2willdo Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 I've been using Fritz salt for about 4 years and have been really happy with the consistency of parameters. I just bought a 55 lb. box (200 gal. size) and am noticing a definite low alk pattern and elevated SG than I used to get. I consistently am getting 7.3-7.4 dKH using both RODI and distilled water (0 TDS and neutral pH) using both my Hanna checker and Salifert test kit. Salinity is 1.026 on a refractometer, used to mix btw. 1.024-1.025. I transferred the salt from the box to a dedicated (has only ever had Fritz salt in it) plastic bucket with tight-fitting lid and mixed the dry salt thoroughly as well. Had no idea it was a bad batch and of course the original box went out in recycling before I realized there was a problem. I mixed it with a pump for a few hours then turned off the pump and tested it. Then I let it sit for another 4 hours, briefly remixed with pump (about 10 mins.) and tested again. Water temp 76° F, other params are pH 8.1, CA 435, Mg 1425. This is a big box of salt, purchased on Amazon from Saltwater Aquarium. I've written both Fritz and the seller... hopefully the seller will accept the return in a non-original container? Grrrrrrrrr......... Will (maybe) try the small bag one more time to make sure it is just this one batch. Anyone else have any problems with Fritz lately? Quote Link to comment
FISHnChix Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Have not had to order lately, but I am about to place an order.. keep us updated on what they say please.. 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 I don't understand how the batch is bad? From my experience with salts, I've noticed slight differences in parameter mixing with each new box. That's with all the brands I've used. 1 Quote Link to comment
FISHnChix Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 37 minutes ago, Clown79 said: I don't understand how the batch is bad? From my experience with salts, I've noticed slight differences in parameter mixing with each new box. That's with all the brands I've used. When you buy a salt that is supposed to mix around 9dkh and it's all the way down at 7 makes you wonder what is going on.. Quote Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Cant say ive had an issue, and I go through around a box a month. 2 Quote Link to comment
2willdo Posted August 18, 2019 Author Share Posted August 18, 2019 41 minutes ago, Clown79 said: I don't understand how the batch is bad? From my experience with salts, I've noticed slight differences in parameter mixing with each new box. That's with all the brands I've used. I have never had such a dramatic difference in params before... the slightly higher salinity I can adjust but the difference between 7.3 and the average 9.0 dKH is not slight (IMHO anyway). Maybe "bad" wasn't the right word to use. Quote Link to comment
2willdo Posted August 18, 2019 Author Share Posted August 18, 2019 2 minutes ago, HarryPotter said: Cant say ive had an issue, and I go through around a box a month. I don't use as much as you do, maybe one box every 3 months or so, have never had a problem like this either. Quote Link to comment
2willdo Posted August 18, 2019 Author Share Posted August 18, 2019 1 hour ago, FISHnChix said: Have not had to order lately, but I am about to place an order.. keep us updated on what they say please.. I will let you know as soon as I know... Meanwhile the seller on Amazon has approved a refund on receipt of return so I guess I will be shipping it back this coming week. 1 Quote Link to comment
NaturallyKait Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 You can contact Fritz with the batch info on your box. They track each batch and should be able to figure out what’s going on. 1 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 On 8/18/2019 at 11:01 AM, 2willdo said: I have never had such a dramatic difference in params before... the slightly higher salinity I can adjust but the difference between 7.3 and the average 9.0 dKH is not slight (IMHO anyway). Maybe "bad" wasn't the right word to use. Fritz gives me some wacky parameters sometimes. It caused my inverts to stop moving when I got a batch with Mg over 2000. 🙂 Fritz can report a lower alk and people have asked them about this before, I have had it happen also. Although it does not appear to be the salt as the cause according to Fritz but possibly source water, container, or carbon dioxide in the air. I looked this up awhile back, found the email: When we are contacted saying there is a loss of alkalinity or precipitation we work with the customer to ascertain if anything on their end has contributed to this. Because our salt is on the high end of the critical parameters it really needs to be used with purified water. Many issues are resolved when it is shown that the mix water has a starting alkalinity of 5 or higher dKH. Other issues have been traced to mix containers having a layer (sometimes virtually invisible) of the previous sea salt inside. If calcium coats the walls of the mix container and Reef Pro Mix is added alkalinity will drop as insoluble calcium carbonate falls out of solution. Additionally we recommend checking the alkalinity, pH and TDS. In some cases carbon dioxide can build up resulting in lower pH which can erode alkalinity. You want a neutral pH, no measurable alkalinity and 0 TDS. However, at this time we don’t have data to indicate the frequency of this arising as an issue. In rare cases, the concern is not resolved at that step. Right now we have a few situations like that we are exploring. What is puzzling is that in our laboratory with the retain samples from that specific lot, we have not been able to reproduce what the customer is reporting. 2 Quote Link to comment
2willdo Posted August 19, 2019 Author Share Posted August 19, 2019 5 hours ago, Tamberav said: I looked this up awhile back, found the email: ... Great stuff, thank you! The first batch I mixed had actually not even been transferred to the bucket yet, I did roll the still sealed bag around to make sure it was mixed up though... the water(s) I mixed single gallon test batches with after I discovered the low alk was either RODI from my LFS or distilled (not purified drinking water). I have been using distilled for about three years and now that I have this AI 30L I am seriously considering purchasing another RODI system (had one years ago and sold it). Getting tired of filling up shopping carts at Walmart with gallons of the stuff. That same LFS measured 7.3 dKH with their stuff too... Haven't heard back from Fritz yet, but I imagine if/when I do it will be similar information. I really should have kept that original box but I haven't had this problem before. The bucket I use has only been used for Fritz salt and has a very tight-fitting lid to protect it from moisture. Again appreciate the help thanks again! 5 hours ago, Tamberav said: Quote Link to comment
Justind823 Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 I had a low alk batch a couple years ago so I contacted Fritz and after giving them the info on the box I received they sent me a brand new batch. 1 Quote Link to comment
Garf Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 Fritz RPM mixes 8-9 dkh at 1.026, you are mixing to 1.024-1.025 and getting 7.4, you be right near 8 if you mix it to 1.026. Also, I would never buy on Amazon, who knows what you will get. If you have no other choice, then I feel for ya. Fritz has been pretty consistent for me, I have been buying at my LFS. 1 Quote Link to comment
2willdo Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 Update (sort of). Never heard back from Fritz on my question, unfortunately. However, the seller graciously refunded the full purchase price and also did not require me to return the product. I have bought Fritz RPM on Amazon for the whole time I have been using it (+/- 4 yrs.) mostly because I was using it in a little pico and our local LFS didn't sell it in the smaller quantities. Have not had any issues with whacked out parameters before this, even once I started buying the 200 gal. box for the larger tank. Bought a new batch in the 14 lb. bag size that I used to use originally in the Spec just to double check and everything mixed within the parameters I was expecting, so obviously something was not right with the previous mix. Quote Link to comment
2willdo Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 On 8/19/2019 at 7:31 PM, Garf said: Fritz RPM mixes 8-9 dkh at 1.026, you are mixing to 1.024-1.025 and getting 7.4, you be right near 8 if you mix it to 1.026. Also, I would never buy on Amazon, who knows what you will get. If you have no other choice, then I feel for ya. Fritz has been pretty consistent for me, I have been buying at my LFS. Garf, it was 7.3-7.4 mixed at 1.026. Have never had trouble with buying Fritz on Amazon, but I do get where you are coming from on that. Quote Link to comment
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