Parameters of Instant ocean reef crystals

[PokeFish]

Would any kind soul let me know the paramters (alk, mag, calc, nitrates, etc) of a saltwater mix made using instant ocean reef crystals? Thanks

 

[fishski13]

Dont know exact parameters as I never tested new water, but I have been using this salt since the beginning and when I test my water in the tank my parameters are usually as follows:

Salinity: 1.025
Alkalinity: between 9 and 10
Calcium: around: 470
Magnesium: around 1440
pH: 8

I dose alkalinity and calcium every couple days if my alkalinity drops below 9.5 and this is accommodated with water weekly or bi weekly water changes depending on tank.

 

[Reefahholic]

 

[fryman]

That's interesting. I use reef crystals and this is about right except my alk is not quite that high.

CA measures about 500, and mag is 1400-1500. Alk is ~11. I've never measured nitrate of fresh salt, assume it's close to 0.

It varies slightly with each bucket, but considering measurement error it seems consistent to me.

 

[PokeFish]

That's interesting. I use reef crystals and this is about right except my alk is not quite that high.

CA measures about 500, and mag is 1400-1500. Alk is ~11. I've never measured nitrate of fresh salt, assume it's close to 0.

It varies slightly with each bucket, but considering measurement error it seems consistent to me.

Thanks

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Where did that come from? Curious they got 7 dKH for Red Sea Coral Pro, a very high alk mix. Maybe they let it precipitate before testing.

 

[EricR]

Where did that come from? Curious they got 7 dKH for Red Sea Coral Pro, a very high alk mix. Maybe they let it precipitate before testing.

Yeah,,, seems weird.
I used to use the regular/cheap Red Sea (NOT pro) and fresh mix alk was always 8.x dKH.
Now I use regular/cheap Instant Ocean and fresh mix alk is always 10.x dKH.
*I only mix to 34 ppt (1.025 SG) salinity

 

[Reefahholic]

Where did that come from? Curious they got 7 dKH for Red Sea Coral Pro, a very high alk mix. Maybe they let it precipitate before testing.

Found it here in a search.

 

[Reefahholic]

We’ll use this one to compare:

 

[Jeffcb]

Who cares. Just use the same one and go. Blue Bucket here, actually with bags you get 25 gallons free!!!

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I/O RC alkalinity is 13!?!?

 

[rhitee93]

Yeah, I found that chart when I was looking for a salt, but my IO Reef Crystals always seem to mix to about 9dkh.

 

[ThinBuLine]

Myself and my LFS have been having a problem with reef crystals mag being low. Fresh batch at 1.026 was testing 1200 for my box and my lfs.

Contacted spectrum brands and they are making it right. I also sent them a sample of the water and a sample of the salt I was having a problem with.

 

[Alazo1]

Myself and my LFS have been having a problem with reef crystals mag being low. Fresh batch at 1.026 was testing 1200 for my box and my lfs.

Contacted spectrum brands and they are making it right. I also sent them a sample of the water and a sample of the salt I was having a problem with.

Seems I'm having the same problem. Been using this salt for a long time. I decided to test a fresh batch. Here is the results.

Salinity 1.025
Alk = 10
Calcium = 300
Magnesium = 1,200
Pottasium = 290

What the heck. I'd hate to try a new salt.

 

[exnisstech]

I mix instant ocean and reef crystals 50/50 and alk is never over 9 the few times I have checked it. According to the chart it should mix closer to 12

 

[areefer01]

Does anyone actually have the box or bucket to check? Maybe it is written on it??? Search yielded an image but I don't have a box to check as I use something different. Worth a try. Not sure why it doesn't list alk though. Go figure. Maybe they document it or have it in a FAQ somewhere?

 

[Dburr1014]

Does anyone actually have the box or bucket to check? Maybe it is written on it??? Search yielded an image but I don't have a box to check as I use something different. Worth a try. Not sure why it doesn't list alk though. Go figure. Maybe they document it or have it in a FAQ somewhere?

Bag/box should not make a difference.

 

[jda]

I have only used a couple of salts in those charts, but those few do not even look close to me. I do mix the whole bag at a time, so settlement is not an issue for me. I would not trust those charts at all...

The last time that I checked RC, it was like 450-460 calcium and high 11s on Alk. I don't test magnesium.

 

[areefer01]

Bag/box should not make a difference.

I wasn't clear - sorry. I was just suggesting that if someone had a bag, or a box, or bucket, that they could actually look at it to get the information if it is there for the OP. Or if Instant Ocean lists it someone in their portal.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I wasn't clear - sorry. I was just suggesting that if someone had a bag, or a box, or bucket, that they could actually look at it to get the information if it is there for the OP. Or if Instant Ocean lists it someone in their portal.

It doesn’t.