AquaVitro Salinity Reef Salt

[mrhasan]

I use salinity. My mix is always pinpoint at what the label claims (I test for calc and alk only). Takes around 24hours to dissolve clearly. No suspended matter though.

Originally Posted by Zoaelite

Anyone else running this at the moment? Would like to see if anyone else is getting different tested values compared to their independent lab analysis.

It's telling me that their calcium level for 1.026 is 407ppm, two separate test kits of mine have now confirmed the level to be well over 540ppm.

Lot number 56369.00.

In addition to this I'm getting an insoluble material that floats on the surface, very small white crystals that have yet to dissolve after 36 hours of mixing...

Time to swap back to Reef Crystals me thinks?

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I use salinity. My mix is always pinpoint at what the label claims (I test for calc and alk only). Takes around 24hours to dissolve clearly. No suspended matter though.

You don't have the lot # of your last batch by any chance?

[mrhasan]

There you go

[Proteus]

This is what they told me when I talked to them

Hello Nick,

An alkalinity of 9/10 dKH and a magnesium of 1400 mg/L are within specification. A calcium of 590 is not. I checked the certified lab results and they show a calcium of 436. Have you double-checked the calcium concentration with another method or maybe you could have someone else test it for you?

I suggest not using a heater and don't mix it too long to avoid excess cloudiness. If you are using a large powerhead this will also cause precipitation. Mixing too long or mixing too hard (as with a large powerhead) will introduce excess CO2 which causes precipitation of carbonates. Elevated temperatures will reduce the solubility of calcium carbonate also creating precipitation.

Product Support
10234

So I asked should I remove the powerhead and heater from my set up......

[Proteus]

And this. Don't know why you shouldn't mix for more than 24hrs. My cubes been mixing since march.

The cloudiness in salinity is due to the high concentration of quality materials we use. Cloudiness is more prominent in buckets that have higher calcium and alkalinity levels. How do you mix your salt and to what salinity? Here we mix it in a 50 gallon drum at room temperature for no more than 24 hours.

[mrhasan]

I don't use heater. I dissolve mine in a bit warm water (possibly around 85). The solution itself is exothermic and produces excess heat. I just use a maxijet 400 to dissolve 2-3gallon of saltmix for 24hours.

[Zoaelite]

Originally Posted by Titus99

This is what they told me when I talked to them




So I asked should I remove the powerhead and heater from my set up......

The statement made by Aquavitro, in addition to these values scares me enough to swap back to RC.

Under normal circumstances a salt mix should never be concentrated enough to allow for calcium bicarbonate precipitation (@NSW 1.026 values). The only way to do this would be vastly increasing ambient CO2 levels or altering internal water chemistry AWAY from NSW values. The levels of excess calcium being detected could very well be the source of super saturation and conversely the precipitate/ cloudiness.

As you stated why would I add a salt to my tank that doesn't work well when heated, mixed thoroughly or exposed to CO2? These are all key components in my reef aquarium...

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Zoaelite

As you stated why would I add a salt to my tank that doesn't work well when heated, mixed thoroughly or exposed to CO2? These are all key components in my reef aquarium...

That's what I got out of their comments as well. Awesome salt, just don't add water to it

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

That's what I got out of their comments as well. Awesome salt, just don't add water to it

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

[Proteus]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I don't use heater. I dissolve mine in a bit warm water (possibly around 85). The solution itself is exothermic and produces excess heat. I just use a maxijet 400 to dissolve 2-3gallon of saltmix for 24hours.

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