Instant Ocean Reef Crystals - Low Calcium

[RaymondL]

So a new bucket of IO Reef Crystals is giving a Calcium reading of 330 to 350ppm for the last 3 times I've made 20 gallons worth. I even mixed the bucket about 6 times just in case it needed to be stirred.

I never even thought to measure the Ca or Kh of the new water, and in this case of the low calcium, it'll throw off my parameters so now I have to dose Ca in the freshly made water to bring it up to the same as my aquarium @435ppm.

I never had a Calcium deficiency in my tank - this is a new bucket of Reef Crystals, and the previous batch I used I don't suspect I had a low Ca issue because I would have known as I test my parameters.

I think time for me to think about switching salts.

 

[CHSUB]

Could be testing error.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Could be testing error.

Can't rule it out, but OP is getting consistent and low readings from the new sw, and consistent but higher readings from the tank. Sounds unlikely to be test error to me. Something else is going on.

 

[RaymondL]

Most definitely not an error in testing - I have done multiple trials of the test, and in each case even changing testing hardware - ie. tubes and as well time of the day.

I will accept the fact that maybe something odd with this IO bucket of salt and just dose Calcium to bring it up to the amount I want it, and then switch salts

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I wouldn't.

It seems more likely that you have a salinity issue or calcium testing error, than that you have a bad bucket. In general, bad buckets are unusual and test issues happen all the time.

Doing the same test many times and getting the same result hardly is evidence that it is accurate.

Let's start with salinity. What is it, how are you measuring it and why do you think that is accurate?

 

[RaymondL]

I wouldn't.

It seems more likely that you have a salinity issue or calcium testing error, than that you have a bad bucket. In general, bad buckets are unusual and test issues happen all the time.

Doing the same test many times and getting the same result hardly is evidence that it is accurate.

Let's start with salinity. What is it, how are you measuring it and why do you think that is accurate?

Hi Randy: The salinity is currently reading 1.0258 using Tropic Marin Hydrometer, and along with a refractometer it's reading in the same ballpark, so at least that value appears correct and accurate. I am using the same test kit and did so on the tank and Ca is at 435ppm. I dosed the fresh batch of saltwater I prepared yesterday morning this morning with Red Sea Ca+ - I did a Ca test after 4 hours and it's reading 430ppm.

I am going to assume something is wonky with the batch of salt I have <shrug>.

 

[Fish Fan]

I will accept the fact that maybe something odd with this IO bucket of salt and just dose Calcium to bring it up to the amount I want it, and then switch salts

I am going to assume something is wonky with the batch of salt I have <shrug>.

IO salts are hugely popular, so if there was an issue with a batch or run of their salt, people from all over would be complaining about it too

What brand of test kits are you using?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi Randy: The salinity is currently reading 1.0258 using Tropic Marin Hydrometer, and along with a refractometer it's reading in the same ballpark, so at least that value appears correct and accurate. I am using the same test kit and did so on the tank and Ca is at 435ppm. I dosed the fresh batch of saltwater I prepared yesterday morning this morning with Red Sea Ca+ - I did a Ca test after 4 hours and it's reading 430ppm.

I am going to assume something is wonky with the batch of salt I have <shrug>.

I would personally not assume there is a salt issue, but there’s no big drawback to having calcium boosted into the 550 ppm range if it is the testing.

 

[RaymondL]

IO salts are hugely popular, so if there was an issue with a batch or run of their salt, people from all over would be complaining about it too

What brand of test kits are you using?

Using Salisfert and Aquaforest.

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

IO salts are hugely popular, so if there was an issue with a batch or run of their salt, people from all over would be complaining about it too

What brand of test kits are you using?

I would imagine that IO's in-house batch testing would have stopped an entire batch with this condition from being packaged. However, that does not ensure that *this* bucket and perhaps a few others adjacent were not wonky from causes outside the batch processing and QA. As a long-time manufacturing QA guy, I have seen some real head-scratchers from almost unbelievable causes and would not rule this out.
It almost does not matter what test kits are being used. The fact that the salt mix and the aquarium water are yielding wildly different results (but essentially consistent within the salt mix and again within the aquarium water) is telling me the difference between them is not a testing issue.

