My e-mail to Instant Ocean...

[speg]

I just wanted to let your company know that I was unhappy with the salt that I have purchased.
The reason: “No special additives required.” & “Instant Ocean synthetic sea salt simulates natural seawater for thriving marine aquariums.”
I purchased Instant Ocean salt for my aquarium and noticed that many of my established rock’s coralline was becoming bleached. I tested the aquarium’s calcium level to find 275ppm for the calcium reading. I immediately tested the water I premix for water changes to find the same reading.
In order to increase the calcium level to a more ‘natural seawater’ level then I will have to have ‘special additives’.
I searched the internet and found that others had the same problem with your salt. One website (www.petsmart.com) enables people to respond to their experiences with products they’ve purchased, and more than 50% noticed the problem with a lower-than-expected level of calcium.
Keep in mind that I only tested for one element that I found to be extremely important when setting up a reef tank; I would assume that I would have unhappy results if I tested for other elements.
I decided to buy Kent Marine brand salt. I took the salt home, mixed up a batch, and tested the water.
The results: 400ppm calcium.
Your product may seem (slightly) cheaper than Kent’s product, but at least I won’t be spending extra money on additives.
I plan on letting others know that the “#1 salt brand” doesn’t mean that it’s the best choice.
Please let me know if there is a reason that one of these important elements was so low without any sort of notification to the buyer. Did I get a bad batch? Did I mistake the meanings behind “simulates natural seawater”

 

[deejeff442]

but you get a free t shirt .it is probably the cheapest salt out there and for good reason.in a pinch i get it but dont like it.also it leaves a nasty film on my mixing tank.i like to use reef crystals myself.

 

[beth]

IO does sell reef salt (Reef Crystals). Not all salts require, nor do they contain the calcium levels required for sps coral. Most hobbyists don't need to use a high calcium salt, so why buy one?

 

[speg]

Originally Posted by Beth
http:///forum/post/3254553
IO does sell reef salt (Reef Crystals). Not all salts require, nor do they contain the calcium levels required for sps coral. Most hobbyists don't need to use a high calcium salt, so why buy one?
They don't tell you that their salt only has a level of 275. They don't mention that other salts may have a better level of calcium. They say that their salt "simulates natural seawater" which it doesn't. How would people know that they shouldn't buy this salt until they buy it and test it and find the same results that I did?
It's not only sps coral, and like I mentioned in my email, even my coralline algae was bleaching due to the low calcium levels. Calcium isn't only for sps; LPS, crabs, snails, the PH of your aquarium all depend on calcium, in the correct ppm, to ensure they survive, thrive, and do well.
I'm not saying that everybody needs the 400-450ppm of calcium from their salt. I'm saying that they shouldn't claim they have it when they certainly don't.

 

[speg]

Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/3254548
but you get a free t shirt .it is probably the cheapest salt out there and for good reason.in a pinch i get it but dont like it.also it leaves a nasty film on my mixing tank.i like to use reef crystals myself.
I was tempted to buy reef crystals next in order to see what the calcium level was with that. It's the same company as Instant Ocean so I basically just wanted to get away from the entire company. It would have been interesting to see the test though.

 

[chilwil84]

the numbers for many types of salts are easily found on the internet.

 

[speg]

Originally Posted by chilwil84
http:///forum/post/3254563
the numbers for many types of salts are easily found on the internet.
Where? Can't find it.
****from their website****
Q: After dissolving Instant Ocean® in purified water, my calcium and/or magnesium concentration seems lower than expected. Why?
A: Instant Ocean® is formulated to provide a solution with levels of calcium and magnesium found in natural seawater (NSW), assuming you use purified water to dissolve the sea salt. Tap water most often contains dissolved calcium, magnesium and other minerals that will add to the levels provided by Instant Ocean®. The specific gravity of NSW is typically 1.026 (35 parts per thousand, or ppt, salinity). When dissolved in pure water to a specific gravity of 1.026, Instant Ocean® should provide a solution that has 400 mg/L calcium ion and 1320 mg/L magnesium ion. If Instant Ocean® is dissolved to a lower specific gravity, then these concentrations (and, in fact, the concentration of every other ion) will be proportionately lower.

 

[beth]

I'm just pointing out a different perspective. Unused calcium can accumulate in the aquaria at levels that could be be harmful. So, that is why your standard salts do not have sea level minerals, and this is why there are alternative reef brands available where needed for corals that require the high levels of calcium.
I think this falls in to the category of it being up to us to do enough research to decide what salts we need. Even many reef hobbyist prefer to dose their own calcium levels rather than having higher levels in the salt. Its preference and necessity.

 

[beth]

Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/3254548
in a pinch i get it but dont like it.also it leaves a nasty film on my mixing tank.i like to use reef crystals myself.
I don't like IO either, not even for FO. It doesn't mix all that well, as you said--leaves a film. There are a lot better salts out there.

