[Dive_Master]

Has anyone noticed that Instant Ocean salt is leaving a lot of residue lately.

I find my containers that I use to store water cover with white film. I never experienced this before.

What is happening? I use the 200 gallon mix.

[organicreefer]

ive noticed that the older my ro/di filters get,the more of the white crusty stuff.im pretty sure its just ca carbonate that has percipitated from the water,is youre tap water very hard?when is the last time you chnged inserts?

[eses]

I've noticed the same thing recently. My powerheads, heater, and bucket get covered in a crust that looks much like the inside of my kalkwasser bucket.

I have also noticed though that the amount of calcium in my make up water is higher than it used to be, so perhapes they have started adding more calcium to the water as well.

[Dive_Master]

i changed them recently. i did not change the ro membrane.

[organicreefer]

do you guys have hard tap water as well...mine is about 8.6 on avg.

[eses]

I have super-soft tap water, it doesn't even register when I check the alkalinity.. well below 1 meq/l.

I never had noticed it before until maybe 2-3 months ago it began. I thought it was me, so I stopped adding Ca to the make-up water and there was no difference. I just rinse and clean everything well once I'm done making up water and that helps alot.

[organicreefer]

hmmm,i would have liked to haver blamed it on my super hard tap water to tell the truth,if alot of poeple are experiencing this,its sounds like the "quality control" at IO is slipping......

[JustPhish]

Yep, I was using IO for some time and everything in the container would be caked. Powerhead, heater, cords, anything and it was some nasty stuff. SOme said I didn't have enough circulation when mixing it. Well a mag 5 in a 30gal trash can in plenty movement. I then noticed these little back things at the bottom of my container and some salt that would never dissolve no matter what.

Since then I have changed to Crystal Sea and nevewr had a problem again and my tanks don't show any difference. A bit cheaper too!

[Dive_Master]

Does anyone know the phone number to Aquarium Systems so I can call them and asked them what is happening.

[JustPhish]

LOL, they aren't going to tell you! They'll say it was a bad batch or whatever. What company would tell you "Yeah our product is becoming inferior and might not be the best available for your needs, but luckily we are raising our prices so go to your LFS and buy all you can!"

[Dive_Master]

I am calling them. I got the number . You will be surprised how fast they start giving me some discounts or refunds after I tell them that a lot of people that have been using their product are disappointed.

I will tell them that I posted it on many news groups and bulletin boards. Internet is a beutiful thing!

I will get something in writting. If I do not, I will buy different brand.

It is much easier and less expesive to retain a customer that get a new one.

All I want to know what is happening.

[Minh Nguyen]

I am using Instant Ocean and have noticed no problem. It really depends on how you mix the salt water, not because of Instant Ocean. You need to add the salt into the water, not the other way around. Also, you need to mix and stir the water as you add the salt into it. Don't just dump the salt into the water and add a power head and check back a few hours or a day later and see if all the salt dissolved. What happens are you doing the above is that the solutes become super saturated (because of lack of stir) and precipitated out of solution. If this happened, many of these solutes will not dissolve again thus the white powder you see.
I use a power drill with a paint stirrer to mix my salt water. It only take me 5 minutes to mix 45 g salt water. I use Instant Ocean and never have any powder when I use this method.

[FishDaddy]

I've been using IO for over 3 years and haven't noticed any changes. I keep my salt mix in an 18 gal. Rubbermaid tub and just replace what i take out; usually about 10 gal. at a time. I keep the mix circulating with an airstone instead of a powerhead and don't heat it until ready to use.
Dick

[sher]

thanks for the tip Minh Nguyen!! i knew i was doing something wrong but did not know what it was. i told my b-inlaw to do this way last night and he said that there were no white walls on the orange mixing bucket. all this time i'm been mixing it the wrong way.

thanks

[CaptainTrips]

Good advice.I'm gonna try the old Power drill with paint stirrer thing.Last water change I did put water first and then salt but still ended up with white powder coating everything. Guess the powerhead doesn't mix it enough. Thanks Minh. do you still let the water sit for a while with a powerhead or do you just heat it and use it right away?

[ww]

I have been using IO since I began the hobby years ago, and I have not noticed anything amiss. I mix 2.5 cups of IO to 5 gallons of RO water in a plastic jug. I then add an airstone hooked up to a small air pump and let it run for a week. I change 5 gallons weekly and make up the next weeks water as the old water is coming out of the tank. I have noticed a few tiny black specks in the water, but they haven't caused any harm.....Yet!

[Chrome Weasel]

FWIW, I've noticed that salt will do this when not stored properly for extended periods of time. Since I've been keeping my Instant Ocean sealed in big Ziplock bags I havent had the white powder problems that were originally mentioned.

[Wayne's World]

I have quit using it because of the problems experienced. As soon as I went with another brand the problem went away. Everything was done exactly the same way RO/DI, up to temp add water and turn on power head.

[Bone]

I agree with Min. I haven't had any problems dissolving the IO. If you are not stirring it like crazy when you add the salt you really need to add the salt slowly or you may have problems. Get a drill and a paint stirring bit if you're in a hurry, otherwise just add the salt slowly while stirring with a powerhead.

[Minh Nguyen]

Originally posted by CaptainTrips
Good advice.I'm gonna try the old Power drill with paint stirrer thing.Last water change I did put water first and then salt but still ended up with white powder coating everything. Guess the powerhead doesn't mix it enough. Thanks Minh. do you still let the water sit for a while with a powerhead or do you just heat it and use it right away?

For small water change (20 % or less) I don't wait after mix the water and not worry too much about temperature or salinity match. For larger water change (I orcasionally change 50% of the water) I make sure the water is aged for at least 24 hrs and the temperature/salinity match. For the larger water change, I airated the eater before changing using the power drill. I just leaves the paint stirer near to the the surface at high speed. This pull air and shead them into the salt water mix create a fine bubble mix. Very effective in airated the water.