Red sea coral pro salt-400gallon of mix turns brown

[deuce6371]

I filled the system with RO, heated and slowly added the salt. It got cloudy and turned brown. I added a filter sock after a few days it turned brown. The RO was crystal clear before adding it. See my thread below:

[URL=http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1090717[/URL]

I am trying to contact Red Sea but no contact info on the website beside an email form, which I used but I really do not expect a reply soon.

Help with a phone number would be sweet.


Thanks JB

[deuce6371]

bump

[rustybucket145]

was there sand in the tank?

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9689412#post9689412 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustybucket145
was there sand in the tank?

No sand only RO H2O.

Here is a pic of the filter sock. I also had filled the system up with water and let it flush for several days and then emptied it, refilled and then mixed.

[URL=http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/37545Dirty_filter_sock.jpg [/URL]

[deuce6371]

did not get the photo on there.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/37545Dirty_filter_sock.jpg

[JodyF]

Try this:

North America
Red Sea,
18125 Ammi Trail,
Houston, Texas 77060, USA.
Toll Free: 1-888-REDSEA9
TEL: +1 (0)281 447 0205
FAX: +1 (0)281 447 1153
redseainfo@redseafish.com

[Freed]

Looks like they gave you a bucket of dirt and not salt.

[deuce6371]

I recieved an email this morning letting me know that Red Sea will replace the 3-175 gallon buckets of salt mix that was used to make the water. I do not know if that means they know of a problem or not with one of the batches I used, I did give them the batch numbers that was contained on inserts of each bucket. So far they have been very quick to handle this.

I have replied to the email asking if they are acknowledging a problem with a batch and if the brown was dangerous to livestock and if there were any special cleanup procedures needed before I mix agian.

I will keep update agian when I/if I hear back from them.

Jb

[HowardW]

They also said they would replace a bucket for me about 3 1/2 weeks ago and I haven't received anything yet.

[Jah2707]

I just bought a bucket of that stuff. I will fill of the tank latter this week. I sure hope I don't have any problems. thanks for the info.

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9938705#post9938705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jhuggins
I just bought a bucket of that stuff. I will fill of the tank latter this week. I sure hope I don't have any problems. thanks for the info.


Good Luck!!!

I received replacements and mixed again. The same exact thing happened again!!!

I am so mad. I have never seen a worse product. I am not even sure what to do. Just to make sure that it was not my water I ordered a brand new RO/DI unit from the filter guys. The water was not an issue it was the salt mix and I think they know it.

Any ideas out there.

[AquaReeferMan]

Thats odd. I never have that problem. I see nothing but good from the Red sea coral pro salt I use. Ive been through 3 buckets now.

[NealNano]

Red Sea Is ****ty Use tropic Marin Pro, Coral Life or Intsant Ocean Reef Crystals

[victor_c3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9943249#post9943249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaReeferMan
Thats odd. I never have that problem. I see nothing but good from the Red sea coral pro salt I use. Ive been through 3 buckets now.

I haven't used 3 buckets worth, but the one bucket I've used so far has been great.

[Reefdiver72]

I am on my third bucket with no problems I love the stuff my corals are looking better with this salt are you using food grade mixing containers? I use this also at our store with no problem.

[old salty]

Something is very wrong!! Maybe your mixing pump took a dump. Sorry to see such nasty results.

[650-IS350]

I'm on my 3rd large bucket.. no problems....

[Whisperer]

RED sea ! :D (better yet, RED SEE:rollface: ) Sorry, just had to get it out of my chest.

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9945462#post9945462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
Something is very wrong!! Maybe your mixing pump took a dump. Sorry to see such nasty results.

My system pump is a sequence baracuda, I doubt it is the problem but I will check out any possibilites.

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9945462#post9945462 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
Something is very wrong!! Maybe your mixing pump took a dump. Sorry to see such nasty results.

My system pump is a sequence baracuda, I doubt it is the problem but I will check out any possibilites.

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9951241#post9951241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deuce6371
My system pump is a sequence baracuda, I doubt it is the problem but I will check out any possibilites.

Hmmm.... the color of iron; I wonder if there might be a water problem / or / some kind of reaction with iron under some conditions....

that's a guess anyway; perhaps post in the reef chem area and see what they say.

[BrassMonkey]

hi. i have been using red sea coral pro for a few months.

seems ok. altho once i let the a fresh mix sit for a few days in the bucket open with a power head in it and noticed a brown ring of crap form on the top of the white 5g bucket.

fish are fine tho, corals are crappy but they have been like that before i switched.


also, i maybe i measured wrong only bothered to do it once, but at 1.025 i measured 375 cal.

[old salty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9951240#post9951240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by deuce6371
My system pump is a sequence baracuda, I doubt it is the problem but I will check out any possibilites.


I was referring to the pump you use to mix a batch of salt water; if you use a Barracuda pump for that, you're the MAN!!

