Seachem ReefSalt Low Mag

[tim8111]

I have been talking to Seachem about it and they told me that there has not been any change in the quantities of magnesium or calcium.

With that being said. I will post results of the next several buckets I mix up and the batch numbers to track the levels over the next few weeks.

Tim

 

[ralph atl]

I justed tested a 34 gallon batch at 35:

1300 using Elos

Seachem Test kits suck.

 

[tim8111]

Big D;451065 wrote: <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">I've got some Salifert kits, but I haven't really used them due to all of the issues I've read that folks were having with them... I'll pull them out and see if there's any difference too.</span>





<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">David</span>

That is just it, I have never had a problem with Salifert Test Kits. I am not saying they haven't had issues, but I do think a lot of it was exaggerated by certain competitors and other factors. That is just pure speculation on my part. :unsure:

 

[ralph atl]

I like Seachem!

Just from my experience and from RC reef chemistry forum, not high grades.

Pay 10 bucks more a year, and get results that are closer to lab grade.

 

[ralph atl]

Big D;451367 wrote: <span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">Oh trust me, it's not the money... I just have an issue with the brand itself. </span>

<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">So ELOS is the only brand of test kits that are lab grade or close to it?.. if this is everyones opinion then it sounds like they've got the market pretty much tied up then. I guess their PR folks did their job well... I see what you mean now Tim. :yes:</span>






<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">D</span>

Salifert is also good, however, I had too many issues with Habib's product when he had that alk mess a few years back. He personally had an ALK kit shipped to me with a reference soloution from Denmark?, that one sucked, too. I chased numbers and screwed my tank. Oh well.

There are others, too. You don't like ELOS, that's fine by me.
I use tropic marin nitrate kit which I find excellent.
I use DD Merck for phates.


Remember, though, my test kit is showing 1300. So is it your batch of salt? or your test kit? I'm just trying to help.......................

 

[jennm]

Why? It's fast and easy to do multiple tests at once, and the white makes it easy to interpret the color change. Easier than holding a test tube against something white to interpret color, IMO.

And it's easy to test the reference solution side-by-side with the water sample if one has trouble with interpreting the test.

Jenn

 

[sailfish]

tim8111;450149 wrote: The only way to accurately test the parameters of salt is to mix the entire Bucket/Bag in one batch otherwise the numbers will never be consistent enough

Hardly no body in the hobby can or needs to mix up a entire bucket this statement is just bs to cover up from occasional problems. IMO

Sure it is better to mix up a whole bucket of mix entire contents up before using but that is not very practical.

It happens with all salt brands IMO thats why it is best to test each bucket at least the first batch. Not that I always do it but it is the only way to be sure. If I had a salt that regularly tested low I would change salts but not just because of one bad bucket.

Joe

 

[ralph atl]

ares;451425 wrote: hmmm never heard anything bad about elos as a company, but that aside, salifert is pretty highly regarded for test kits.

I wish seachem would step their tests up. the little white wells have got to go.

:up:
I agree with those crappy white wells. messy, hard to decipher, and they stain.

 

[cdub]

just mixed up 18 gals

alk 7.2
ca 455
mg 1200

all salifert test kits

 

[tim8111]

Batch 02 K12
Mixing for 40 hours at 1.025 SG

Alk: 7.7 dKH
Cal: 530
Mag: 1320

As far as the whole bucket mixing goes. Different elements like Magnesium, Calcium, etc. have different densities and therefore over the course of transporting a bucket of salt the heavier more dense elements will settle toward the bottom of the bucket.

This is my reasoning for stating a full bag or bucket mixed at once would give a better overall result of that batch of salt. I am not saying I am right or it is the absolute, but I feel my logic is sound.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[sailfish]

I think you logic is sound but its not realistic. IMO If it is that big of a problem then salt companies should have individual 5 gal bags inside the bucket. We all know they are to cheap for that so they just blame the consumer for not doing right.

Joe

 

[tim8111]

Yea I agree it is not realistic for your average hobbyist to mix a entire bucket at once.

FWIW, Seachem never said you have to mix the entire bucket. That was all me.

Tim

 

[mvm]

sailfish;452490 wrote: I think you logic is sound but its not realistic. IMO If it is that big of a problem then salt companies should have individual 5 gal bags inside the bucket. We all know they are to cheap for that so they just blame the consumer for not doing right.

Joe

HAHA, Joe. I just bought a new bucket of D-D H20 salt and there was a letter in there that says:
"Important Note:
The contents of this bucket may have settled during transportation.
We therefore recommend that you mix the full container thoroughly before attempting to use it to achieve the parameters stated on the bucket.
It is not necessary to do this if you are using the whole bucket in one mix."
Looks like Tim's BS was warranted.
I think it's funny that this thread is about seachem, yet D-D was the first to issue the notice. I bet all buckets will say this in due time....

 

[mvm]

But I did buy this from Tim, so maybe he put it in there!

MvM;480348 wrote: HAHA, Joe. I just bought a new bucket of D-D H20 salt and there was a letter in there that says:
"Important Note:
The contents of this bucket may have settled during transportation.
We therefore recommend that you mix the full container thoroughly before attempting to use it to achieve the parameters stated on the bucket.
It is not necessary to do this if you are using the whole bucket in one mix."
Looks like Tim's BS was warranted.
I think it's funny that this thread is about seachem, yet D-D was the first to issue the notice. I bet all buckets will say this in due time....