 

[cableguy]

I have a newer tank here and I used IO and I just tested my calc and it was at 400.
That was using tap water with prime. I actually am waiting for my sealant to dry on the plumbing for the RO unit I just bought and currently installing. So we will see if my calcium is lower when I do my next water change with the RO water. We shall see.

 

[cranberry]

My calcium is always over 400. Did you mix up the salt before using it? Did you add water to salt or add the salt to the water when mixing it up?

 

[rlablan]

I have been using the IO reef brand for a while now. I really saw a lot of growth and more stability in my reef after switching from regular IO to the reef type with the added trace elements. I have never had an issue with it and I like the price.
I use RO water and I don't have a problem with it mixing... you just need to make sure that you aren't just dumping all the salt in at once, when making large batches (10+ gals). If you are mixing your salt like that, then its not going to dissolve correctly, no matter what brand you're using.
Please read
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/
Here is a very important excerpt
"My mixing vat consists of a 55 gallon white poly drum. In the bottom are a few air stones to aerate and mix. There is also a heater to bring the solution up to tank temperatures. About once a month, I hose out my mixing vat, and find whitish-brown “potato chips” in the bottom. With the tank being white, I also see a significant amount of a brown film on the inside walls. I’ve seen this time and time again, and it is obviously material from the salt mix that is not dissolving."

[hr]
(later down the article)

[hr]
"Don’t Heat The Water- Many chemical compounds (especially Calcium Carbonate) dissolve faster in cold water. This one step alone will greatly diminish the calcium deposits in your mixing vat. The colder the better. You can heat up the water later when it is fully mixed.
Don’t Create a Slurry- If you dump the whole bag in at once, it quickly sinks to the bottom and creates a slurry where certain compounds (again, calcium) won’t dissolve properly and come out of solution. It is best to add small amounts at a time (one-third of the mix) and let it dissolve for an hour and then repeat."

 

[pezenfuego]

Originally Posted by rlablan
http:///forum/post/3254638
I have been using the IO reef brand for a while now. I really saw a lot of growth and more stability in my reef after switching from regular IO to the reef type with the added trace elements. I have never had an issue with it and I like the price.
I use RO water and I don't have a problem with it mixing... you just need to make sure that you aren't just dumping all the salt in at once, when making large batches (10+ gals). If you are mixing your salt like that, then its not going to dissolve correctly, no matter what brand you're using.
Please read
http://joejaworski.wordpress.com/
Here is a very important excerpt
"My mixing vat consists of a 55 gallon white poly drum. In the bottom are a few air stones to aerate and mix. There is also a heater to bring the solution up to tank temperatures. About once a month, I hose out my mixing vat, and find whitish-brown “potato chips” in the bottom. With the tank being white, I also see a significant amount of a brown film on the inside walls. I’ve seen this time and time again, and it is obviously material from the salt mix that is not dissolving."

[hr]
(later down the article)

[hr]
"Don’t Heat The Water- Many chemical compounds (especially Calcium Carbonate) dissolve faster in cold water. This one step alone will greatly diminish the calcium deposits in your mixing vat. The colder the better. You can heat up the water later when it is fully mixed.
Don’t Create a Slurry- If you dump the whole bag in at once, it quickly sinks to the bottom and creates a slurry where certain compounds (again, calcium) won’t dissolve properly and come out of solution. It is best to add small amounts at a time (one-third of the mix) and let it dissolve for an hour and then repeat."
Along with that, never make a solution of salt and water that is too saturated. If you decide to mix salt that is 70 ppt (for example) so that you can dilute it later, your calcium level will end up being VERY low. This is due to the fact that all of the calcium carbonate isn't soluble in such a small amount of solvent. It will precipitate out of solution.

 

[deejeff442]

beth i know io makes reef crystals seems alot of companies make a cheap version of something then a more expensive version that is better quality.i like the reef crystals .the reef crystals disolves nice without any film on the glass.
i am looking at my 45 gallon batch i filtered and mixed 3 days ago right now and it is crystal clear

 

[beth]

Yes, many hobbyists want the less expensive salt (most do actually) because they don't have a reef and they don't want to pay for things that they don't need.
Options are good in this hobby.

 

[deejeff442]

just proves you get what you pay for .i think the reef is only $5 more a bucket and worth it.

