Extremely High Alk In Instant Ocean Salt

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

IO did have issues a few years ago where alk was very high and killed a bunch of tanks.

Wasn't that Kent? I always thought IO was in the clear but maybe not.

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 second this idea.. I just cracked open a bucket (but it was bought in December) I'll try to remember to test its Alk tonight and see what I get, I'll post back in here the results.

I can't remember, does IO print batch info or dates on the buckets? I don't recall seeing anything like that.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Wasn't that Kent? I always thought IO was in the clear but maybe not.

Pretty sure it was IO. About 6 or 7 years ago.

[mseepman]

I just recently had a bout with a bad bucket of IO...but the problem was the opposite. The alk was really low. I have always used other salts (not IO) that were consistent but with the big tank...the budget has come more into play. I started testing and found my tank alk was really low...then I tested the freshly made water from the last bit of the salt out of that bucket and it was between 4-5. The next bucket I opened went back to the 10-11 that I was expecting from IO. I've been slowing bringing my Alk back up in my tank. Now I always check every new batch and I roll every bucket (have for years).

[Aquaticguy11]

Originally Posted by mseepman

I just recently had a bout with a bad bucket of IO...but the problem was the opposite. The alk was really low. I have always used other salts (not IO) that were consistent but with the big tank...the budget has come more into play. I started testing and found my tank alk was really low...then I tested the freshly made water from the last bit of the salt out of that bucket and it was between 4-5. The next bucket I opened went back to the 10-11 that I was expecting from IO. I've been slowing bringing my Alk back up in my tank. Now I always check every new batch and I roll every bucket (have for years).

Wow that's really weird. I don't know what i should do with this salt to lower the alk but I can't really use it anymore. What a waste of money.

[jostafew]

Originally Posted by mseepman

I just recently had a bout with a bad bucket of IO...but the problem was the opposite. The alk was really low. I have always used other salts (not IO) that were consistent but with the big tank...the budget has come more into play. I started testing and found my tank alk was really low...then I tested the freshly made water from the last bit of the salt out of that bucket and it was between 4-5. The next bucket I opened went back to the 10-11 that I was expecting from IO. I've been slowing bringing my Alk back up in my tank. Now I always check every new batch and I roll every bucket (have for years).

I had the same issue. Bought my bucket from a local vendor on Boxing day of 2011. Sad to say it killed my tank. Alk was low, Mag and Calc were through the roof, who knows what else was wrong. Took me forever to figure out what wiped out ALL fish and inverts in my tank... I did notice the consistency was different than my previous buckets. Usually it's somewhat coarse, like table salt. This time it was much finer, like baking sugar almost.

I know that a lot of people have success with IO (and I did for 2 years before that too), but I've switched brands now.

[daniella3d]

low alkalinity that could be caused by a water change would not wipe out your tank and kill your fish. Something else must have killed a fish, which created ammonia and then created a chain reaction and killed more fish, and corals.

If your alkalinity is 8 and you do a 20% water change with a salt that is 5kh, that will not affect your KH in your tank significantly.

I had my kh at 5 before I started dosing at some point and that did not kill anything in my tank.

Originally Posted by jostafew

I had the same issue. Bought my bucket from a local vendor on Boxing day of 2011. Sad to say it killed my tank. Alk was low, Mag and Calc were through the roof, who knows what else was wrong. Took me forever to figure out what wiped out ALL fish and inverts in my tank... I did notice the consistency was different than my previous buckets. Usually it's somewhat coarse, like table salt. This time it was much finer, like baking sugar almost.

I know that a lot of people have success with IO (and I did for 2 years before that too), but I've switched brands now.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

I can't remember, does IO print batch info or dates on the buckets? I don't recall seeing anything like that.

The buckets I buy come with a 5-digit batch sticker on the lid

I had an issue with bags of IO bought x-mas 2011
The alk was about 16 in each of the 6 bags

I use buckets now and I get between 10.5 and 11

And my ca is still around 400 in every bucket

I test each first batch from a new bucket, and have stopped rolling - with no issues

[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?

[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