New Purple Instant Ocean High Calcium + Magnesium...What's Changed?

[c_healy]

I recently switched from IO because it was mixing up around 1550 mag, 500 cal and 9 for alk. That’s a lot higher than I’d like to be at.

 

[george9]

I recently switched from IO because it was mixing up around 1550 mag, 500 cal and 9 for alk. That’s a lot higher than I’d like to be at.

Was this with the 160g bucket, 200g box or 15lb bags?

 

[rtparty]

BRS did a video on this, none of the salts tested showed any significant stratification.

Multiple salts showed stratification with IO brands being one of the worst. Mixing the bag or bucket is definitely recommended.



Just a few examples below. Even those that are 10% or below still show stratification is happening.

 

[rtparty]

Welcome to IO and low quality control. They aren’t the cheapest because they feel like making less money. They are the cheapest because they have large tolerances and lower control.

I’m not saying it’s a “bad” salt at all. It works just fine. Just know the parameters can and will change randomly from batch to batch.

 

[homer1475]

A

Welcome to IO and low quality control. They aren’t the cheapest because they feel like making less money. They are the cheapest because they have large tolerances and lower control.

I’m not saying it’s a “bad” salt at all. It works just fine. Just know the parameters can and will change randomly from batch to batch.

I've used IO for the better part of 20 years, and still do today. It's one of the most consistent salts I have ever used. My boxes from last year(I wait till I find it on sale and buy enough for the year) are still mixing up the same parameters as 20 years ago.

Yes its cheap and probably one of the main driving factors in most major large aquariums around the world use it. But I would also argue they use because it is the most consistent.


For what it's worth, back in the day we used to raise MAG up to as high as 1700 with a particular MAG product that also had something in it that killed bryopsis. Never had an issue with MAG as high as 1650, but I have personally never went higher then that.

 

[NormanB]

I've always used IO and still do. Yes, there is some variation, but after seeing the results of separation I always roll buckets or mix bags for evenness. When a bucket gets low I'll open what I have and add it to the open bucket and shake, roll, etc. Only recently have I started using the boxes, but still only add 1 bag at a time to an open bucket and mix well.

Most recent water change mixed to:

At 35 PPT

Ca 420
Mg 1400
Alk 4.0 meq/l

 

[c_healy]

Was this with the 160g bucket, 200g box or 15lb bags?

The buckets.

 

[hikermike]

I've been using Instant Ocean for 5 years now. Have tried different brands but can see no advantage to them since I'm a "dabbler" anyway. (I can't leave anything alone, you know an extra dab here and there of this and that.) Anyway, I've ALWAYS noticed that IO pushes the limit on calcium, usually around 500 and the reef crystals even higher so I stick with IO for my reef tank and tinker.

 

[nano reef]

I need a test kit for nitrites (starting new tank) so I went on petcos webiste because I know they carry it! @0 bucks off YAY They also had the purple istant ocean @ 20 bucks off! I usually use Fritz blue line. My calcium is at 500 last I checked! Would this be a good idea to bring it down?

What is this about rolling the bucket? Never heard of doing that! What if you usually use bags. The salt grains are not clumped or anything with Fritz so I dont see what good it would do. Its like separated grains of salt, fine and powdery!

 

[dan55]

I am working through (4) 200 gallon boxes of IO purple purchased in summer of 2023. All boxes have had roughly 340 ppm calcium and 1050 ppm magnesium tested via both salifert and redsea test kits. The magnesium and calcium in the IO purple boxes dipped dramatically from the boxes I had used from 2020 to 2022.

 

[TatorTaco]

I am working through (4) 200 gallon boxes of IO purple purchased in summer of 2023. All boxes have had roughly 340 ppm calcium and 1050 ppm magnesium tested via both salifert and redsea test kits. The magnesium and calcium in the IO purple boxes dipped dramatically from the boxes I had used from 2020 to 2022.

I'm having the same issue. Alk is mid 8's. Cal is 360. Mag is 1050.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'm having the same issue. Alk is mid 8's. Cal is 360. Mag is 1050.

What salinity, and measured how?

 

[TatorTaco]

1.026 measured with a calibrated refractometer and a Hanna salinity checker.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

How large of a portion of a bag did you make up? A batch that far off is uncommon.

 

[Mwatts12]

I'm having the same issue. Alk is mid 8's. Cal is 360. Mag is 1050.

Same. Have 4 boxes of the 200 gallon. The perimeters mix extremely low.

All bought black Friday 2023.

I also have to add about 200ml of ESV mag and cal to make the levels where I want them for a 20 gallon water change.

I honestly thought I was alone on this.