Extremely High Alk In Instant Ocean Salt

[gregzz4]

I use RO - TDS 0

Last time I tested my RO water, it was all zeros for the Big 3

My Instant Ocean Sea Salt buckets have given me, from newest to oldest;

The 3 batches below were all tested with fresh Elos kits, and my methods were checked against both J&L, and the peeps @ Elos

Batch 12243 Mar 16
10.5 Alk
4-410 Ca
1450 Mag

Batch 12243 Nov 13
11.5
450
1400

Batch 11297 Sept 4
11
490
1300

I have 2 previous buckets that I didn't keep track of, so no matching batches to test results

There were some user errors back here, so the test results were a bit skewed and not accurate

11
460
1400

11
520
1200

[Aquaticguy11]

Originally Posted by 1eyedjyde

My batch of io tests out at 1000 mag, 350 cal and 14 dhk. I use tap water and the dhk is high around 8 or 9. Do you use tap water or rodi?

RO/DI

[Aquaticguy11]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

IO did have issues a few years ago where alk was very high and killed a bunch of tanks. I would expect though, that they would not let that happen again. Where did you buy the salt? Maybe someone else has a bucket from the same batch they could test?

I bought the salt at the purple seahorse here in kelowna.

[The Guy]

Originally Posted by Kryptic4L

Roll your bucket ?

Ya I was told by the folks at J&L to always roll a new bucket of IO around for a while to mix up any settling while the stuff sits in stock. I would think it's a good idea with any.

[sirruckus]

happened to me as well - I was guilty of not knowing about the bucket rule. now that I do that, much better

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by clown lover

Ya I was told by the folks at J&L to always roll a new bucket of IO around for a while to mix up any settling while the stuff sits in stock. I would think it's a good idea with any.

I've never rolled a bucket of salt in 12 years, it's always consistent. Settling of salt components isn't going to double the alk reading on new water. If it's 16dKh now, it's going to be ~16 after rolling it.

[Duker]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I've never rolled a bucket of salt in 12 years, it's always consistent. Settling of salt components isn't going to double the alk reading on new water. If it's 16dKh now, it's going to be ~16 after rolling it.

But sometimes the additives to the salt seperate, rolling or scooping/stirring the salt always a good idea. It does happen, and there are bad batches out there to. I recall Seachem aquavitro salt and Kent having issues like this in the past. Guess better safe than sorry, roll/mix/stir bucket and test before using!

Good lord, can u imagine the headache of doing H2O changes as usual and then ooh oh!

[Aquattro]

Sorry, I disagree. Any separation of ingredients IMO is miniscule. Like I said, I've never rolled a bucket (other than one I dropped) and I'm not about to start.
For fun, I'll make a gallon of water off the top of my new bucket, then roll it all over, make another gallon and post the differences in alk and Ca.

[Duker]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Sorry, I disagree. Any separation of ingredients IMO is miniscule. Like I said, I've never rolled a bucket (other than one I dropped) and I'm not about to start.
For fun, I'll make a gallon of water off the top of my new bucket, then roll it all over, make another gallon and post the differences in alk and Ca.

I'll do that to, I have a fresh bucket of Seachem Reefsalt. Interesting to see what u get, and I get, of course if these buckets are mixed well, it should be buisness as usual. I think its just a precaution, not the norm. You know...an ounce of prevention is worth a heck of alot more!! ;0)

[Z frag]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

I've never rolled a bucket of salt in 12 years, it's always consistent. Settling of salt components isn't going to double the alk reading on new water. If it's 16dKh now, it's going to be ~16 after rolling it.

I agree with you I've been using IO for years as well.