Instant oceans reef Crystal's

[skiergd011013]

I use RC and it takes about 2.25 cups to make 4 gallons of 1.026, tested with a milwaukee refractometer calibrated with randys diy salinity standard.

 

[Jjmg]

I opened a new bucket of reef crystals about 2 weeks ago. It mixed with no problems. For a 5 gal bucket I add 2.25 cups, let it mix and adjust up to 1.026.

 

[twentyleagues]

I use RC and it takes about 2.25 cups to make 4 gallons of 1.026, tested with a milwaukee refractometer calibrated with randys diy salinity standard.

That seems spot on seeing that the directions and packaging is based on 1.023.

 

[winxp_man]

Until anything further can be said, a tropic marin hydrometer is needed. It’s one of the most accurate tools to measure salinity. My refractometer did the same. Get TM hydrometer and test water again. Ran into the same issue before.

Now one other thing you can do is if you have enough to make the same amount of each salt batch. And different outcomes that is a salt issue then. But if you don’t have any more of the old batch to test. It’s possible you’re salinity tester is no bueno.

 

[rhitee93]

This has been said, but not explained. It isn't possible for a salt mix to be twice as potent as advertised. The reason is that what is in the salt mix is already nearly 100% salt (sodium chloride). It isn't like they can accidently double the concentration of salt in the bucket.

Something is going on with the testing. You mention using a refractometer in parallel with your hydrometer. I recently found out my commercial refractometer calibration fluid was way off causing me to read 28ppt as 35ppt.

 

[mckennamichael407]

Nearly all mixes work well, as long as you ...

3 test with a hydrometer and a refractometer? Ive been doing test for al.ost twenty years. I understand your position but i dont think id get the same exact results using 2 different methods multiple times. While calibrating the refractometer with ro/di water and calibration solution.

So everyone who is overlooking on main thing of the refractometer being used as well not just a hydrometer.

 

[ColoradoReeferman]

I did not experience double strength from my current bucket of Instant Ocean, though I did have some little white and red plastic pieces. Maybe they're trying to mimic the current concentration of micro plastic in the oceans.

 

[IceNein]

I'm going to come out and say it. It is impossible for this to mix 35ppt at 1/4 cup per gallon. It just is. Salts mix at 1/2 cup to the gallon.

Table salt mixes at 35g/1L to make 35ppt. There are 3.78 liters per gallon, so that's 132 grams per gallon. 132 grams of table salt takes up 0.48 cups.

AFAIK there is no denser formulation of salt, and if there were and it cost extra money to make, the manufacturers would opt for cheaper.

I believe that salts can take slightly MORE volume of salts because the salts can absorb water, but it is impossible to take significantly less.

 

[fish_collector]

I use Instant Ocean in my FOWLR tank and Reef Crystals in my SPS tank with no issues. I use these particular salts because of the price, as do a lot of reefers. I do see a few small shards of plastic in the mix but it isn't something that worries me, it's just plastic from the lid or bucket during production and filling, it will cause no harm to anything. It is very highly unlikely that there are "bad" buckets of salt seeing how many tons of it at a time are blended, Im confident the batches are tested.

 

[CHSUB]

Weight the salt instead of using a volume measurement.

 

[IndianReefGuy]

Weight the salt instead of using a volume measurement.

And I am wondering what he’s using to measure the 1/4 cup salt AND how is he measuring a gallon…unless I missed it somewhere in the thread. Also, 4 gallons seems like a strange container, maybe get a standard 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot.

 

[ScottJ]

Same with the Reef Crystals I just opened. About 1/4 cup per gallon. Add a bit more to get to 1.025. Been that way for the 5 years I've used it.

Are you sure you are using the correct measuring cup?

 

[charleydavis]

I’m a little confused. You are saying it is taking only 1/4 cup per gallon to get to 35 ppt, which is about half the usual amount?

I think there is some sort of testing issue. There’s no way a salt mix can be twice as potent as usual.

I am also confused. Something is wrong here in the arithmetic. Do you mean specific gravity of 1.026?