 

[speg]

Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/3254687
just proves you get what you pay for .i think the reef is only $5 more a bucket and worth it.
That's funny.. I'm noticing that the Reef Crystals is actually cheaper than Instant Ocean in a lot of places that I look.
One site = (50gal mix) Instant Ocean $15.99..... Reef Crystals $13.99
Here's a couple of emails about REEF CRYSTALS...not Instant Ocean..
"Pros: mixes fairly well, good pirce
Cons: low calcium and magnesium
"I've been using reef crystals for well over 5 years. When I first started using it the parameters weren't that bad. Lately, when I test new batches of make up water, the tests for calcium, alk and ph have been way off. I've also got a really bad case of hair algae and chrysophyte outbreak. The last 5 bags that I have gotten have numerous brown specs dispersed through out te bag. The calcium is said to be around 420, my last 4 bags barely got calcium @ 380 ppm, alk is supposed to be 12, my bags tested at 7. There have been quite a few complaints about the quality of the mix over the last few months. It does mix fairly well,but the low tests are annoying. I will be switching to another brand"
another email....
"I reluctantly am writing this review after many, many years of using IO and also Reef Crystals. I cannot say for sure that anyone elses experience will be like mine, but I am simply giving a warning to others that may have a similar experience.
I have been reefkeeping for years, and always used these two products. I was constantly battling hair algea, after using R/O water I produced with an add on DI cartridge(and the TDS reading coming out of the meter for the raw water was 0.00), using Phosguard to keep the Phosphates to a minimum and more. It was like I would get my levels down, and then all of a sudden, the algea would come back. I used all of the tricks of cutting my light hours down, using bluer spectrum bulbs and much, much more.
I recently(July 30,2006) setup a 10 gallon tank and as usual, used IO. I was greeted after 3 weeks to a nice hair algea matt. I then decided that I would begin testing. I had always tested my phosphates and recieved higher than acceptable levels, so I then began testing raw components. I tested the tank water and it came up to .5 since it had been running with the Phosguard for a day or so. I then once again, checked my raw water for Phosphates and Nitrates, etc. All the time I had been reefkeeping, it never occured to me to test either freshly made water, or water that had been aerated overnight, but today I did. From the raw water that tested 0 phosphates, I mixed some IO and then reef crystals to 1.024 and recieved a reading of .5. I then let the water sit overnight and tested again and same results. I then said what did I have to loose and purchased some other salt(Oceanic), brought it home, did the same test and phosphate was zero after being mixed. I have been using the Oceanic since and will at times mix with Tropic Marin if I can get it, but mostly I use the Oceanic. The tank has been setup for 3 months and two days, and since approximately 4 days after I did that initial water change with the Oceanic, I have not seen hair algea since. The corals I have are doing great, they stay open, and I don't dose the tank or feed the tank heavily. The only thing I add to the tank is Purple Up by CaribSea, and things have been looking and growing wonderfully. No longer do I have to test Calcium and other parameters because they simply are stable and do not fluctuate to be honest.
What is my point? Simply if you have been bombarded by hair and other algea and are using IO or Reef Crystals(same mfg), test the raw saltwater and then go buy a small bag of another salt, mix it up, and see the results. I think you may be a bit suprised. Also, if you are tired of buying products to add to the tank to keep levels high or make them high enough for things to truly grow, investigate and you also may be suprised at how easy a tank can be once you have a nice, stable base as far as salt is concerned.
Also, the Aquarium Systems products(IO and Reef Crystals) are some of the most difficult as far as mixing is concerned compared to other salts I have been using. I would simply stir and stir and stir, and still have a small pile of salt at the bottom of the mixing bucket. No longer plagued with that problem either, and the water is crystal(unbelievably so) clear.
Hope this helps someone, and I am simply sharing my experiences with this IMHO money and time waste.
D"

 

[speg]

It's just funny that people attempt to justify a company claiming they're selling a product that doesn't do what they advertise it to.
The only way for us (the buyer) to learn that a company is lying is to buy their product.

 

[speg]

My email back from Instant Ocean.....
"Hello,
This is not normal for our salt. It should b somewhere around 350. I
would double check your results. Make sure you are holding regent
bottles straight up and down to get uniform drops. Consumer levels tests
have a certain degree of inaccuracy both due to cost and the way its
administered. Multiple tests will help improve the odds. It's odd that
the tank and mix is exactly the same. One might expect to see lower
levels in the tank, due to animals absorbing it.
Regards,
Instant Ocean"

 

[speg]

Another email...
"Hello,
This value would be lower than should be allowed. Many times the complaints we receive are due to consumer level error in testing or mixing, but we do like to check up on things. We test each batch for consistency at production. We would be happy to replace your salt if it is not up to our high standards. Please send in a 2.5 cup sample for us to test in our lab. Keep in mind, all of our published results are at a salinity of natural seawater. 35ppm or 1.026 specific gravity. If you are mixing to a low salinity all levels will be proportionally lower. If a sample is sent back please include the barcode and lot number. The lot number should appear to be a price label with an odd string of numbers.
UPG
Attn Claims
3001 Commerce St
Blacksburg, VA 24060
Regards,
Instant Ocean"
What do you think? Should I go ahead and let them test it? I'm already using another salt.. should I even bother battling with them?