[Nano Chris]

I would stop using it immediately and see if you can get a refund, i use to use IO now i use RC and both have been great quality, i wouldn't use RSCPRO i stick with what a majority of people use.

[mg426]

If you think the salt mix is junk you sould try their test kits, Whoa !!!!!

[HowardW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9953436#post9953436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Criminal#58369
I would stop using it immediately and see if you can get a refund, i use to use IO now i use RC and both have been great quality, i wouldn't use RSCPRO i stick with what a majority of people use.




There is nothing wrong with Red Sea Salt. Here is the explanation from the head scientist and R&D manager at Red Sea in Israel:



"Most of our salt components are harvested directly from natural source (The famous Red Sea) and are being used after separation and cleaning processes to insure the best quality of salt without harming the chemical balance. Unfortunately, some times the cleaning process is not ultimative as we wish it should be and some components such as tint, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate. All of these substances are parts of the reef environment and you can find them especially in the reef sand."

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9953402#post9953402 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by old salty
I was referring to the pump you use to mix a batch of salt water; if you use a Barracuda pump for that, you're the MAN!!

It is a new tank setup, only RO in it. So the barracuda circulates the water while in tank the powerheads mix

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9951692#post9951692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrassMonkey
hi. i have been using red sea coral pro for a few months.

seems ok. altho once i let the a fresh mix sit for a few days in the bucket open with a power head in it and noticed a brown ring of crap form on the top of the white 5g bucket.

fish are fine tho, corals are crappy but they have been like that before i switched.


also, i maybe i measured wrong only bothered to do it once, but at 1.025 i measured 375 cal.

Thats it exactly. Now imagine that 5 gallon is 300g and your looking through 8ft of the water. It is brown. In my 100g sump the brown stuff accumulates at the water surface around the top. I did try a water change with my 75g, and my corals have still not recovered after two weeks. I finding this hard to beleive but it seems that this is the norm.

[old salty]

Deuce,

I think everyone here can agree that water turning brown from adding salt is not a good thing and is generally not the norm. If you don't have any corals or fish, you should seriously consider dumping all of the water, cleaning the inside of the tank of crap that will be left behind, and start all over. I would make little sense to chance it on the cheapest aspect of the hobby.

Of course I would recommend you use another salt (once bitten, twice shy....)

[Frick-n-Frags]

I second the thumbs down on the test kits and yeah, no red sea salt for me either after hearing this more than once now. (never have used it, but now I never will)

Ironic, the only thing I like of theirs is their berlin skimmer

[PrangeWay]

Still odd, I'm on my 3rd bucket of Red Sea Coral Pro and never seen this. You are definetly bad luck central.

PW

[hooterhead]

We've been through at least 20 buckets of it at the store I work at and we've never experienced this result. I've got 150 gallons mixed at all times to sell and it's what we use in our system. No ill effects so far.

[Nikki777]

I'm on my fourth bucket and have never had a problem with the salt. Red Sea has been highly recommended by several different people. I know at one point Eric Borneman used it, not sure if he still does though. Anyway, it is disturbing to hear of this problem though, it will be interesting to see if any more buckets are produced in the future with this problem.

[deuce6371]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9953487#post9953487 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HowardW
There is nothing wrong with Red Sea Salt. Here is the explanation from the head scientist and R&D manager at Red Sea in Israel:



"Most of our salt components are harvested directly from natural source (The famous Red Sea) and are being used after separation and cleaning processes to insure the best quality of salt without harming the chemical balance. Unfortunately, some times the cleaning process is not ultimative as we wish it should be and some components such as tint, calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate. All of these substances are parts of the reef environment and you can find them especially in the reef sand."

I got a similar response from the US rep which came from Isreal. I was told the color was harmless and would be taken out by skimming. He also said that it is always there and sometimes better or worse. Im not sure but even if the tint is harmless and a part of the cleaning process, i do not remember any pics of the red sea with brown water.

I just can not be happy with a product that gives me anything less than the best results and getting brown water, not just once but twice. This whole deal has left me about two months behind and I am back to starting over agian. It will take me another couple of days to drain and clean the tank.

And when I mean clean it, I mean I have to wipe every surface clean and then fill it and rinse it agian.

[deuce6371]

I ordered reef crystals and I will post pics of looking down through the tank to compare. Hopefully I won't have this happen again.

[ellisz]

Has anyone tested the Ca/alk on a fresh batch of Red Sea coral pro? I have used 2 buckets of the Pro and have not seen any issues as described above. I used to get a film on top with Oceanic and that was one of the reasons I switched to Coral Pro.

Weird thing is I tested my tank water on my newly set up 300 gal system and noticed my Ca/Alk number were very low. Ca was 350 and alk was 2 meg/l. I then mixed up a new batch and and the next day tested with a Ca of 350 and an alk of 3 meg/L. Salinity is 1.025. I use Seachem test kits and also performed the Ca test with the reference sample and got 400 on it as it should be.

Just wondering what is up ...