Salt delivery mishap??

[BoonieMoe]

So I had a 175g bucket of AF reef salt delivered to me today & the bucket was all broken to bits, with the salt bag ripped with maybe 1/4 all out in the box. I was able to get most of it into a spare 5g bucket I had but some of the salt that got out of the bag into the box was moist and clumpy. My question is is this salt worth keeping? Is the levels and such going to be off? & should I remove what I can of the moist clumps if the rest is worth keeping?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd request a refund, but to try to use it, dissolve it in your normal way, make sure and solids settle out, and measure the alkalinity. If the alkalinity is normal, it is likely fine to use. If it is considerably low, then that indicates calcium carbonate precipitation (happens when moisture gets to it) and I'd save it for noncritical applications, such as a qt tank, or other such thing.

 

[BoonieMoe]

I'd request a refund, but to try to use it, dissolve it in your normal way, make sure and solids settle out, and measure the alkalinity. If the alkalinity is normal, it is likely fine to use. If it is considerably low, then that indicates calcium carbonate precipitation (happens when moisture gets to it) and I'd save it for noncritical applications, such as a qt tank, or other such thing.

Yeah they are sending me another bucket for free but it was just so much salt I would hate to waste it if it’s still good. I’m new to reefing & this was my first salt I had gotten for my new build I was trying to fill this weekend LOL I just didn’t know if the salt chemistry could’ve been messed up as I’ve seen some people say to shake the bags or buckets to mix it up before using it. Would you suggest pulling out the moist clumps or just leaving it all together?

 

[BoonieMoe]

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'd leave it all for a dissolution test.

 

[BoonieMoe]

I saved what I could & scooped out the moist clumps & sand the best I could, really wasn’t a lot at all. Going to use it to mix my initial tank fill batch as I’m doing a fishless cycle anyways & I’ll test it to see what’s what if it’s heavily off on alk levels I’ll just throw it out as I’m getting a replacement bucket free anyways in a few days. But hopefully it’s all good because that would be a nice little stock pile to have starting out my tank haha

 

[BoonieMoe]

I'd leave it all for a dissolution test.

Meant to type that response to you, oops haha

 

[mfinn]

I've had similar shipments with broken buckets and boxes and spilled salt.
Everyone I've dealt with replaced the container of salt free of charge.

 

[areefer01]

Had similar. BRS replaced it no questions asked. I turned around and put it in the trash. I felt it was safer since it reduced the unknown factor. Also BRS replaced it so it didn't matter.