I’ve been using the 14 lb bags of Fritz Rpm Salt. The blue one which says Alk should be 8.5. I bought a bucket of the same salt and now when mixing at the suggested temperature (70-75)my Alk is testing at 11.5 a day after mixing. I heated another batch of water to 78 degrees and alk is testing at 9.5. Are there any recommendations to get my Alk down to 8.5 when mixing a new batch of salt water? Thank you!
Fritz rpm salt issue (higher Alk than should be)
- Thread starter jaw1990
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from what? I was thinking of switching from reef crystals to fritz, I had heard good things. I am starting to add more sps corals. ???
Heard different reviews
I had a box shipped up to me, as I live on an island in Canada. LFS told me good things, I was running Tropic Marin but for 164$ a bucket the Fritz being only 96$ I decided to try it. Says it mixes at 8-9DKH BUT I’m getting 13.8DKH.. what am I doing wrong? That’s at 78*F 1.026SG
I use salt with an alk around 9. Calcium and mag are in the range of my systems.
I use sodium bisulfate to lower alk to my desired alk of 7.
1 bottle will last a long time.
IMO, its much safer to use than muriatic acid. No gloves or glasses required.
You can get it on ebay,
I use sodium bisulfate to lower alk to my desired alk of 7.
1 bottle will last a long time.
IMO, its much safer to use than muriatic acid. No gloves or glasses required.
You can get it on ebay,
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Now I read "bucket" of salt. If it is truly a bucket of salt, did you roll the bucket around before using?
Stratification(elements settling) within buckets of salt is a real thing. BRS even did a video on it.
Stratification(elements settling) within buckets of salt is a real thing. BRS even did a video on it.
Check what that Alk is at which Specific gravity.
Red Sea does this with their pro salt, their readings are taken at 33ppt, as opposed to the 35 we typically run.
Red Sea does this with their pro salt, their readings are taken at 33ppt, as opposed to the 35 we typically run.
Years ago before Fritz had a red or blue box, our local club noticed that freshly mixed Fritz started at 8 dKh but then if it was left to sit for a day or two it would drop to about 6. This is the first I’ve heard that it would mix up more than advertised though.
The bucket was in reference to the tropic Marin! I was just told by the LFS that I need to stir the dry salt before I mix it into the mixing station. Never had this as an issue in the past but I’m happy I checked the new salt’s parameters before doing my WC.
In addition to mixing (shaking/etc) the bucket to be sure that all of the chemicals are equal throughout I would make the following suggestions(In theory you should do the same with a bag)
1. Make sure your tests are correct.
2. Make sure you're following the directions for Fritz RPM (which are complicated IMHO) - as compared to some other brands.
3. Depending on the test you're using - the margin of error may be such that 9.5 is not that bad. (But I don't know which test you're using). Generally - I would say adding alkalinity of 9.5 vs 8.5 to a tank (for a water change) - would not be a problem.
Your post is a little unclear - the way I understand it - is that you made one batch at 11.5 - then a totally separate batch ant it was 9.5. OR was it that you made a batch and it initially tested at 11.5 then dropped to 9.5. BTW - though the salt is supposed to be mixed at 70-75 (i.e. not 65), the final result should be tested at 78 (or whatever temp you're using in your tank). Hope this helps!!
1. Make sure your tests are correct.
2. Make sure you're following the directions for Fritz RPM (which are complicated IMHO) - as compared to some other brands.
3. Depending on the test you're using - the margin of error may be such that 9.5 is not that bad. (But I don't know which test you're using). Generally - I would say adding alkalinity of 9.5 vs 8.5 to a tank (for a water change) - would not be a problem.
Your post is a little unclear - the way I understand it - is that you made one batch at 11.5 - then a totally separate batch ant it was 9.5. OR was it that you made a batch and it initially tested at 11.5 then dropped to 9.5. BTW - though the salt is supposed to be mixed at 70-75 (i.e. not 65), the final result should be tested at 78 (or whatever temp you're using in your tank). Hope this helps!!
Not a fan of Fritz.
It's pushed locally and they're based in my area, but it leaves more brown gunk residue and I get little plastic particulates from the bag in my mixing bin.
My alk uis on the lower side too. YMMV.
It's pushed locally and they're based in my area, but it leaves more brown gunk residue and I get little plastic particulates from the bag in my mixing bin.
My alk uis on the lower side too. YMMV.
Then what do you use and recommend
I'm the wrong person to ask
Red Sea Blue is solid and I don't think you can go wrong there, but I'm just reporting that my experience from Fritz is that even one mixing of a single 33gal Brute had a significant amount of brown crap along the bin when I wiped it clean - this means every 3-4 mixings you're having significant amounts of gunk
I need something that’s about 50-70 bucks per 200g. I know there’s prob a lot of recommendations would be instant ocean and fritz. Is the current instant ocean better than before and consistent? I am keeping mixed reefs.
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