Salt batch issues

Smallslandreefer · Jan 10, 2024

Hey guys,
Have some issues with aquaforest reef salt. I checked the batch number and at 33 ppt salinity the alk should be around 7.6 dkh. I mixed a 20 litres yesterday at 35 ppt and tested alk today with ati kh and salifert. It came up at 6.4 dkh. Why is that some slat bacthes come low on dkh. Should in not use it? I can fix the alk with some baking soda but i am worried that other parameters (elements) might be at different levels from the ones the batch icp refers. Any opinions and experiences. Should i take it back to my LFS?

CasperOe · Jan 10, 2024

Nah just use it! Remember, your test kits have some error attached to them as well! :-)

It may serve as a good practice session on ensuring consistently having the same test results. There may be some array of user error attached to this as well. Try testing five times in a row using your test kit. If you are using it correctly and consistently, chances are you will have very similar results from each test.

What I am trying to say, there's nothing wrong with your salt. Go ahead and use it - and if you really want to know "the exact alkalinity", take the average of your five tests.

Dburr1014 · Jan 10, 2024

Smallslandreefer said:
Hey guys,
Have some issues with aquaforest reef salt. I checked the batch number and at 33 ppt salinity the alk should be around 7.6 dkh. I mixed a 20 litres yesterday at 35 ppt and tested alk today with ati kh and salifert. It came up at 6.4 dkh. Why is that some slat bacthes come low on dkh. Should in not use it? I can fix the alk with some baking soda but i am worried that other parameters (elements) might be at different levels from the ones the batch icp refers. Any opinions and experiences. Should i take it back to my LFS?

I'd use it.
Did you mix the bucket before mixing with water? Some things settle out in shipping.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2024

I agree, I'd use it. There are lots of sources of error in your measurements, including both the salinity and the alk testing, and how well you adequately sampled the entire bucket.

I'd also take batch info to really be their target for a bucket, not what actually shows up in every single bucket.

Smallslandreefer · Sep 10, 2024

What i found it is the a very small (pinch) amount of baking soda in the RO water prior to mixing it with the salt keeps my kh from decreasing while mixing. I don’t know exactly why is that but i assume it has something to do with the RO not having any dissolved solids prior to mixing the salt making it more prone to alk precipitation. Once i add some baking soda my alk is near my desired level however i dont know if this affects anything else apart from ph and alk in the mix. Where i live there is alot of humidity and heat(which i think plays a role) and i rearly get the dkh at the desired level still dont know the true reason but fortunately baking soda seems to do the trick

Randy Holmes-Farley · Sep 10, 2024

Smallslandreefer said:
What i found it is the a very small (pinch) amount of baking soda in the RO water prior to mixing it with the salt keeps my kh from decreasing while mixing. I don’t know exactly why is that but i assume it has something to do with the RO not having any dissolved solids prior to mixing the salt making it more prone to alk precipitation. Once i add some baking soda my alk is near my desired level however i dont know if this affects anything else apart from ph and alk in the mix. Where i live there is alot of humidity and heat(which i think plays a role) and i rearly get the dkh at the desired level still dont know the true reason but fortunately baking soda seems to do the trick

That implies the salt mix is low in alk. It is not because of any issue related to the ro/di.

dan241838 · Mar 11, 2025

Hi there

I've had major issues last weekend with Aqua forest.

I've been using it for years and never had an issue. But I have had major ammonia Spikes.

I thought I was going mad with the amount of water changes I have conducted and then took the box of Aqua forest, my ROID, my test kits to my LFS.

They conducted a series of tests with my kit, they're kit and identified that when they mixed my Salt Aqua forest with their ROID water it showed 1mg of ammonia.

I have gone back to the supplier as I have bourght alot of salt pending their reply.

Never happened before, though I don't think I'll buy again as it has cause a big risk and major stress for me and the tank.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 11, 2025

dan241838 said:
Hi there

I've had major issues last weekend with Aqua forest.

I've been using it for years and never had an issue. But I have had major ammonia Spikes.

I thought I was going mad with the amount of water changes I have conducted and then took the box of Aqua forest, my ROID, my test kits to my LFS.

They conducted a series of tests with my kit, they're kit and identified that when they mixed my Salt Aqua forest with their ROID water it showed 1mg of ammonia.

I have gone back to the supplier as I have bourght alot of salt pending their reply.

Never happened before, though I don't think I'll buy again as it has cause a big risk and major stress for me and the tank.

I'd still use it at 1 ppm total ammonia. Even for a 20% water change, the amount is similar to what many folks dose. :)

dan241838 · Mar 11, 2025

Thanks for your reply, i really appreciate it as i was sweating buckets at the weekend, thinking i was going to lose the lot.

I read that most salts contain a low amount of Ammonia and that the biological filter will knock it out anyway, but my filter is keeping the 1mg going.

I was under the impression 1mg was bad and I what made me panic is the tang was at the top (as if he was gasping for air).

I took some photos of a couple of tests, one of the tests came back blue which wasn't even on the spectrum, (fresh dry tube before testing as well)

The other photo was tests conducted by my LFS and they tested my salt with their RO water and then my test kit with their salt Water mix.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 11, 2025

Is this an established tank?

If its a new tank that you just 100% filled, is it cycled?

dan241838 · Mar 11, 2025

The tank has been initially going since 2015.

I've recently moved house and moved the tank over and transported with everything in it on 20th Feb so just around 2 weeks ago, which was an absolute nightmare and then from then I've tested everyday paranoid of any expecting nitrite Spikes.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 11, 2025

dan241838 said:
The tank has been initially going since 2015.

I've recently moved house and moved the tank over and transported with everything in it on 20th Feb so just around 2 weeks ago, which was an absolute nightmare and then from then I've tested everyday paranoid of any expecting nitrite Spikes.

Don't worry about nitrite, It's not toxic in marine systems. Have you been monitoring the ammonia over time?

It may be the kit is off. A tank moved on Feb 20 should not still have 1 ppm ammonia in it on March 11 unless something unusual is going on.

dan241838 · Mar 12, 2025

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Don't worry about nitrite, It's not toxic in marine systems. Have you been monitoring the ammonia over time?

It may be the kit is off. A tank moved on Feb 20 should not still have 1 ppm ammonia in it on March 11 unless something unusual is going on.

Sorry for the late reply, I believe we had got to the bottom of it, I am due to send off the salt to a laboratory to be tested and will let you know either way

redacted_ · Nov 29, 2025

dan241838 said:
Sorry for the late reply, I believe we had got to the bottom of it, I am due to send off the salt to a laboratory to be tested and will let you know either way

Hey, any updates on your salt situation? I recently purchased a lot of aquaforest salt too and just had a bunch of my fish die in quick succession after switching