Bad lot of RC!!!

[UMALUM]

I’ll mix some up tonight and test it tomorrow. It would also be helpful for people to note the batch number on the lid or bag.

Thanks Matt

 

[Dom]

I have used RC for years and never thought the need to test it before a water change. I also hadn't tested Mg in my DT for years because I assumed there was no need, considering I perform weekly 25-30% water changes. But I was inspired to test Mg in my DT after reading a recent poll. I used a Salifert Profi test kit that admittedly expired 7 months ago. It measured 930 (!) Randy suggested that Mg was hard to measure, but I couldn't believe that it could be THAT far off. So I tested a newly mixed batch of water, not from the DT. It came in at 900 (!!). So I ordered a new Salifert test kit (Aquaforest was unavailable except in combo with Ca and Alk). Same result: 900. I buy RC 200g boxes, two at a time, each containing six individually sealed bags labeled "not for resale". It just so happens that I just got a new shipment of salt and tested it: 1380. So there is no question that I've been using bad salt for 3 months (!!!) It's no wonder that the film algae has started to pick up, and who knows how it has been harming my corals and clam. I intend to try to contact IO to complain and ask for a refund. But unfortunately, I no longer have the boxes the salt came in so if there was a lot number on them then I don't know what it was. But Jeez! You'd think they'd have better quality control. You'd think they'd test their product. You'd think they'd recall bad lots.

I think it may be time for me to investigate another brand of salt.

I had a similar issue where RC wasn't mixing to the stated levels. I called BRS and they replaced the box.

I suggest reaching out to the reseller that sold you the salt and ask them to replace it.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I don't use IO. I use RC. Also, I used two separate Mg test kits with the same results. I don't remember who posted it, but someone here compared Mg test kits. Sure they varied, but none by hundreds of ppm.

I was suggesting that you switch to IO for a more consistent product.

 

[UMALUM]

I had a similar issue where RC wasn't mixing to the stated levels. I called BRS and they replaced the box.

I suggest reaching out to the reseller that sold you the salt and ask them to replace it.

This is a good point.

 

[Uncle99]

Problem is my sample sent in from both buckets was confirmed by spectrum. So when I see someone else post 9 I believe it. I'm gonna start a thread tomorrow challenging all RC users to test their product. I'm thinking spectrums cutting corners/cost and it would make sense with mag being the most expensive element that most don't test for.

900ppm is incredibly low, not seen below 1100ppm in 40 years, for any brand.

If it was that low, your water would have a noticeable amount of precipitation and likely may look at times cloudy.

I don’t trust any tests fully.

As much as you may be fully correct in bad batch, the hobby grade tests kits we get can be just as off.

 

[Dom]

You would be amazed at how many people don't bother. I would assume that it never crosses the mind of most people that it would need to be done.

And I'm one of those people.

 

[Dom]

Except for the fact that Mg tests can easily be that far off…

It is certainly possible that you had a batch with low Mg. It reality is somewhere in between given kit error and differences. Personally I would switch to IO from RC for the reasons that I mentioned above.

As for other brands, you will find horror stories about them as well. I think IO has a pretty impressive track record and clientele. Most zoos and research facilities, and aquaculture facilities use it, private and public.

Instant ocean makes orange box and purple box. Purple is sea salt and orange is reef crystals.

I understood that purple was for use in FOWLR tanks, and orange was for reef tanks.

Are you using purple for your reef tank?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Instant ocean makes orange box and purple box. Purple is sea salt and orange is reef crystals.

I understood that purple was for use in FOWLR tanks, and orange was for reef tanks.

Are you using purple for your reef tank?

I typically use whatever is the cheapest, but lean toward then “Instant Ocean” product instead of “Reef Crystals”.

RC is marketed to have higher mag and ca and strontium or other trace…. Meh, I dose and don’t rely on water changes or salt composition for my ions or trace.

As mentioned above, the Instant Ocean product is produced in gigantic batches and used globally as the SW standard for zoos, aquaculture and research. Good enough for me.

I have tried numerous salts over the years and see no advantage in spending more money.

 

[UMALUM]

Instant ocean makes orange box and purple box. Purple is sea salt and orange is reef crystals.

I understood that purple was for use in FOWLR tanks, and orange was for reef tanks.

Are you using purple for your reef tank?

Randy uses the purple for his reef. I think he said the vitamins are of no need to him and obviously it's a lot easier to bring the levels up than down.

 

[UMALUM]

900ppm is incredibly low, not seen below 1100ppm in 40 years, for any brand.

If it was that low, your water would have a noticeable amount of precipitation and likely may look at times cloudy.

I don’t trust any tests fully.

As much as you may be fully correct in bad batch, the hobby grade tests kits we get can be just as off.

900 in fresh not tank, but the 900 did result in dropping my tank from 1450 to under 1300 before I caught it. My salifert mag test was within 20 of my last icp.

 

[knockout]

I don’t totally agree here.

IO has been proven to be one of the most consistent salts on the market. Given the sales volume, problems are minimal compared to companies that sell a fraction of the salt at 3x or more of the price and have all kinds of reported consistency problems.

I haven't used IO salts in about 10 years, just mixed too dirty for my liking, but they are used in all major systems, and all manufacturing companies have quality control, they could not exist without it, I haven't checked, but I assume they fall under the FDA purview.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I haven't used IO salts in about 10 years, just mixed too dirty for my liking, but they are used in all major systems, and all manufacturing companies have quality control, they could not exist without it, I haven't checked, but I assume they fall under the FDA purview.

I don’t care (at all) about the “dirty” and think it is both a non issue and not isolated to these products…. but other people may.


It is a misconception to equate QC from one company to another. There are plenty of salt brands that have regularly had bad batches. When manufacturing volume is taken into account, some of them have insanely poor QC.

Some of these companies are ISO and some not, that may or may not influence their QC and or supply chain choices or upstream QC, etc. These are not regulations, but optional structured management polices and processes fashion to accreditation standards that may be favorable for certain financial or PR reasons.

These companies or products do not fall under FDA purview. They are not food or drug products and there is no legal requirement for QC, etc.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Freshly mixed Reef Crystals, no bucket rolling. Batch 24039. 1.025 sg. 1380 ppm mg. per salifert.

 

[Uncle99]

Freshly mixed Reef Crystals, no bucket rolling. Batch 24039. 1.025 sg. 1380 ppm mg. per salifert.

Nice work.
Your stuff is stunning!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Nice work.
Your stuff is stunning!

Thanks! If there’s a bad batch or two out there, hopefully we can identify it and let others know. So far, mine has been good.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Thanks! If there’s a bad batch or two out there, hopefully we can identify it and let others know. So far, mine has been good.

Needle in a haystack….

 

[Reefer Matt]

Needle in a haystack….

Maybe. I don’t doubt anyone’s claims, but I’ve used a bucket every month for over five years now. Never a problem for me. My water is also tested multiple times a day.

 

[Bitter old man]

You would be amazed at how many people don't bother. I would assume that it never crosses the mind of most people that it would need to be done.

Never rolled and never have had any issues.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Never rolled and never have had any issues.

There is no guarantee that you will or will not. It depends on if the product separated and if you happened to test and catch it or not.

The reality is that it, your BCAA drink mix or any other dry mix of various sizes and density particles can and will stratify over time due to movement and vibration.

 

[Peter Houde]

Instant ocean makes orange box and purple box. Purple is sea salt and orange is reef crystals.

I understood that purple was for use in FOWLR tanks, and orange was for reef tanks.

Are you using purple for your reef tank?

Me? Orange. RC