Fritz RPM Salt Blue Box and Blue Bucket - Low Parameters

[bozo]

Anyone using Fritz RPM blue box or blue cap bucket experiencing low parameters?

I just tested a batch of fresh salt water using salifert kits for all 3 parameters.

1.026

Alk - 7.0
Cal - 380
Mag - 1240

This is probably my 5th batch so far and I’ve been getting the same results each time.

Sucks because I have to dose the saltwater barrel to bring the values up.

Thanks

 

[T-J]

Do you thoroughly mix up the box before you make any water? The boxes will settle out and should be mixed before scooping any out to make water.

 

[bozo]

Do you thoroughly mix up the box before you make any water? The boxes will settle out and should be mixed before scooping any out to make water.

Thanks for your response.

I have a mixing station and it mixes everyday for 30 minutes at 7 am and at 9 pm. The pump is a Fluval sp6 and the barrels are 45 gallons.

Maybe I should mix it some more?

Edit: Oh you meant to mix the box? No I didnt mix the box. I didnt know that should be done.

I have the blue cap buckets now. How should I mix that?

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Anyone using Fritz RPM blue box or blue cap bucket experiencing low parameters?

I just tested a batch of fresh salt water using salifert kits for all 3 parameters.

1.026

Alk - 7.0
Cal - 380
Mag - 1240

This is probably my 5th batch so far and I’ve been getting the same results each time.

Sucks because I have to dose the saltwater barrel to bring the values up.

Thanks

I like how this salt mixes easily and no residue, but experiencing same thing Have to add Alk, Cal, and Mag after every water change.

 

[bozo]

I like how this salt mixes easily and no residue, but experiencing same thing Have to add Alk, Cal, and Mag after every water change.

Agreed.

The salt mixes beautifully. No smell or residue as well if kept in a barrel for a while.

I have 2 more buckets of it.

How long have you been using it for?

Do you just add the big 3 directly into your barrel?


Edit: Apparently, we have to mix the box before adding the salt to water.


Do you have the bucket version or the blue box version.

Thanks

 

[JoJosReef]

Mine also mixes ALK very low. But, I was also getting super low ALK on my HW salt, so I just assumed it had something to do with my mixing setup (no idea, RODI measuring 0 TDS, jugs are 5gallon Seachem jugs) .

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[T-J]

Thanks for your response.

I have a mixing station and it mixes everyday for 30 minutes at 7 am and at 9 pm. The pump is a Fluval sp6 and the barrels are 45 gallons.

Maybe I should mix it some more?

Edit: Oh you meant to mix the box? No I didnt mix the box. I didnt know that should be done.

I have the blue cap buckets now. How should I mix that?

Yes, mix the box/bucket before making any salt. Many times elements settle out to the bottom. It can result in your first batch out of the box being low in something, like alk. Then the last batches being crazy high.

 

[merkmerk73]

Fritz is garbage.

Check out these flecks of who-knows-what from the bottom of the bag when I went to finish this blue box off.

Fresh RO water, fresh cleaned brute bin, and regularly cleaned pump.

 

[bozo]

Yes, mix the box/bucket before making any salt. Many times elements settle out to the bottom. It can result in your first batch out of the box being low in something, like alk. Then the last batches being crazy high.

Thanks for the tips.

How would you mix the bucket version?

Just roll it around?

The salt in the box version comes in a bag, so mixing it that makes sense. I'm trying to wrap my mind around how to mix the bucket lol

Thanks

 

[bozo]

Fritz is garbage.

Check out these flecks of who-knows-what from the bottom of the bag when I went to finish this blue box off.

Fresh RO water, fresh cleaned brute bin, and regularly cleaned pump.

Dang

This is recent?

I'll shine a light in my barrrel to see if I get this too.
Thanks

 

[merkmerk73]

Dang

This is recent?

I'll shine a light in my barrrel to see if I get this too.
Thanks

Tuesday

I was already fed up with Fritz due to a single mix leaving a noticeable brown residue on the sides of the brute, but after seeing this crap in the tank after using up the last of the bag I just threw it out.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

Agreed.

The salt mixes beautifully. No smell or residue as well if kept in a barrel for a while.

I have 2 more buckets of it.

How long have you been using it for?

Do you just add the big 3 directly into your barrel?


Edit: Apparently, we have to mix the box before adding the salt to water.


Do you have the bucket version or the blue box version.

Thanks

I have the box. Even after mixing it up in the box the levels are still low. Typically wait 30minuts after WC and check my levels. Then adjust whats needed.

 

[bozo]

I have the box. Even after mixing it up in the box the levels are still low. Typically wait 30minuts after WC and check my levels. Then adjust whats needed.

Gotcha

I think I need to dose the barrel but I am worried that it’ll precipitate inside the barrel

It might be tough because I do auto water changes.

