Fauna Marin salt not mixing properly?

[jordanrb]

I tested my alkalinity after a water change last week (4g in my 20g tank) and noticed a huge drop in alkalinity 8.4-7.5 so I adjusted accordingly and waited till my water change today. I got the exact same result. I mixed another batch of salt water and got a reading of 6dkh. I am using fauna marin which is supposed to mix to 8-8.5. I mix to a consistent 1.026 salinity to match my tank so I am not sure what the issue is. It is a fairly new bucket (about 2 months old).

I am currently waiting on a response from fauna marin.

Has anyone experienced this with their salt?

 

[Pod_01]

I used their salt in the past and never had issues. I consider it to be good salt….

My suspicion would be that the salinity is not 1.026, probably less. How do you measure salinity?
I use Tropic Marin High precision Hydrometer and it produces consistent results.

Another issue may be that the Alk test result is not accurate. This could be the test kit or issue with procedure. Maybe try a new test kit, when I had issue measuring Alk I had 3 test kits and ended up with 3 different results so I averaged them. Alternatively you can redo the measurement few times and see how consistent the values are.

Perhaps there is issue with the salt, but that is unusual.

Good luck,

 

[jordanrb]

I used their salt in the past and never had issues. I consider it to be good salt….

My suspicion would be that the salinity is not 1.026, probably less. How do you measure salinity?
I use Tropic Marin High precision Hydrometer and it produces consistent results.

Another issue may be that the Alk test result is not accurate. This could be the test kit or issue with procedure. Maybe try a new test kit, when I had issue measuring Alk I had 3 test kits and ended up with 3 different results so I averaged them. Alternatively you can redo the measurement few times and see how consistent the values are.

Perhaps there is issue with the salt, but that is unusual.

Good luck,

I switched to them because all I heard was good results.

I use two different refractometers both exact outcomes.

I use a hanna tester and opened another kit to make sure and did back to back tests and was only a .1 difference between the two. Both not expired until next year.

I would like to think my salinity is good as it is a fairly heavy mixed reef tank and in the last few months my acro growth has exploded. All corals look great.

 

[Peer.Boerner]

I switched to them because all I heard was good results.

I use two different refractometers both exact outcomes.

I use a hanna tester and opened another kit to make sure and did back to back tests and was only a .1 difference between the two. Both not expired until next year.

I would like to think my salinity is good as it is a fairly heavy mixed reef tank and in the last few months my acro growth has exploded. All corals look great.

What is the salinity? Curious too.

 

[Pod_01]

I switched to them because all I heard was good results.

I use two different refractometers both exact outcomes.

I use a hanna tester and opened another kit to make sure and did back to back tests and was only a .1 difference between the two. Both not expired until next year.

I would like to think my salinity is good as it is a fairly heavy mixed reef tank and in the last few months my acro growth has exploded. All corals look great.

Variation in Salinity will lead to variation in Alk results, if Salinity drops by 10% Alk drops by 10% and that drop can be caused by addition of top of water.

Before I perform manual Alk test I make sure my salinity is consistent.

Also the Hanna Alk tester has following tolerance:

From my experience if fresh batch of salt is measuring 6dKH (assuming salt was measured with scale and water amount is correct and fully mixed), I suspect salinity measurement is incorrect or faulty Alk test kit.

If the same bucket of salt produces correct Alk before I do not know of another explanation for the drop.

 

[jordanrb]

Variation in Salinity will lead to variation in Alk results, if Salinity drops by 10% Alk drops by 10% and that drop can be caused by addition of top of water.

Before I perform manual Alk test I make sure my salinity is consistent.

Also the Hanna Alk tester has following tolerance:

From my experience if fresh batch of salt is measuring 6dKH (assuming salt was measured with scale and water amount is correct and fully mixed), I suspect salinity measurement is incorrect or faulty Alk test kit.

If the same bucket of salt produces correct Alk before I do not know of another explanation for the drop.

I honestly have no idea. I got another refractometer. Reading the exact same as my other (1.026).

 

[jordanrb]

What is the salinity? Curious too.

I am mixing to 1.026

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You might try sampling this new bucket at the bottom in case it has separated in shipping.

Let us know if you hear back from FM. :)

 

[jordanrb]

You might try sampling this new bucket at the bottom in case it has separated in shipping.

Let us know if you hear back from FM. :)

Would you recommend mixing the entire bucket? It is the large bucket.

 

[slingfox]

You need to calibrate those refractometers to have any confidence they are actually correct. Least brain damaging way to ensure you are measuring your salinity correctly is with the Tropic Marine Hydrometer. Otherwise you should make your own DIY calibration solution and/or cross check your tank salinity with an ICP testing service.

 

[jordanrb]

You need to calibrate those refractometers to have any confidence they are actually correct. Least brain damaging way to ensure you are measuring your salinity correctly is with the Tropic Marine Hydrometer. Otherwise you should make your own DIY calibration solution and/or cross check your tank salinity with an ICP testing service.

I did an icp test 3 months ago and was exactly where I was testing to. Both refractometers are calibrated and reading exactly the same. I know there could be human error but I think both reading consistently and all corals and fish being good there shouldn't be a change

 

[jordanrb]

You might try sampling this new bucket at the bottom in case it has separated in shipping.

Let us know if you hear back from FM. :)

They told me to scan the code on the bucket and use the batch number and it came back with no results. Since then I have not received any reply from them. Hopefully they find something on their end.

 

[JonasRoman]

I tested my alkalinity after a water change last week (4g in my 20g tank) and noticed a huge drop in alkalinity 8.4-7.5 so I adjusted accordingly and waited till my water change today. I got the exact same result. I mixed another batch of salt water and got a reading of 6dkh. I am using fauna marin which is supposed to mix to 8-8.5. I mix to a consistent 1.026 salinity to match my tank so I am not sure what the issue is. It is a fairly new bucket (about 2 months old).

I am currently waiting on a response from fauna marin.

Has anyone experienced this with their salt?

Its probably that simple that the salt is not correct mixed from the factory. Yes, uneven mixed may occur, but thats more concerning traces that is not so abundnant. NaHCO3 is an abundant addition meaning it should not be vulnerable to uneven mixed buckets. So I think its something wrong with this batch.

 

[BryanM]

@jordanrb

I had a milwakee digital refractometer, and two manual ones, and I found them very finicky.

Considering your ICP comes back the same as you test, it sounds like you have better luck or processes than I do :)

I switched to using the Tropic Marin Hydrometer, and now I get ICP results that match my salinity at home.

As for the bucket, I would try and mix the contents of the bucket, and "pull up" whats on the bottom, or pour it into another bucket, then back a couple times. There's a thought that heavier particles might settle during shipping... Maybe that will help.

 

[jordanrb]

@jordanrb

I had a milwakee digital refractometer, and two manual ones, and I found them very finicky.

Considering your ICP comes back the same as you test, it sounds like you have better luck or processes than I do :)

I switched to using the Tropic Marin Hydrometer, and now I get ICP results that match my salinity at home.

As for the bucket, I would try and mix the contents of the bucket, and "pull up" whats on the bottom, or pour it into another bucket, then back a couple times. There's a thought that heavier particles might settle during shipping... Maybe that will help.

Thank you. I will try giving it a mix and text my next batch