 

[rtparty]

I am much more inclined to believe the salt is actually low in calcium than testing error. Especially because it is IO. They have no QA from what I can find. They also have “bad” batches more than others but they sweep them under the rug and aren’t attacked like other brands for some odd reason.

I mean they’ve had batches with almost zero molybdenum for months now. What QA is missing that for this long? Oh yeah, no QA

To the OP, one good thing is if you contact them about it they will likely send you a new bucket.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am much more inclined to believe the salt is actually low in calcium than testing error. Especially because it is IO. They have no QA from what I can find. They also have “bad” batches more than others but they sweep them under the rug and aren’t attacked like other brands for some odd reason.

I mean they’ve had batches with almost zero molybdenum for months now. What QA is missing that for this long? Oh yeah, no QA

To the OP, one good thing is if you contact them about it they will likely send you a new bucket.

Do you know whether they intend to put in molybdenum?

 

[rtparty]

Do you know whether they intend to put in molybdenum?

If you were making a salt would you exclude it?

Why would they have added it in the past (as seen on ICP tests) and then stopped? Were they really just banking on it coming as an impurity from another raw source? Seems like a bad recipe if that’s the case

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you were making a salt would you exclude it?

Why would they have added it in the past (as seen on ICP tests) and then stopped? Were they really just banking on it coming as an impurity from another raw source? Seems like a bad recipe if that’s the case

I’d certainly add it. I’m just trying to distinguish a bad recipe from bad QC. :)

 

[rtparty]

I’d certainly add it. I’m just trying to distinguish a bad recipe from bad QC. :)

Unless they changed the recipe (I can’t see why they would), it has to be bad QC. I’ve probably seen at least a dozen ICP results from IO tanks in the last few months all with low molybdenum. The ICP tests came from multiple companies as well.

Low to non existent molybdenum is very likely a recipe and QC issue. As in the recipe isn’t being followed.

For the OP here, it could certainly be a random bad bucket or the recipe wasn’t followed/salt wasn’t mixed long enough at the factory/etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The best way to distinguish a bad batch from a bad test result is to get a confirmation with a different salt mix or a different test kit. :)

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

Hi Randy: The salinity is currently reading 1.0258 using Tropic Marin Hydrometer, and along with a refractometer it's reading in the same ballpark, so at least that value appears correct and accurate. I am using the same test kit and did so on the tank and Ca is at 435ppm. I dosed the fresh batch of saltwater I prepared yesterday morning this morning with Red Sea Ca+ - I did a Ca test after 4 hours and it's reading 430ppm.

I am going to assume something is wonky with the batch of salt I have <shrug>.

Would you mind posting the lot/ batch/ date information of the salt in question? This might be useful to other Reef Crystals users and for defining the scope of any problem should one exist beyond your particular bucket.

 

[RaymondL]

I assume it's a white sticker on the lid - 22321

 

[Euphylliaphyle]

I just tested some freshly-mixed Reef Crystals in RO/DI using Salifert titration:

Ca: 455
Alk: 7.5
Mn: 1,160

Lot 19235 22:18

Mixed to 35 ppt using Tropic Marin glass bulb hydrometer and temperature-corrected.

 

[RaymondL]

I just tested some freshly-mixed Reef Crystals in RO/DI using Salifert titration:

Ca: 455
Alk: 7.5
Mn: 1,160

Lot 19235 22:18

Mixed to 35 ppt using Tropic Marin glass bulb hydrometer and temperature-corrected.

Thanks! I did another mix today after dumping the salt bucket and mixing it into another larger container thinking it might be the solution, but nope....Ca: 350 Mg: 1185.

I hate having to spend more $$ to boost up the Ca and Mg as a result that this salt have lower than advertised values.