Haha. Like you said earlier, it better for salting ice ;)

I used to add water to salt with IC but found out that it simply doesn't work in case of this salt. So I slowly add salt to the water over a period of like 30 mins (1/2 cup every 15mins or till I don't see any residue). Seachem just tries to through in too much chemistry with this salt so found my own way :P

I use a heater and power head since I like my new water as close as possible to my DT. I usually mix the day before and the water from ro unit is way to cold to add to system. It doesn't make sense to mix cold with a wooden spoon. Plus agitating the water makes sure I have a good amount of dissolved o2 in it.

I have switched back to h2ocean. And do my mid week dosing

I think they said not to use heater because initially, the heater would be too hot compared to the water temperature and that would cause calcium precipitation around the heater. I don't think it would be a problem if the water is already at room temperature. And I do use powerhead; cannot think of any logic behind their claim of not using one. Infact, in their website, they did suggest mixing it for atleast 24hours for proper equilibrium of co2 and o2.

No clue about their claims. Like I said, they just bring in too many chemistry and I was never good at that :P

I use AquaVitro on my "grow out" tank (fish only), and I have the same issues; high calcium, lots of cloudiness, and tons and tons of suspended particles in the water. Since its only being used on my grow out tank, I don't particular care about the values, but I probably won't stick with it after I'm done these buckets.

I admit, I rolled my eyes at the line about no heat while thinking to myself, "what exactly do they think we're all using their salt for? Eating?"

Too boot its one of the most expensive salts out there... Again, time to swap back to RC why mess with something that's cheap & works.

I stopped using it a while ago. Took me an hour to scrub my mixing container due to all the stuff left on the sides and bottom. I could never get my alk above 6 and ca was at 380 - water changes every 2 weeks. Guess it was due to the precipitation. I did try mixing with no heater a few times, no difference. Plus all the floaty bits in the water. I've switched to reef crystals for now to see how things go, and I've finally started seeing an improvement in my tanks - 1 1/2 buckets later.

I switched from Salinity to Reef Crystals 1/3 of a bucket ago. Frags that didn't grow for the whole time on salinity are all perking up and growing nicely.

Calcium and Alk were always out to lunch with Salinity. (I would tumble the bucket for 2 minutes prior to pulling any salt from it. I preheat and mix the water and then add salt in 2 or 3 doses to get it up to 1.026.)

It never sat well with me to put water in with particulate floating around in it into my system.

I had one bucket of this stuff that I put into my rotation of salts but I never used it again after that first bucket. That insoluable material making my mixing tank cloudy kinda freaked me out. In fact, I never mixed a pure batch of it after the first batch. I mixed a few cups in with other salts. Plus the latch on my lid broke so it ended up being a pain in the arse to open every time.

And ya, I tested a fresh batch to well beyond 450ppm calcium.

I am using my first bucket (my first one was IO) and the values are always on the mark (atleast that's what my API kit says). Then again I only check calc and alk. Initially when I mix it, alk is well above 13 but after the solution is mixed for like 24hours or less, it goes to around 11dkh which is written on the label. No clarity issue or anything. And I use tapwater :P

Well since my tank is only 20 gallon and I do 2-3 gallon wc every two weeks (alk decreases to 9-10), this bucket is going to run me over a year so till then, I can be happy I guess :mrgreen:

And all my corals are doing great, good polyp extension and good growth on montis and birdnest.

I am the odd one out over here ;)

I have been using it since I started my tank, I have not had any of the problems all of you are having. I use a 245 gph pump in a 5 gal bucket with a small heater. I keep a mixed batch in a blue water jug with a heater and 2 small water pumps. I have never had it cloud my tank nor have I noticed any particles in the water.

I tested my calc once, it was about 450.

All the corals I have added are happy and growing well.

Now reef crystals..I started a QT before my DT and the water was cloudy for 2 weeks. There was a lot of debris in the water, I had to use vinegar to clean the gunk out of my buckets and even the syringe for my refractometer. (after making one batch)