H20 ocean salt is just rebadged Red Sea salt
 

Ok so i was recommended to switch from seachems reef salt to H20 by my lfs that shall remain unnamed as i am sure they did not know, but i just read that

"Please don´t use H2O this salt is relabeled Red Sea Coral Pro and we have some really problems with the coral coloration."

This was written by fauna marin on this board, I am really dissapointed that i've bought 3 cans of this stuff only to find this out. ESPECIally since its 90 bucks with tax. Did anybody else know this or was i the only putz??

Claims are unfounded.

I've heard nothing but good things about this salt. To the point that I was going to switch from Reefers best.

At OA, where I bought my new bucket of this salt, they told me they had tested it extensively and found it to be very good for trace minerals,, especially magnesium...

It wouldn't surprise me if this were a red sea rebadge, but I would definitely like to see some evidence before I denounce OA's recommendation.

I have bought around 6 pails of H2O. And I pre test my water before I do any WC. And it has always been bang on.
I dont care what its called, I think its better than IO or kent

Can you post were you found that claim?

the tread you were talking about from fauna Marin was a old thread, and if you read further when they were asked to explain and show some proof they did not show any. In the end I'm pretty sure it was a misquote due to the language translation (remember he is from Germany), and if I remember right he either mentioned that he meant it was like Red Sea and a couple others that did not work well with the ultra lith system. Kinda like how ZeoVit systems work better with certain salts due to their contents. I am currently using and have used the H2O ocean salt for a while now and have loved it. I switched from RBS to it and my tank is looking great. On a side note I have used Red Sea Coral Pro in the past and my test results for it come in differently then the results I get for H2Ocean.

x2

out of curiosity, what do you mix (water to salt ratio) and what d you test and what is the tests bang on to?

just curious as I have this salt now...

But someone wrote it on the Internet, it must be true! :)

careful.
you might get sued.

I have been using it for a bit now and really like it myself. I have tested the Mg, calcium, alk, nitrate, K+, ect. a few times now and been very pleased with the results.

Its funny though because when I first got the salt, I thought, this is the exact same bucket I used to get the Red Sea Stuff in (same handle). Then I opened it and was like, wow, this is the exact same bag and little "tie" thingy used to close the Red Sea bags. Then I opened it and though, hmmmm...it smalls exactly the same (slightly different from other salts, IMO). It also takes longer to mix like the Red Sea stuff does.

So I wouldn't at all be surprised if at the very least it is in fact made at the same plant or actually just the same stuff. Both are real sea salt...

OK People who are using it and clam to have tested it. Can we see some numbers!

+10

now any body on this forums tests match up?
details?

Here is what I got most recently in my book about the salt:

12/12/08

PH 8.37 (Probe)
Alk 9 dkh (Elos) (This worried me since I am running ZEO)
Ca 420 (Salifert)
Mg 1280 (Elos) (Would be nice a bit higher I guess)
K+ 400 ish (ZEO) (I have a hard time with this test but it was high)
Nitrate None that I could test but my test kits are not great in the low range.

01/30/09

PH 8.4 (Probe which was calibrated on 12/26/08)
Alk 9.5 (Elos)
Ca 480 (Elos)
Mg 1300 (Elos)
K+ 380 (ZEO)

Did not test nitrate


Hope this helps. I can go back through my "test records" for more if you want. I tested it a few more times back when I started using the salt but I was also using less reliable test kits back then too, so figure the results may not be useful.

All results are based on H2O salt mixed to 1.026 with 0 TDS RO/DI water and heated to 78-80 degrees.

Thanks Justin. numbers look good. But I agree ALK maybe high for Zeo

J

I got a lower Mg.

The high Alk seems to be consistent with my results too though. I think this is what I worry about being a ZEO user. But so far once I do my water change, my tanks ALK is still only around 8 (in the safe range) and drops from there over a few days.

I dose two part for ALK and Ca and after a water change, do not dose either for a few days.

Actually I am finding that with my tank being relatively young still (coral wise) that the weekly water changes take care of most of the ALK needs and about half the Ca needs.

NP.

I am doing a water change today and will test the salt again.

pretty close..
thanks for posting them
close enough that we can assume any difference is probably a result of a difference in the testing parameters (different hydrometer, test kits, etc).

After looking at that, I may be going to seachem from now on as a non zeo user....
I havent cracked my h20 salt bucket I paid almost 90 bucks for as im still working my way through the tropic marin pro but for the near 30 dollar savings, from that one test, it looks like seachem reef is where its at.
great numbers all across the board.

Taken from that link, I find this interesting:

Reefer's Best

Ca 420
ALK 11
Mg 1200

High ALK for ZEO but low Mg for most "high end" mixes. But this is just one test.

Tested again today:

1.026
80 degrees
RO/DI TDS 0

ALK 10
PH 8.4
Ca 500
Mg 1320

Didn't test K+ this time or nitrates.

So pretty consistent for me. The three results I have posted are all from different buckets, months apart.

Whether its the same as Red Sea or not, I like this salt. I do not have any Red Sea to test but when I used to use it years ago, it was very low in Calcium. I never used to test Magnesium or ALK though, so I have no idea what they were.

I have a feeling based on the packaging that they are indeed made in the same plant. Even the printing on the buckets is so similar. Actually the layout is the exact same.

Perhaps the Red Sea stuff is a lower grade salt while they make sure the H2O levels are correct. Kind of like Tropic Marin Pro versus the regular stuff...I would assume they are produced in the same place but I have used both and they are not the same product.

I think people need to make sure they know the facts before they post things like this. Seems like maybe someone found out they are made in the same place and assumed they are the same product.

