Years ago when I worked at a restaurant we got a lot of bulk food in 5g pails with no tabs or screw off lids. We just took a metal spatula or large knife and whacked the top corner of the lid in 6-7 places (must actually cut through the lid) and then peeled the lid right off.

it just may be a faulty lid. i would cut it off after 10 min of cursing and prolly have a blood sacrifice in between.

on a side note how many reefers does it take to open a pail of salt??? sorry froce of habit for newfie jokes.

so did you get it open ? if not bring it to the calgary reef meet on thursday.

I got it open, made my own tab like one of the users suggested. I think it was just a faulty lid. I miss the old screw on ones though...

Me too. I use IO for half my tanks, and these new lids suck. I broke a nail opening my last bucket!!! I`m changing to the 200 gal boxes instead.

Doubt its default lid , the new IO salts have a new lid as mentioned, like you said the lid has a seam and its here you should find a small tab to pull and it will after removal leave 4 tabs on the lid.