The Propagator Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Steve, What Ca and Alk test kits did you use? Seachem are BUNK so I don't trust your Mg results. Your numbers are MUCH different that what Billy over at RC got. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p...hreadid=1287118 Wait what ? I just read this ... /\ Seachem makes excellent mag, alk, and calcium test kits now dude. Link to comment
hcsceo Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Well thought I would update. I received an email from DD three weeks ago that they were going to test the batch my salt came from. Never received a response and I sent a follow up email last week with nothing since so I guess there is something they don't want to say or it just isn't important at this point. Below is the last correspondance I had with them. So who knows. My tub of salt is still reading low mag with no change. Once I get through this batch I'll try one more and see if it was just a inconsistant batch. Besides the low Mag my tank really does look good and I'm happy with the salt. Thu 10/30/2008 10:34 AM Investigating for you at the lab Stuart Stuart Bertram BSc Hons Sales Director D-D The Aquarium Solution Ltd Link to comment
spankey Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Not trying to dig this up after awhile, but I decided to purchase this salt and was curious if it's the same mix as most other salts. What I mean is usually a half cup of salt to a gallon of water gets close to 1.025? How is everyone mixing this salt? It seems more coarse than other brands but I want to be sure which is the easiest? I tried to mix a gallon the other day and a half cup to one gallon gave me a salinity reading of 1.022?????? Seeing how it's more coarse it might take more than a half cup to a gallon??? Anyone chime in on that? Thanks Spankey Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Not trying to dig this up after awhile, but I decided to purchase this salt and was curious if it's the same mix as most other salts. What I mean is usually a half cup of salt to a gallon of water gets close to 1.025? How is everyone mixing this salt? It seems more coarse than other brands but I want to be sure which is the easiest? I tried to mix a gallon the other day and a half cup to one gallon gave me a salinity reading of 1.022?????? Seeing how it's more coarse it might take more than a half cup to a gallon??? Anyone chime in on that? Thanks Spankey That's odd, it actually takes a little less than half a cup to get SG to 1.025 for me. Is your refractometer calibrated correctly? I checked mine recently and it should be correct. The coarseness of the salt doesn't seem to affect how well it mixes, but DO mix for 48 hrs. before using. Also, I'd try using something to mix all of the salt in the bucket up well, sometimes certain elements can end up settling. Link to comment
merfin70 Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Same for me. I use 2 cups for 4 gallons. Link to comment
spankey Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 I checked my refractometer and its right on? Maybe I am not allowing it to mix long enough? I usually mix in the morning and do the water change that night? Thanks for the input guys. Are you guys liking this salt? I bought two small buckets so I hope to see some slight changes, even if it's keeping the parameters more in check.... Less dosing!!!! Link to comment
The Propagator Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Aerate and mix it up for a few spankey. Coarse salt mix is always hard to dissolve. Wen ever I get a coarse mix I just use warm water and let it cool down while it mixes with a power head and an air stone. Link to comment
adinsxq Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 i'm using D-D. it's good. Link to comment
Nick's Reef Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 well I got my second bucket about a weekago so I'm going to test the batch I'm mixing now on wedensday and see what I get. Link to comment
hcsceo Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I got a second bucket this week also. I'm planning to mix it up tomorrow and see if my low mag problem was just with that first bucket. Steve Link to comment
dtfleming Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Weird I havent had any problems with the buckets I've bought. Im very happy with this salt just not the price. Link to comment
Nick's Reef Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 very dissapointing results. Sg.35ppt cal440ppm alk 3 meq/L MAG:1000PPM Wtf! i did everything right, even double checked the test results. I used api for cal and seachem for the rest. I'm sticking with this bucket and just going to test then add some epsom salts to the water to get it up where it needs to be. Might e-mail DD about this. Link to comment
hcsceo Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 welcome to my world. Already been through the exact same issue and they never responded after the last email. I haven't tested my new bucket yet but I still have some hope. Steve Link to comment
xbwolfx Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 are both of you using the seachem test? if so, try an elos test and see if there is still a problem. for a salt marketed as high in magnesium (compared to others), i find it odd that your mg is testing so low. Link to comment
SmittyCoco Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Weird I havent had any problems with the buckets I've bought. Im very happy with this salt just not the price. I like this salt as well. I use this salt more as an additive though. I am a pico reefer. So I only do 1 gallon a week wc's. I have used nsw for 2 years now. I add a table spoon to the nsw to bump up the alk. My lfs store has the nsw for 99Cents a gallon. I have a 7 gallon jug that they fill for me for 5 $ . I have not mixed up a batch of this salt from pure Ro water so Idk about low mag. I was dosing the nsw water with alk buffer before reading about this salt about 4 months ago. I like how simple it is to do it this way now , and I have noticed a difference in my Euphyllia looking healthier. As well as greater pe on my sps. Idk if it's imagination , but the results seem noticeable Link to comment
Nick's Reef Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I sent them an e-mail, gonna have my LFS test it with their salifert kit. Link to comment
merfin70 Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Strange that you would get low Mag on this salt. I use Elos kits and my tank is testing out at 1,500/1,600. Link to comment
Nick's Reef Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I'm starting to think now it's the test kit. even though the calibration sample tests ok. Link to comment
davidr2340 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Strange that you would get low Mag on this salt. I use Elos kits and my tank is testing out at 1,500/1,600. Almost the same here... I test out @ 1450 with the Elos test kit... Link to comment
Tony Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I ordered some so I hope it's good. Link to comment
Nick's Reef Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Here's the email I recieved, Nick This is very interesting information. In all of the hundreds of tonnes of salt that we sold last year we have never had reports of a magnesium level this low. We have had people who said that their magnesium level was only 1150 but on testing the retained batches and further testing by the end user it turned out to be that the salinity was lower than they thought or that the test kit was problematic. Batches sizes are 1 tonne so you would have expected someone to make a comment. I have attached this link to a FAQ which illustrates the situation. http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/node/494 Regards Stuart Stuart Bertram BSc Hons Sales Director D-D The Aquarium Solution Ltd I think it has to be the kit, especially if they test each batch before it goes out to check that it's good. Now i need to go fork over $30 for a new kit. Link to comment
Tony Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 I will be dosing Brightwell aquatics A-B and using this salt. Link to comment
beeker Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 i just ordered a buket of this and will be changing from Reef crystals to it if i like the results i'll throw up a new post in 2 weeks after i get the new salt and am able to do a water change, hopefully the results are good i never test my salt before i add it to my tank, i always test the tank after a water change and then adjust the dosage to the tank for that day, test the next day 24 hours later and re adjust, seems to be the easiest way of maintaining satbility in my tank, since no salt has every parameter at 100% Link to comment
hcsceo Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Hey Nick I forgot to ask. Did you mix up your salt in the bucket before you mixed the water? Magnesium has a tendacy to go to the bottom of the bucket during shipping. Steve Link to comment
merfin70 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Good point. I saw some variability from water change to water change until I rolled the bucket and bag around a bit. I'm only making 4 gallons at a time so a well mixed bucket is key. Link to comment
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