Instant Ocean

[foulbrew]

I've been reading a few threads slamming Instant Ocean - some personal accounts and some hearsay. Posting such things on a public bulletin board can cause real damage to a company and it's people, keep in mind you may have to back this stuff. I'm not saying you shouldn't share your experiences, just keep in mind the damage it may cause and the reaction that may be generated from that damage.

 

[ncjetskier]

O<, maybe I am alittle slow, but what is wrong with IO?I would figure that most tank crashes have to do with cycling, temp, etc. Has anyone got a scientific analysis why IO would cause a crash-not disputing it just wondering, especially since I just bought a bag.

 

[tyr-sog]

hmmmmm, Just filled my 120gallon up using a brand new bucket of IO. Used aout 40gallons of established water and 80 or so of new IO water. No problems.

 

[aarone]

no problems yet...Did you check your new batch of SW before you added it? The tale-tell signs are precipitates, and super high alk.
Good luck in the Future with IO im changing to reef crystals.
aaron

 

[fshhub]

LOL, just like anything, ANYTHING AT ALL
there will be from time to time bad batches of salt, recalls on car parts, flaws in stereos, even in food products which we consume.
on GREAT AND PROVEN PRODUCTS. It does happen. And Thomas's tank is established, however form what he said the problems were noticable before he added the water to the tank. So testing and observation(as we should do) would alleviate any problems.
as for using a different brand, I like and use IO and so do many others. Is it possible there was a problem with a certain batch?? YES(if not this one in question, i am sure there was at least one or 2 since they started), it happens in manufaturing all the time. Would it scare me? NO, as I said it happens, and could just as likely happen with ANY OTHER BRAND. Including Reef Crystals, which for the record is made at the same place, with the same recipe except they add more trace elements. Now there are certain brands which I do not use or like at all because I do not like their "RECIPE" and have not liked teh results in one way or another, NOT because of one instance where there were a few problems but because of long term unsatisfying results.

 

[krowleey]

i agree IO should back up thier product. whats sad is the amount of money that has to be spent testing salt mixes to show the consumer what he/she is really getting. some companys have done that but people still dont believe the writing on the wall. currently there is more testing going on it will be intresting to see those results, but it will still be the same. People will still think they are getting a quality product because thats what the package says it is, and oh yea it's only 20 bucks for a 200 gallon mix of it with a pretty bucket and a powerhead! and for those who dont believe the s-15 report, don't you think that would have been down a long time ago? and oh yea those marine salts have been around for 30 years. everyone has thier right to use whatever brand they would like, and to share any and all information to people so they can make up thier own mind themselfs.

 

[aarone]

IO reimbursed Thomas for his clean up crew and his 6 line wrasse ( i think that was the fish) So they realized their mistake.
But like fshhub said, It happens. The only reason i want to use Reef crystals, is for the trace elements. I my self have never had a problem with IO.
aaron

 

[slofish]

I always thought reef crystals and IO were both made from the same company and were essentially the same aside from the extra additives?

 

[007]

Originally posted by SLOFish
I always thought reef crystals and IO were both made from the same company and were essentially the same aside from the extra additives?
They are

 

[007]

Originally posted by foulbrew
I've been reading a few threads slamming Instant Ocean - some personal accounts and some hearsay. Posting such things on a public bulletin board can cause real damage to a company and it's people, keep in mind you may have to back this stuff. I'm not saying you shouldn't share your experiences, just keep in mind the damage it may cause and the reaction that may be generated from that damage.
Totally serious question here . . . Do you work for Aquarium Pharmaceuticals?

 

[aarone]

Originally posted by 007
Totally serious question here . . . Do you work for Aquarium Pharmaceuticals?
lol i was wondering the same thing...
aaron

 

[slofish]

Now im a bit concerned.... hmmm.... just got a 200gal tub of reef crystals a couple days ago. Gonna mix some up for a water change this weekend. ill see how it goes.
Anyone ever have problems with storage of their salt?

 

[trompet3]

krowleey - $20 for a 200gal bucket? Where did you manage that?