I've been digging around a little more and seems that this is prob made in the same factory as red sea coral salt, the similarities are just too alike, with alk being a little diff with respect to each other, i'm going back to seachems reef salt its numbers are good and 30 bucks cheaper, i can buy alot more salt for that. And No just cuz i heard it on the net doesnt make it true but i was just going on fauna marin's reputation when i read that, and i don't think he is the only one that thinks its rebadged rscs, have a looksy on the net and many people express that opinion. i won't say where and leave it up to you to look, I just think in this hobby we get use to equating quality with a higher price and get that nice placebo effect, Its no surprise that aquarium companies know this and prey on our weakness, just look at all the rebadged things in the industry which cost double then it normally would. Don't get me wrong i'm not cheap but This hobby is expensive enough, i dont need my salt to be anymore so for no reason.

If your just talking about the threads on Reef Central, that is not enough to base this on. Things spread like wildfire there. As soon as one person says its rebagged, a thousand others jump on the bandwagon and agree without actually knowing the facts. Many people expressing an opinion on the net does not make it a fact. Also being made in the same factory doesn't mean its the same product.

I am going to go get a bucket of the Red Sea stuff on friday when I am in Richmond (I know Big Als sells it) and test it.

As I said earlier, I have already found differences. Give me proof its the exact same and I will use the cheaper one but until then and as long as the H2O tests as well as it does, I will continue to use it.

Its not easy to find another salt testing high in Potassium.

I'd go halfers on that salt, just to know...
I think they sell the mini buckets at big als...

Maybe someone who is using it could even donate some to this cause...

Im not realy sure how much salt I add at one time because I always make different amounts of water.The mixing pail is 30g. And I mix it to 1.025
ph - 8.2
Ca - 420/440
dkh - 9.0
mg - 1300/1340

I am just going to go ahead and buy a bucket. I will use it regardless, so its not a big deal.

I really want to see how it tests compared to the H2O using the exact same test kits/water/mixing methods,ect.

Who is the manufacturer? Is it the same as Red Sea?
If it is Red Sea, what is the difference between the two products?

Well thats kind of the mystery here.

I for one am leaning towards same manufacturer but different product.

just tested my batch in the garage .025 salinity, 430 cal, 9 alk, 1320 for mag using elos kits. Now these are supposedly the numbers for rscs 490 cal, 7 alk, 1300 mag, test done by bertoni on his salt tests on rc. i'm in the same boat as you puff as i have 3 buckets of this stuff so would appreciate also your tests,

I was told by my LFS and many friends, that this salt has a better Mag leval then red sea salt. "People that actually use this salt"

BTW: We have to stop reading about so much bad advise on some products that we know nothing about. (Just Gossip after Gossip)


just My2cent

Yeah they are looking close, huh?

I will post the results friday evening or saturday morning after I mix up a batch of the Red Sea product and test it.

http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/?q=node/407

http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages....lysis_0208.pdf

Hey I like that second link.

Whoa...lots of phosphates in Instant Ocean :neutral:

Geeze, got me thinkin, I just bought two buckets of H2O (normally use Instant Ocean, but they were out of stock) I am nearing the end of the first bucket now and have not noticed any signifigant change to the system (actually think it looked better before) I have some mixed for a change right now so took the time to test and see where it was at (never tested new mix before) This was what I came up with
Sample tested at 78deg.
51.7ms/34ppt/1.0252sg - Pinpoint monitor
KH 9.5 or 3.39mgl - Elos
Calc 440 - Salifert
Mag. 1360 - Salifert
PH 8.47 - Medusa colorometer
Nitrate 1.5ppm - Medusa colorometer
Phosphate 1.24ppm - Medusa colorometer

Considering they promote it as nitrate and phosphate free I was a little surprised that there was readings on both (water for makup is RO/DI with 0 TDS) I have a small amount of Instant Ocean left that I am going to mix and test to see if there is any signifigant difference to justify the additional price.

I had posted the actual numbers that I got with the first 3 buckets I used a while back on here when people were asking about the salt, all numbers fell within the spectrum listed on the pail (I found them to be on the higher side of the spectrum). I just cracked open a new bucket last week, so when I do my next mixing in around 10 days I can measure it again if needed (but if anyone searches old treads on here for the H2Ocean salt you should be able to see my posted results, done with RO water).

I can see why someone would suggest that Red Sea Coral Pro and H2Ocean were the same, they have the same bucket, tie strap, bag etc. So, for sure they use the same packaging supplier.

I find that Alk is higher in H2Ocean than in Red Sea Coral Pro (I was using Red Sea Coral Pro until December, then I switched) but calcium is lower in the H2Ocean and I've had to start dosing it on a regular basis. I used to dose alk the day after a water change, now I've got a few days grace before it starts to get into the 'dose now' range.

I've got a 10 gallon Zoa/softy/LPS tank w/no skimmer, so I tend to notice the differences in the water pretty quick due to the frequent water changes.

One thing to remember is that in many industries the same factory is used to produce a brands product, but the products are different in makeup. The factory time is basicly rented for the time used and whatever brand uses the facility still uses their own methods and materials. In this way a factory can produce many different brands of a item, but each brand's item would have some differences as, each item would be made to that brand's specs.

Yes and I would be willing to bet (as I said earlier) this is whats happening. I would go even further and say its the same salt with different trace elements added (or not added).

I am going to test to find out. I am very curious about the K+ reading for both.

I looked into it though and the Red Sea Coral Pro salt at Big Als is about the same price as the H2O salt anyways, so it really won't make a difference to me. I will keep using H2O as its been very good to me.

I would actually keep using Tropic Marin Pro if they still had a distributor in North America :(