 

[charleydavis]

Yes to the 1/4 cup in place of the 1/2 cyp and no it is not brackish have a 5 stage bulk reef supply rodi filter with tds meter that the water comes from. This is a new bag that has the same label as always but everything is way off and this is now the 3rd batch this has happened to. I have calibrated my refractometer before every use with ro/di water as well as calibration solution to confirm the readings are correct as well as using my instant oceans hydrometer for these batches. I usually buy the 16 lb bag because I don't need a huge supply so I'm not to worried about it an have ordered a different brand but I cannot be the only person in history of reef keep that gas gotten a bad batch of salt mix can I?

I run my filter to the 4 gallon line on my bucket, then I put the heater in the bucket until the water gets to roughly 78 degrees, i add the salt (b4 i use to just add the 2 cups of salt but since getting this bag I did that and it came out astronomically high right around 70 pp and have been cautious figuring i could always add more to it) so i added my cup of salt mix and swirled it around and then tossed my sicce syncra nano in the bucket and put a lid on it and went back about an hour later and checked and it was on the money with only half the salt mix for the 2nd straight time

 

[IndianReefGuy]

I've been using this salt mix since I started this tank roughly a year ago. The past 3 batches though have all been completely off. They say to use a 1/2 cup of salt per gallon and i have been using 1 cup per 4 gallons to get to 1.26 and 35 pp by adding in a 1/4 of a cup at a time an letting it desolve. I just ordered the aqua forest reef salt to give that a try but wanted to see what everyone is using and their reasoning.

Can you humor us and send us a picture of the 4 gallon bucket and 1/2 cup measuring cup ( or whatever you are using to measure the salt) you are using?

 

[charleydavis]

With all due respect, this cannot be. Salt is salt. One batch cannot be twice as concentrated as the next. To be precise and correct the amount of salt should be weighed; a cup or 1/2 cup is a measure of volume.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Nearly all mixes work well, as long as you ...

3 test with a hydrometer and a refractometer? Ive been doing test for al.ost twenty years. I understand your position but i dont think id get the same exact results using 2 different methods multiple times. While calibrating the refractometer with ro/di water and calibration solution.

So everyone who is overlooking on main thing of the refractometer being used as well not just a hydrometer.

The issue is that the bulk of the mix is salt —and salt is, well, salt. It can’t be “more concentrated” in dry form; its crystal structure is fixed regardless of source. The only way to slightly increase density is by grinding it finer to reduce air space between particles. But even then, taking a cup of typical reef salt and powdering it won’t reduce the volume anywhere near 50%.


So what about the other stuff in there, mag, alk, trace? Even if any or all major and minor ions were overdosed, it still wouldn’t double the salinity from the same volume. More trace per volume means less salt, and none of the trace imbalance could account for a doubling of Sg or salinity.

At that point, there are only two possibilities:

- You used twice as much salt,
- Or, measurement error.

The fact that salt crystals can’t be more concentrated than they already are, and that two totally different types of devices (density and refractive index ) measure the same — points to measurement error on your part, likely both in scoop size and in water volume. Full stop.

 

[OrionN]

140 gm of salt for 1 gal of water

 

[BeanAnimal]

140 gm of salt for 1 gal of water

Salt absorbs water, so weighing can lead to error too…

Napkin math.

Dry 140g = 35 ppt.

2.5% moisture is 136.5 g of salt and 3.5 g of water. So somewhere around 34.0 ppt.

5% moisture, 133 g of salt and 7 g of water, ~33 ppt.

10% moisture, 126 g salt and 14 g of water, ~31 ppt.

 

[OrionN]

Salt absorbs water, so weighing can lead to error too…

Napkin math.

Dry 140g = 35 ppt.

2.5% moisture is 136.5 g of salt and 3.5 g of water. So somewhere around 34.0 ppt.

5% moisture, 133 g of salt and 7 g of water, ~33 ppt.

10% moisture, 126 g salt and 14 g of water, ~31 ppt.

I only measure the salt to mix water for my office tank. Straight out of the bag and weight right away so the salt was relatively dried. I only mixed 5 gals for my office tank, so I portioned the salt into ziplock bags and used them later. At home I mixed 50 gal at a time, so I just use the whole bag as I open it.
Moisture absorption is a concern, but not the way that I used it. Of course I have the refractometer to adjust salinity as needed. I just add more salt water and let evaporation increase the salinity.