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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:09:39 GMT -5
So this weekend at the Frag Swap I mentioned to Ryan and Stephen that there was something going on with my tank. My corals just weren't looking good... I stopped in at Easy Aquariums on the ride home and got my water tested and sure as shit my Alkalinity was low. I have been using TM Pro Reef salt and it has just been consistently bringing the Alk down... When I got home I added some BRS Alkalinity and things look like they are starting to bounce back today. I guess it's time to look for a different brand of salt!
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Post by jasonandsarah on Apr 6, 2014 20:22:45 GMT -5
I hear instant ocean is good!  |
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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:24:52 GMT -5
Yeah I think that is what I will be switching to... Idk... I never had this problem when I used TM BioActiv but using Pro Reef I have.... Ugh decisions HAHAHAHAAHHA
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 6, 2014 20:27:39 GMT -5
I've dealt with the same issue. I've given it a second try and I'm still having issues with this salt. I know a bunch of people who still use it without issues and like it. My current problem is severely low magnesium around 780 or so when it should be up around 1300-1400 and moderately low alk, around 7-8 dkh. I like to keep my alk around 10-11 dkh. Needless to say I'm done with tropic Marin forever. I just ordered a couple of 200 gallon mix boxes of reef crystals. That should solve my problem.
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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:29:15 GMT -5
So right now you are using Bio Activ?  or still Pro Reef??? |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Apr 6, 2014 20:29:38 GMT -5
Is it testing low out of the bucket? (Freshly mixed salt)
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 6, 2014 20:33:34 GMT -5
Pro reef. A few years ago when the bio actif came out I made the switch. Nothing else changed and I started having massive cyano blooms. I switched back to pro reef and the cyano went away. That's when I started having alkalinity issues with the pro reef. I've had excellent coral growth from regular IO and my high end zoanthids were growing like weeds with reef crystals. Plus instant ocean salts are cheap and readily available anywhere. There's a growing community of hobbyists that are encountering similar issues with tropic Marin salts.
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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:34:43 GMT -5
I have a 32 gallon bucket of Saltwater mix that I do my water changes with... I go through one bucket usually every 5 weeks... It does a gallon water change every night through my apex.... Anyway long story short, I did not test that to see if it was low... I am assuming it was because I wouldn't have the problem that I am if it wasnt... I added some alkalinity to that too! Yeah yeah, I know, I should have tested it before I added the Alk to it... But since it was low i am sure it will be alright....
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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:36:10 GMT -5
Yeah I saw your post on RC... Seems to be more and more people... I am done... Its not worth it... For the price of a bucket of TM you should not have to supplement with Alk......
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 6, 2014 20:37:22 GMT -5
At the time I was testing my new mixed saltwater the day after mixing and my alk was pretty consistently as low as 4.5 dkh. It would vary a little bit but it was pretty much the same through multiple buckets.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 6, 2014 20:43:05 GMT -5
You should definitely test your mixed water before you use it on a water change. I'd start out testing for sure on your next mixed batch of saltwater to get a base line for how low the alk is in the salt before it makes it to your tank. While your at it test for calcium and mag as well. Then you'll be able to compare it to your tank parameters.
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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:46:25 GMT -5
my ca and Mg are both spot on.... Its just the Alkalinity that has been low... I am on the last of my TM bucket so I am not too worried about it...
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Post by jasonandsarah on Apr 6, 2014 20:46:33 GMT -5
That's ridiculous!
If you contact them you should get your money back! I had a bucket of reef crystals that was messed up and they sent me a bucket of Io and reef crystals for free no shipping or anything .
Just had to send in a 2 cup sample.
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Apr 6, 2014 20:52:02 GMT -5
There was a lot of posts about it on reef central with one of the TM representatives directly replying and it was basically a bunch of denial that there was a problem with the alk. Given the response that the people of tropic Marin had towards customers reporting issues, I never felt it worth my time to invest in trying to get my money back.
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Post by Jordan Emery on Apr 6, 2014 20:53:45 GMT -5
Yeah... sometimes its like beating a dead horse.... I also saw on RC that someone said that they contacted them, and they said they purposefully make it so the Alkalinity is low to mimic "natural" sea water....
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or still Pro Reef???