 

[thomas712]

Bashing Instant Ocean. I don't remember anyone Bashing Instant Ocean. We talked about a bad water change and the cause of it. It was a cause for great concern and a public service to warn others no matter what there brand of salt to test the first batch out of it for safty purposes.
Many of us still use it, and no one is out to sue or destroy them to my knowledge. For most of us its our favorate salt and we do not want to give it up.
Can I back myself up as to what happend, even to the point of chemical report on it....you bet I can. Why would they further damage their reputation by going after people who complain? The company seems to be stepping up to the plate and taking care of its customers and thats what counts for me.
Nuff said.
Thomas

 

[fshhub]

as far as testing goes, i have workied in industry(several to be exact) and can tell you that any amount of testing or money can be spent and you will have some fluctuations. switching batches and testing supplies makes a the most noticable differences.
In printing, just going from one barrel of ink to another(same batch even) can make a difference. normally not noticable to the human senses without help form other devices, but they are there. and often there are very noticable differences.
or switching to a new brand of tester(which they do in industry) or even a different vial of drops.
same goes with any manufacturing system. especially ones that involve recipes. Just being on one side of a mixing paddle or the other can make a difference.

 

[foulbrew]

I apologize. My post was motivated out of nothing more than concern that some folks may be not be aware that they could be held liable for any claims that caused damage to a company or individual that they can't substantiate. I am not a lawyer, but I do seem to remember this happening to a few folks in the past.
007 : No, I do not work for them. I am a poor Systems Architect who designs on-line investing systems for an insurance company. In my spare 2 hours a day I usually sleep, except in winter when I shovel snow.
Thomas: I do not doubt you had issues with your salt and I believe you handled it responsibly - for the most part. However, I did not have to go far (or even leave this thread for an example of what I was refering to :
by waterfaller1-
"People's tanks have been crashing left and right after using IO lately,the way I see it,they better back up!!!!"
If they are crashing left and right it's good to share - I found only a few postings on this board and the 'other board' refering to this issue and two of them were yours - I would think there'd be more, maybe I missed some...
fshhub : I apologize for the double posting - it was an accident.
Well, back to work analizing salt - oops, I mean modeling objects.

 

[thomas712]

Appreciate the reply, and warning. I firmly believe IO is doing its best to get a hold of the situation before it becomes chronic, and many of us will breath a sigh of relief.
Some day we who know can say, I remember when a bad batch of salt went around, here is what happend and here is what we learned by it. Mistakes are made and corrected, We move on.
Perhaps we should all keep in mind that when we talk about a product we should be careful about how we speak about it, like Rio pumps or skilter filters, to which it might be better to say don't waist your money on them, instead of this product blows chucks, or worse.
Thomas

 

[foulbrew]

I apologize. My post was motivated out of nothing more than concern that some folks may be not be aware that they could be held liable for any claims that caused damage to a company or individual that they can't substantiate. I am not a lawyer, but I do seem to remember this happening to a few folks in the past.
007 : No, I do not work for them. I am a poor Systems Architect who designs on-line investing systems for an insurance company. In my spare 2 hours a day I usually sleep, except in winter when I shovel snow.
Thomas: I do not doubt you had issues with your salt and I believe you handled it responsibly - for the most part. However, I did not have to go far (or even leave this thread for an example of what I was refering to :
by waterfaller1-
"People's tanks have been crashing left and right after using IO lately,the way I see it,they better back up!!!!"
If they are crashing left and right it's good to share - I found only a few postings on this board and the 'other board' refering to this issue and two of them were yours - I would think there'd be more, maybe I missed some...
fshhub : I apologize for the double posting - it was an accident.
Well, back to work analizing salt - oops, I mean modeling objects.

 

[scottnj]

I gotta say Thomas has seemed like a pretty stand up guy from the start on this. I honestly can't say that I would be as calm and collected through it all, going out getting tests done on the salt batch, etc.
All he asked of IO was for the replacement costs of what he lost due to the bad mix, and with all said and done says he is going to continue to use the product.
Not much bashing there, just a real good lesson to everyone to test our salt batches.
-Scott