bbyatv January 12, 2010 Share January 12, 2010 (edited) I am looking to find out what parameters folks are getting from their freshly mixed Instant Ocean salt mix with RO/DI water (TDS =0, Temp=79 F, and aerated for 2 days). I am using a calibrated refractometer and setting the salinity at 1.026 SG I have 3 calcium test kits and all give me a reading of 310 ppm I have 2 alkilinity test kits and boh give me 10.2 dKH I have 2 magnesium test kits and both give me 960 ppm According to the site below, with the salinity at 29.65 ppt (1.022 SG) The calcium should be at 361 ppm (9 * 40.08) and The magnesium should be at 1264 ppm (52 * 24.305) So I am thinking my numbers should be higher given that with lower salinity the web site has higher numbers? http://web.archive.org/web/20010303215133/...s/1/default.asp Looking forward to seeing what others get. Bruce Edited January 12, 2010 by bbyatv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMsAquarium January 12, 2010 Share January 12, 2010 Hi Bruce, On a IO fresh batch, at 1.026 SG, after 48 hours of mixing and aerating, my readings are: CA (Saifert): 340 (API): 350 Alk (API): 6 DKH (Salifert):2.14 meq/l MG (Salifert): 1120 The above reading have been consistant from one batch to the next for the last two years, from one box of IO salt to another. JM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbyatv January 12, 2010 Author Share January 12, 2010 Here is a very interesting article from the makers of Instant Ocean on why there might be variability in the major ionic components of synthetic sea water mixes. As expected they feel their mix is the best but still it does explain why there might be variability in the mixes. This article was published in the Spring 1985 issue of Sea Scope http://wamas.org/ftp_users/bbyatv/SS_Vol0...ChemArticle.pdf Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George January 12, 2010 Share January 12, 2010 Here's an interesting AWT salt study that Reefcast featured a while ago: http://reefsaltanalysis.googlepages.com/AW...alysis_0208.pdf The general conclusion they drew was that mixing two or more brands is the best way to get consistently good numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbyatv January 12, 2010 Author Share January 12, 2010 Here is IO's answer to the low parameters question and what the parameters should be (Ca 400, Mg 1320 @ 1.026 SG): http://www.instantocean.com/sites/InstantO...mp;cnm=Sea+Salt Seems like shaking the bag of salt up before you mix it might not be a bad idea to ensure consistency. Here is a link to their SeaScope Magazine: http://www.instantocean.com/sites/InstantO...er.aspx?id=1298 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gastone January 12, 2010 Share January 12, 2010 Bruce, IIRC IO historically has high alk and low calcium. I always un-stratify any salt when first I open the container. Even given the same manufacturer, different batches could give different measurements. Heck, if a batch sat on the floor for too long, it could stratify and when dumped into 2 different 5 gallon buckets, they could have different measurements. My process is un-stratify, measure values, then write on the bucket what I need to addend (Alk, Cal, Mag) to bring the batch up to acceptable levels. I then know how much to add to each successive batch that I mix from that bucket. I repeat the un-stratify, measure and label with each new bucket. G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbyatv January 12, 2010 Author Share January 12, 2010 I am quickly understanding that I should do the same. Open, shake, mix, measure, document, adjust. Bruce Bruce, IIRC IO historically has high alk and low calcium. I always un-stratify any salt when first I open the container. Even given the same manufacturer, different batches could give different measurements. Heck, if a batch sat on the floor for too long, it could stratify and when dumped into 2 different 5 gallon buckets, they could have different measurements. My process is un-stratify, measure values, then write on the bucket what I need to addend (Alk, Cal, Mag) to bring the batch up to acceptable levels. I then know how much to add to each successive batch that I mix from that bucket. I repeat the un-stratify, measure and label with each new bucket. G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami January 12, 2010 Share January 12, 2010 Mixed to 1.026, I get 380 for calcium, 10 dKH for alkalinity, and 1180 on magnesium. My boxes of IO are 6 months old, though (when I purchased about 1000 gallons worth). The latest numbers from RC's tests are showing that IO has boosted their calcium slightly to around 400 ppm and magnesium significantly so that it's mixing up to ~1300. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davjbeas January 12, 2010 Share January 12, 2010 Hi, I just measured my Reef crystals parameters. Newly mixed saltwater with RO/DI water aged 2 days Salinity 1.026 Tetra Kit KH = 7.5-8.0 dkh Elos KH = 10.0 - 10.5 dkh Salifert KH = 10 dkh salifert magnesium = 1380.00 Elos CA = 470-480 David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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