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#201
12/30/2007, 04:47 PM
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 Actually, Randy recently used one of those salts to do exactly what you said. To melt snow on his driveway. Seriously, I don't blame you for sticking with RC. RC and IO have been extremely consistent for a long, long time. I'm sure its just a hiccup. Happens from time to time. They are watching, believe me. I have the utmost confidence that they will fix this. They didn't get to be the number one selling salt mix by accident. 
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#202
12/30/2007, 05:08 PM
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Anyone use Oceanpure? I used RC for many years too, but started using Oceanpure a year ago, as it's available locally, $34 plus tax for 150 gallon bucket at the LFS (Fish Aquariums & Stuff--nice folks there!)
Alk, Ca & Mg levels seem good/consistent, and it's cheap locally (Boise, ID). Used 7 buckets this year, seems to be pretty consistent from bucket to bucket. But sometimes Ca has tested a tad bit high, ~520ppm once. I test each bucket. SPS/Clams all seem happy. Last 30 gal batch of Oceanpure: Mixed with RODI overnight 79.4 F SG 1.026 Ca 480 ppm Alk 4.3 meq/L Mg 1310 ppm Don't bother paying for the more expensive Oceanpure Pro. Levels are even higher. Don't know why that's needed. |
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#203
12/30/2007, 08:41 PM
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I would really like some feedback from marineland..... |
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#204
12/30/2007, 08:53 PM
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My impression of what happened is IO salt has been packed into RC packaging--is this the case? It would be funny if some users of IO are finding higher than normal Ca, Alk or Mg levels.
I'm sure it's not a long term problem--they'll get it fixed soon. |
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#206
12/30/2007, 09:29 PM
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Hope this is not off track, but I have used mostly IO for the last 4 years and I have never tested Ca greater than 350 ppm or Mg greater than 1,250 ppm in that product when mixed to sg = 1.026. It mixes very clear and clean with very little residue at the bottom of the mix tank. pH is usually 8.3 and alkalinity is usually around 3.5 meq/l. Old test kits, new test kits, Hach or Salifert, I've never tested anything above those levels. I test every bucket which means I test one once a month. At least it is consistent, which is why I use it and then add more Ca & Mg to the mix. I have tried RC but still had to fortify it. My corals have never looked any better than they do with IO, so I have settled on it. Best value for me all the way around.
On the one hand, I trust ASI because IO is consistent, but on the other had, I don't because they claim IO should be 400 & 1,350 at 1.026 and I have never ever found that to be the case. If anything, I mix a touch greater than 1.026, never less. I also hate claims like "enriched to facilitate the growth of corals and other invertebrates in a reef aquarium" which is what ASI has to say about RC. Just tell me exactly what I'm paying extra for please. My corals don't seem to be able to tell the difference and the little bit of extra Ca and Mg over IO sure ain't worth it. |
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#207
12/30/2007, 09:37 PM
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I hear ya, however for the extra $2.50, I'll take the extra Calcium and Magnesium. Sure adding more is not that hard, but if you don't have to do it, that a small price to pay.
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#208
12/30/2007, 10:11 PM
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I'm mailing my salt sample to Aquarium Systems tomorrow. I suggest others do the same. Please mail at least 1/2 cup of salt in double zip loc bags to:
Gershwin Asari Quality Control Aquarium Systems/Instant Ocean 8141 Tyler Blvd. Mentor, Ohio 44060 |
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#209
12/30/2007, 11:04 PM
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As for Coralife, I wouldn't use that stuff to melt snow.
What do you mean NO ? That is what Randy just used his for and no I'm not kiding. He even posted on it Works great.
__________________
If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be. |
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#210
12/31/2007, 12:02 AM
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I may be in the minority, but when did it become my job to pay for shipping back to the MFG so they can test a product that should have been tested prior to being shipped to the distributors?
I feel the they should be here on the boards like Drs Foster Smith is and letting us know what they are going to do for us. Not saying well we need to know what hydrometer you are using. And what test kits. First I use a refractometer and I have used many test kits to confirm the same results. I think if you can provide them with a recept they should ship you a replacment.
