Reef Crystals Impression

[coralreefer]

A few months back I received a bucket of Reef Crystals salt. I had used a third of it when I decided to test the Calcium levels of this salt. I mix my salt with this method: aerate and heat RO water for at least 24 hours, then mix salt a cup at a time (10 cups total for 20 gallons RO), wait a few days and use. This is when I decided to test the calcium. The sg of the new saltwater was 1.026 and I believe alkalinity was in the 3 to 3.5meq/L range. I did not have a reliable pH test kit at the time.

The Calcium level turned out to be around 340mg/L. They claim that their calcium levels are above natural seawater (many believe this is 420ppm). I complained to both aquarium systems and drsfostersmith.com, where I bought it from. Aquarium systems wanted me to send them in a cup of salt for further testing. I was extremely busy at the time and lost the address to send it to. Drsfostersmith.com sent me out a new bucket (every time something has gone wrong they have made up for it!) out of good faith. I ended up testing this new bucket and the calcium levels were even lower, coming out to a little over 320mg/L. I do not have pH and alkalinity values for this either. It should be noted that I back checked this kit using the supplied Test sample. My RO water comes from a pinnacle plus RO/DI unit with relatively new filters/membranes that give a TDS reading of zero. I am very comfortable doing titrations from chemistry labs at the U. All in all, I am very confident of the results. It should also be noted that I haven't tested either batch since.

My question is has anyone else tested their freshly mixed saltwater and possibly had similar results? I know many people love reef crystals (and instant ocean) but I am starting to think this may because that is what they are tought or told to use (don't take it to heart!). I am ranting because I really haven't gotten a "high quality" product that was made by Aquarium Systems. If anything, this may show people that just because its sold in the aquarium hobby, does not mean its beneficial in any fashion (first mistake 3 years ago was buying a SeaClone skimmer!).

Also, I was thinking of switching to Tropic Marin (whatever their "reef salt" is called). I tend to trust german products more than some american made (although there is no direct reason for this). Does anyone have any experience with this product? I've read the Salt Impressions article by steven pro:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i3/Salt_Impressions/Salt_Impressions.htm

He doesn't give tropic marin a vote of confidence. However, my favorite acropora frags have come from a tank that used tropic marin.

Just let me know what everybody thinks and if they've had different experiences.

Thanks,
Tim

[coralreefer]

I forgot to include that all test kits used were SeaChem brand

[wes]

I know what you mean about trusting german products... my first car was a porsche (an old one my dad and I worked on together). I need to look into what's available from finland, now I've got a finnish made saab and a finnish fiance, both of which I love.

[spsick]

I thought i'd try reef crystals do to my extreme calcium demands( I always have used Instant ocean) and seen no difference in running 2 buckets through. Then I asked Rafael from the coral nursery what he uses, and what do you know, instant ocean. that's all the convincing I needed, he's the man. I haven't tried tropic marin, as I have always had good results with io.

[PLNelson]

Isn't Sasb made in Sweden?

[Chad Vossen]

hmm, my first bucket of reef crystals was awsome. however, since useing my 2nd bucket of reef crystals, alot of my corals have been in poor health. im now half way through my bucket, and tested a new batch of SW which came out at 300 for the calcium. i suspect more problems with my batch, though i dont trust my other test kits.

my next bucket will be instant ocean, about 10$ cheaper for same or better quality as reef crystals.

[wes]

not positive about right now, but for a while at least they had plants in finland; my '91 900 turbo convertible came from there, anyway.

[Home_Depot]

You got to love a good fin......LOL

We are all made out of high quality stuff!!!!!

[tico mike]

hmm, my first bucket of reef crystals was awsome. however, since useing my 2nd bucket of reef crystals, alot of my corals have been in poor health. im now half way through my bucket, and tested a new batch of SW which came out at 300 for the calcium. i suspect more problems with my batch, though i dont trust my other test kits.

my next bucket will be instant ocean, about 10$ cheaper for same or better quality as reef crystals.


No offense, but you shouldn't rely on your salt to maintain your calcium nor monitor it.

Also, while I agree IO is just as good and lots of people have great success, calcium is just one component of sea water. Have you tested any of the other levels? I know lots of people having great success with RC, but they don't rely on the salt. I believe David Grigor has a dosing procedure for his fresh saltwater(?) (and he doesn't use RC, just "knows" his salt.) and I do as well (I use/d RC and dose kalk and test at least once in a while).

I don't mean to say that we should let the company off the hook. They should be taking corrective measures and communicating them to their customers.
:smile:

[tico mike]

I forgot to include that all test kits used were SeaChem brand


Have you thought about a second test kit to confirm? There are some labs around that could let you know for sure. Although, it would seem the calcium was a bit low.

[coralreefer]

Have you tested any of the other levels? I know lots of people having great success with RC, but they don't rely on the salt.

I definately agree with you there. I dose kalk nightly and buffer my top-off freshwater to maintain alkalinity. I also test sg, ca, alk, str, pH, nitrate, etc. on a regular basis.

As far as the new saltwater that I mixed (talked about in first post), I only tested calcium and alkalinity.

I just don't like the idea of water changes reducing beneficial elements in my aquarium (especially when they advertise high calcium levels, among other things).

[tico mike]

I definately agree with you there. I dose kalk nightly and buffer my top-off freshwater to maintain alkalinity. I also test sg, ca, alk, str, pH, nitrate, etc. on a regular basis.

As far as the new saltwater that I mixed (talked about in first post), I only tested calcium and alkalinity.

I just don't like the idea of water changes reducing beneficial elements in my aquarium (especially when they advertise high calcium levels, among other things).

Yes, they shouldn't make it harder, that's for sure.:agree:

I just wanted people reading this to see that you brought up a great example of why you can't be too careful.:idea:

[mattb]

I think Shimek said it best - (paraphrasing) there's little in common with artificial sea salts and NSW. You have to assume that the salts are going to have a significant amount of variance, there's no regulatory oversight, and let's face it, few aquarists have the resources to get ICP or relevant testing to prove that the salts are bad....

I think in general, there are two salt camps, those with high alk, and those with low alk. IO, RC, are the ones I've used that are higher in alk, and Tropic Marin, Oceanic, Red Sea are closer to NSW. The higher the alk, the slower the salt tends to dissolve due to the higher levels. Oceanic is the fastest dissolving salt I've seen. The other thing about salts is that many are difficient in Mg due to solubility issues, or at least that is what some claim. Again using Oceanic, it dissolves really fast and has Mg at 1500ppm. Find something you like, just acknowledge you are going get some pretty big variances across all the elements, with the exception of Na and Cl. Caveat Emptor - buyer beware....

Saabs are swedish...