Skye008 Posted August 2, 2005 Posted August 2, 2005 Beware of high nitrates (7-10ppm) in Petco's Catalina Natural Sea Water... A Petco just opened near my home and I purchased 2 jugs of their Catalina sea water. I decided to check the parameters before using it in my tank. Much to my dismay, the nitrate readings for both jugs were way high for a reef tank, between 7 and 10 ppm. Needless to say, I discarded the water immediately. Has anyone had a similar experience?
randygsx Posted August 2, 2005 Posted August 2, 2005 Ouch...sorry to hear. What kit were you using btw? ~randy
steelhealr Posted August 2, 2005 Posted August 2, 2005 FYI...on their website, as small as the level is, they DO post that their water contains nitrates. SH
Skye008 Posted August 2, 2005 Author Posted August 2, 2005 I measured the NO3 level using a Salifert test kit.
Skye008 Posted August 2, 2005 Author Posted August 2, 2005 steelhealr... Thanks for the heads-up. I'll take a look at their web site. On the package, however, it states that the water is "nitrate free."
steelhealr Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 Maybe you got a bad batch. Some of the big reefers here swear by it. If it was me..and another batch came in with nitrates in it....well....SH
NepTuNe-UsD Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 I was curious of the same product but decided to mix synthetically instead. The website does state "Nitrate Free" however. http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?fami...&ct2=Salt&ct3=#
tnguy86 Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 the nitrates were free of charge...haahhah...lolz
randygsx Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 Originally posted by tnguy86 the nitrates were free of charge...haahhah...lolz Scored a hitchhiker! congrats ~randy
steelhealr Posted August 3, 2005 Posted August 3, 2005 Skye...there seems to be so many variables when buying SW or store RO. There are always horror posts here about contamination, imperfections, etc. I know that some people thinks it's a real HA making one's own SW, but, I know what goes in...I know the s.g....I know the temp.....I know it's nitrate free. JMO. SH
emoutz Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 I've used catalina water for most of my 12gdx water changes (infrequent at best) and to fill the tank. Never had a problem with nitrates in the water.
oogie Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 I swore by this water for past 2 years. I have been purchasing it thru petco. I have been testing it in the early days, and it was always dead on at 1.025 salinity and 8.3 PH with very low nitrates. So I stop testing the water after awhile. Recently my tank didn't look right so when I checked the water, salinity was at 1.020 and 7.9 PH with lots of nitrates. YIKES. I am not sure if this was a bad batch but now I am scared to use it.
clsund Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 I wouldn't be scared to use it. Just make sure you do a quick trate test before you use it.
steelhealr Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 ...and if it's positive, does the store give you a refund? SH
ashburn Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 thats why i stopped using it and making my own salt water.
yoshiod9 Posted August 4, 2005 Posted August 4, 2005 happened to me when i first bought catalina from my gf's petco. mine had high levels of phosphates though...
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