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Life is short. REEF HARD!!!!! |
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#211
12/31/2007, 01:35 AM
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#212
12/31/2007, 07:44 AM
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I feel the they should be here on the boards like Drs Foster Smith is and letting us know what they are going to do for us. Not saying well we need to know what hydrometer you are using. And what test kits. First I use a refractometer and I have used many test kits to confirm the same results. I think if you can provide them with a receipt they should ship you a replacement." You guys crack me up  Aquarium Systems has been one of the most supportive and consistent companies in this industry for 35plus years. The reason they are not on this board is that they do not sell products to us. They sell products to companies like DFS, who sell to us. They (DFS, TFP, etc) are the ones who deal with the consumer. There are only a handful of large manufacturers out there who frequent these boards, and they are the exception, Let's face it, it is a no win situation for any manufacturer to post here on a regular basis. I expect that ASI has spoken with their customers and struck some sort of agreement. You don't think those free replacement buckets that DFS is sending people are coming out of their pocket, do you?  As for mailing salt back, I spoke to this Gershwin fellow and he said he would replace salt for anyone who mails him a sample. Apparently they are asking for people to mail a small quantity back to help them determine the extent of the issue, if any. FWIW, he also mentioned that he had received salt from two people already, one of whom apparently had a refractometer out of calibration. This was causing his SG to read 1.026 when it was actually 1.021. As I have said before, I have dealt with this company for a long time and have the utmost faith in them. As for their QA, I find your comments amusing Mr Ugly. If you think the QA at ASI is bad, please let us know what you find when you switch salts As I mentioned in an earlier post, there is only one other salt that has near the QA procedures as ASI and that is Tropic Marin, which is considerably more expensive. Do some searches in this and the SPS forum for salt mixes and read the stories about complete tank wipe outs, massive RTN events, and huge algae outbreaks and then let me know what you think
__________________
"Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra Last edited by SPStoner; 12/31/2007 at 07:51 AM. |
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#213
12/31/2007, 07:47 AM
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HA! That is hilarious! I will have to give that a try! Ok, anybody that is fed up with their Reef Crystals and doesn't want it anymore may ship it to me for ice melting duties! We are apparently getting a major snowstorm tomorrow on New Years Day, so I will need it
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"Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra |
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#214
12/31/2007, 11:25 AM
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I've been a long time IO/RC user myself. And there have been times where I and my friends have declined offers of free salt that wasn't IO/RC. |
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#215
12/31/2007, 11:35 AM
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I just bought six buckets from Foster's when they were on sale. I'm going to have to test one and see what I get. I can live without the Calcium, but mag supplement is something I don't have. I've never needed it using RC.
__________________
Mike Sandbeds operate like wormholes and the excess nutrients and detritus are transported to a sister galaxy - Bomber 12-7-41 & 9-11-01 Never Forget! |
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#216
12/31/2007, 11:46 AM
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I hear ya. I'm thinking this was more of a timing thing than anything. Probably many people on vacation last week. I just get a kick out watching threads like this one where one incident occurs and people suddenly panic and switch brands. I've seen it with lighting, salt, pumps, you name it...Not saying that in some cases a switch is not justified, nor that anyone in this thread is like that. But, I do find it amusing. There was a talk at MACNA a few years ago..Houston I think, where the speaker presented a talk on salt mixes. I watched afterwards as people flocked to the various manufacturers booths asking if they had the good or the bad salt Those poor reps didn't know what hit them I guess we all learned a lesson from this. First and foremost, check every pail of salt, regardless of brand. This should be standard procedure just like QT fish and corals. I have always done this as I like to bump up some things and never wanted to blindly assume that I knew how much calcium, mag, etc to add. Cheers!
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"Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra |
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#217
12/31/2007, 12:18 PM
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I was getting those results with rc for months, bucket after bucket from the good doctors. Its gone now, buffered up heavily and used. Whats my recourse?
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#219
12/31/2007, 12:48 PM
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Poor Gershwin's going to need a secretary.
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#220
12/31/2007, 01:06 PM
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Probably none if you already used all the salt. That's like eating an entire meal at a restaurant, then telling the manager it sucked. Odds are, you should say something before you're done eating
__________________
"Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra |
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#221
12/31/2007, 01:06 PM
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Probably none if you already used all the salt. That's like eating an entire meal at a restaurant, then telling the manager it sucked. Odds are, you should say something before you're done eating
__________________
"Baseball is 90% mental...The other half is physical."- Yogi Berra |
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#222
12/31/2007, 01:16 PM
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I did not realize it sucked before i used it all. I thought those numbers were normal or as billy told soo many folks, that i had testing issues.
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#223
12/31/2007, 01:47 PM
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It had been consistent for so long that I thought it would be ok. I might go back to IO for a while. Good enough for San Francisco Steinhart Aquarium, good enough for my tank 
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#224
12/31/2007, 01:57 PM
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SPStoner
I have to agree. Look at E.B.'s salt study. I've heard more than a few times lately of people switching to RC to get rid of cyano. The study was basically worthless, yet people do things because he says so. I learned years ago that making rash decisions in this hobby often leads to failure. I was one of them that switched to CSMM from IO. Why, because urchin larva lived in it better for some guy ? Killed my tank fast. 
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#225
12/31/2007, 02:13 PM
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SPStoner- I don't care if they don't want to post here because they are not directly selling to us. They make the salt and they should post some kind of feedback that they are looking into our issues. I don't care about getting my salt replace I just want to have to deal with it in the future with RC. I still have a 4 month supply of salt so i don't need any new salt but if marineland doesn't have some solution i will look into other salts.
Also I find it hard to believe they will ignore the biggest reef forum seeing that close to 50% of people here use IO/RC. |
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