 

[EricR]

I've been using Fritz RPM for about 8 months without any of the issues mentioned. (I buy the 14 lb bags but should be the same)

I do 10% weekly (usually) water changes and don't dose anything but only a few soft corals. Just the water changes is keeping me at (in 40 gallons):
8.4 dKH
450 ppm Ca
1390 ppm Mg

You can request a QC report for your batch/lot# on Fritz's website, FYI

 

[bozo]

I've been using Fritz RPM for about 8 months without any of the issues mentioned. (I buy the 14 lb bags but should be the same)

I do 10% weekly (usually) water changes and don't dose anything but only a few soft corals. Just the water changes is keeping me at (in 40 gallons):
8.4 dKH
450 ppm Ca
1390 ppm Mg

You can request a QC report for your batch/lot# on Fritz's website, FYI

thanks

I’m going to test the barrel again

Will report back

 

[merkmerk73]

Update - whatever that crap is seems to be coming from the inside of the tubing of my pump. So a couple boxes of Fritz blue deposited all kinds of fun crap there.

 

[xdcbenoitxd]

Anyone using Fritz RPM blue box or blue cap bucket experiencing low parameters?

I just tested a batch of fresh salt water using salifert kits for all 3 parameters.

1.026

Alk - 7.0
Cal - 380
Mag - 1240

This is probably my 5th batch so far and I’ve been getting the same results each time.

Sucks because I have to dose the saltwater barrel to bring the values up.

Thanks

I have stopped using fritz altogether. The parameters of each batch of salt are so drastically different I just gave up. I thoroughly mixed the salt before adding to the water to be sure there was no stratification and still had to amend the water with additives. This happened with the blue and the redline. There's a reason it's one of the cheapest salts on the market. I pay more for either tropic marin, red sea or aquaforest over fritz just so I know it's higher quality and after adding all those additives it's probably the same cost.

 

[woodyarmadillo]

I remember you from yesterday talking about dosing. Just wanted to say that I’ve been reading quite a few reports about issues with Fritz lately. Also, I think you could reduce and most likely eliminate the need for dosing if you switched salts.

I did read about the salt mixing thing before I started mixing salt, so I usually roll the bucket around or shake the bag of salt up before I open it to make sure the mix is even. Not sure how much of a difference that makes.

 

[Steve2020]

Mine also mixes ALK very low. But, I was also getting super low ALK on my HW salt, so I just assumed it had something to do with my mixing setup (no idea, RODI measuring 0 TDS, jugs are 5gallon Seachem jugs) .

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Just an FYI on the HW Marine Mix Reefer Salt. In 2022 HW did change there Alk levels from 8.5-9.0dKH to 7-8dKH. They have recently changed it back to the 8.5-9.0dKH value. Below is there response to an email I sent them in Dec 2022:

Thank you very much for your message and please excuse the delay caused by Christmas and the turn of the year.
The current dKH value should be approximately 7.0° to 8.0° for a seawater batch with a salinity of 35‰.
Based on the research results of various marine biology institutions, we had experimentally made a slight "lowering" of the dKH in our salt mixtures.
This was to allow a better physiological uptake of calcium by the coral tissue.
Obviously, however, this is a parameter that is a positive focus in this way only in laboratory research facilities.
In "normal" use, however, an increased dKH of about 9° turned out to be rather practicable, which led us to increase the dKH value in our salt mixtures back to this value.

If this change of the dKH value has led to uncertainties, we apologize.
We thank you for your understanding.

With kind regards
Achim Schneider
Dipl. Ing.

FYI, there is a number inkjet coded on the top flap of the box. If the number is 0221170001 or greater it is the higher dKH salt. If the number is lower or has no number it is the lower dKH salt. I ordered some from BRS a few weeks back and unfortunately there was no number so I got the low dKH salt. BRS told me they did receive the new order and have over 1000 boxes in stock but they still have the lower dKH salt and could not guarantee me on which one I get unless I come down myself and pick it up at will call which I plan on doing next time. They said shipping just picks a box and does not even no which one is which. They may now since I sent them all the correspondence I received from HW. Unfortunately HW never informed them of the changes.

HW email response Mar 2023:
by now the new supplies should have arrived in the United States and are already on sale.
The goods which are now for example sold by Bulk Reef Supply should be 1° higher in carbonate hardness (8° - 9°dKH).
You can assume that from the current carton no. 0221170001 upwards, the carbonate hardness is again in the range you are aiming for.
Thank you again for your comprehension and for your continued reliance on our hw-Marinemix reefer.

With best regards

Achim Schneider
Dipl. engineer

The identification number should always be on one of the tabs on the top of the box.
If the box is indeed without any identification number, it should still be a box from the production of early 2022.
During this time, there were repeated complete corona lockdowns which caused considerable confusion, so that some shipments were not recorded with an identification number.

 

[Jim Gomoll]

As EricR noted, you can request a QC report for your batch/lot# on Fritz's website,
I just got my report back for Lot# 49728.8 8/2/22 inspection date for a Blue box I haven't opened yet. Looks like the updater batches are out. Yeah, less adjusting after WC hopefully.
Box 1 Box20
ALK 9.11 8.95
Ca 445 450
Mg 1350 1365