Kent salt users

[Johnny Reefer]

In early December I tested a 23.5g tote containing 13 cups (1.027SG) at 575Ca, 1575Mg, 9.0dKH.

[Johnny Reefer]

........for what it's worth......

[christyf5]

Thanks Mark. I just heard back from Kent and they do their lab testing at 1.020-1.023 and get Ca = 480, Alk = 9.0 dkH, Mg = 1280ppm.

At 1.026 I've always had Ca = 435, Alk 7.8 and mg = 1300 for like the last 6-7 buckets I've used. I'm just wondering why Ca and Alk are so high.

I ended up buying a second bucket locally (slightly different lot number) and got even higher values than the first bucket (Ca=500, Alk = 15+, Mg=1500+). I'm just wondering if the Ca and Alk have such elevated values, what else in the salt has elevated values? I'm still seeing burned white tips on my sps (those that are already affected are just continuing. I don't see any new colonies affected) but with this second bucket crap as well I can't do any water changes to dilute out whatever got in there in the first place.

[Der_Iron_Chef]

I know this is probably not it at all, but....what test kits are you using? Are they older? I know the chances of all of them failing at once is remote...to say the least! But hey....

Maybe you could take a sample for someone else to test? *shrug* I just bought a new bucket of Kent. I'll test it this weekend and let you know the results.

[christyf5]

Test kits were bought in July 07. Expire 2010,2011 and 2012. Yeah I think I might take some water down to Island Pet Zone and have it tested. I"m taking the new bucket back today anyways, I might get him to crack open another bucket and test that, either that or I'm going to have to switch salts

[jasond]

Tagging along....I am curious to see what Drew's come in at.

Christy, let us know if they end up testing your water for you and how it turns out!

[PoonTang]

Christy, double check your SG calibration. If it is high it will cause all of your other numbers to be high. Do you have any of your old salt left? or you could try some salt or water or SG tester from someone else.

[ron101]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Thanks Mark. I just heard back from Kent and they do their lab testing at 1.020-1.023 and get Ca = 480, Alk = 9.0 dkH, Mg = 1280ppm.

If that is indeed those are their testing parameters, then that is pretty sad. They should be standardizing to one specific gravity value.

Salinity is a pretty linear relationship, 480ppm Ca at 1.020 should yield about 480ppm x 23/20 = 552 ppm at 1.023 and 480 x 26/20 = 624 at 1.026. On the other hand, if 480ppm is at 1.023 then it should yield 480 x 26/23 = 542 at 1.026. Higher salinities will yield higher Ca, Mg, and CO3 concentrations because are you are adding more of it to the same volume of water.

So I see three possibilities:

1) Your hydrometer/refractometer is out of calibration and you are actually making water to a higher SG than you think you are (and your tank will be running at a higher SG than what you measure).
2) Salt mix is out of whack
3) Your freshwater used to make up marine water is high in Ca, MG, and CO3.

If you are using RO/DI then #3 is unlikely (could test the freshwater anyway). If you have tried a second bucket then the possibility of #2 is lower. I would start with #1...

HTH

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by ron101

If that is indeed those are their testing parameters, then that is pretty sad. They should be standardizing to one specific gravity value.

Salinity is a pretty linear relationship, 480ppm Ca at 1.020 should yield about 480ppm x 23/20 = 552 ppm at 1.023 and 480 x 26/20 = 624 at 1.026. On the other hand, if 480ppm is at 1.023 then it should yield 480 x 26/23 = 542 at 1.026. Higher salinities will yield higher Ca, Mg, and CO3 concentrations because are you are adding more of it to the same volume of water.

So I see three possibilities:

1) Your hydrometer/refractometer is out of calibration and you are actually making water to a higher SG than you think you are (and your tank will be running at a higher SG than what you measure).
2) Salt mix is out of whack
3) Your freshwater used to make up marine water is high in Ca, MG, and CO3.

If you are using RO/DI then #3 is unlikely (could test the freshwater anyway). If you have tried a second bucket then the possibility of #2 is lower. I would start with #1...

HTH

1)I'll check my refractometer.

2) Not so sure about this anymore. I took some premixed water down to Island Pet Zone and he tested Ca and Alk with Aquarium Pharmeceuticals test kits and both samples (from both buckets) came out at about 420 ppm Ca and 8-9 dkH Alk. Now I'm starting to wonder about my test kits.

3) I do use RODI water.

I ended up switching my bucket of Kent for a bucket of Seachem. Hopefully problem solved. Or at least avoided for now.