 1.026. i went and purchased some turbo calcium adn am fixing it that way..

...just a "heads up" for those that may be experiencing this.

 

[Reef Guy11]

You know Podman, that could be the reason I couldn't for the life of me, keep my Calcium in my other tank up. I used a Calcium reactor I added 2 part B-Ionic no change. So even though I started with IO salt on the new tank as actually was getting the same thing like last time. So I started doing my water Change with Oceanic Salt I'll be a Son of a Buck if My Calcium isn't up in 400's actually last check was dkh was 14.4 and Calcium was @ 435 So it is good Salt. My 2 Cents.

 

[K9coral]

Thanks for the warning. Kinda makes me wonder....

 

[Anonymous]

Me too.

Ive been battling this for ages.

My IO mixes at a Sal od 1.025
CA 260
Alk 10DKH
Mag 800

I will be switchign salts once I finish this last bucket
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[t gallo]

carefull when you switch salt mixes, do a little at a time, some people are getting bad results when they do a large water change with a diff salt mix.

 

[Reef Guy11]

yeah i have heard that before. That is why I do it on my weekly water changes of 15 gals. Haven't had problems yet by doing that way.

 

[Anonymous]

Whoa... bad news, bad Instant Ocean people!!! :evil:

I'm going to STOP recommending this mix as of now. 260 just isn't acceptable. What has everyone else's readings out of the bag been? I mean, 300-325, while not exactly optimal, wouldn't be so bad, but well under 300???

What mix are you folks going to switch to?

 

[Ira]

Switch to Oceanic Salt. It mixes better and has more calcium than IO

 

[Anonymous]

I don't use salt except in my cooking, and then it's usually going to be Kosher. I've heard some real bad tell of Oceanic not mixing batches consistently.

Welcome to reefs.org, Ira!

 

[Sahin]

I have used Reef Cystals and Kent salt in the past. Last month I decided to buy Instant Ocean as I wanted to try out this salt that so many poeple are using.

I was shocked to fint out that Instant Ocean have a calcium reading of only 340ppm (I took out my DSB and carried out a 100% water change so I measured the calcium from water that had been mixing for 4 days).

I first thought it was a bad batch or something but when I posted on a UK reef site, I found out most poeple were aware that the calcium content in IO was pretty low.

Reef Cystals always gave me readings 420+ and Kents salt was about 400.

Have you measured the magnesium levels? Its way lower than NSW/Reefcrystals/Kent!

I am going back to using Reef Crystals even if it costs me more per bucket. It cheaper than adding lots of calcium and magnesium supplements.

 

[Reef Guy11]

SM what do you mean not Mixing Consistly I have been using it now With no Problems So far. even On the tanks I service.

Oh by the way I set up a 120 euro Style tank for my aunt She live in Coto De Caza South Oragne County. I will put pic of the tank Soon on the photo gallery If you want to check them out.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't use salt except in my cooking, and then it's usually going to be Kosher. I've heard some real bad tell of Oceanic not mixing batches consistently.

Welcome to reefs.org, Ira!

I would like to know more about this also.Where did this come from? I have tested every bucket I have made and it has always been very consistent so far.All this salt mess is gonna make me give up on this mess.
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[Anonymous]

Cool you guys. Now, see, I don't think a calcium level of 340 is bad at all, you really only want it between 350 and 400 in the first place, right? But that level is very inconsistent with someone else's 240, assuming all are using RO/DI to mix.

As for Oceanic, I've seen a lot of complaints on WWM regarding its consistency, and have had other complaints relayed to me via various crewmembers.

Can we assume most folks are using RO/DI to mix up their salt, and is there anyone else who'd like to offer up their measurements?

 

[Anonymous]

I have used Reef Cystals and Kent salt in the past. Last month I decided to buy Instant Ocean as I wanted to try out this salt that so many poeple are using.

I was shocked to fint out that Instant Ocean have a calcium reading of only 340ppm (I took out my DSB and carried out a 100% water change so I measured the calcium from water that had been mixing for 4 days).

I first thought it was a bad batch or something but when I posted on a UK reef site, I found out most poeple were aware that the calcium content in IO was pretty low.

Reef Cystals always gave me readings 420+ and Kents salt was about 400.

Have you measured the magnesium levels? Its way lower than NSW/Reefcrystals/Kent!

I am going back to using Reef Crystals even if it costs me more per bucket. It cheaper than adding lots of calcium and magnesium supplements.

i have been using IO for years and have tested it in the past and found it to mix to over 400 ppm on calcium. i think there may have been a bad run at their facility.
i did check the magnesium in this bucket and my salifert showed a concentration of 1440 ppm which is plenty exceptable in my opinion.

i do hope that they fix whatever problem they are having, i don't like having a low calcium level as calcification really slows when the concentration slips below 350 ppm, and IO is a brand i have grown to trust. as i recall Kent was quite similiar to IO in one particular test done by Bingham that was shown in print in the annual mag, Marine Fish and Reef... this test didn't address calcium but it focused on trace elements like magnesium and iron and if i could find the issue i might sound a bit more informed.

maybe i should write an e-mail to IO explaining my concerns...

 

[cdeakle]

I just bought a new bucket of IO, I will test and let you guys know what I found out.

I normally use KM but a local lfs closed and IO was all that I could find locally. Should I be worried?

I'm sure that just like anything else that is mass produced that everything can't be perfect all the time no? I'm sure that this happens with all of the major salt brands at one time or another, or could I just be off my rocker?

 

[ChrisV]

So what is the highest quality salt? I used IO for a while, I think my tank is happier and has better visibility since I switched to redsea salt. Should I try reef crystals?

Sorry I dont have calc/magn test,
-ChrisV

 

[Baianotang]

Im not convinced. (?)

 

[Baianotang]

Could never speak bad about a fine product as IO.

 

[Anonymous]

Cool you guys. Now, see, I don't think a calcium level of 340 is bad at all, you really only want it between 350 and 400 in the first place, right? But that level is very inconsistent with someone else's 240, assuming all are using RO/DI to mix.

As for Oceanic, I've seen a lot of complaints on WWM regarding its consistency, and have had other complaints relayed to me via various crewmembers.

Can we assume most folks are using RO/DI to mix up their salt, and is there anyone else who'd like to offer up their measurements?

Oceanic salt has a calcium around 420 ,ph 8.2,alk 8.6mg/l........and those readings have been very consistent,never much change or anything "drastic" if you know what I mean. IO on the other hand the calcium has always been low 340 to 360 at the most and I do call that bad,the ph has always ran on the low end around 7.7 I consider that bad also.The only thing I can always get the salt excat is the salinity :lol: every salt mix .35ptt on the money every time,amazing :lol:

Oh yea I forgot yes I use ro/di for all water going into the tank.
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[Anonymous]

Could never speak bad about a fine product as IO.

maybe if your product was not so "fine"?