Tropic Marine Pro-Reef Salt

ScruffyRubicon · 12-03-2009, 03:00 PM

For those that get TMPR salt, is the salt normally pretty clumpy/solid and needs to be broken up to use? I just ordered this salt for the first time and container was split when it arrived so I looked to see if the bag was broken. It was good but the salt appeared to be pretty hard so I opened the bag and the salt is mostly hard.

Hendersonracing · 12-03-2009, 04:32 PM

Nope Mine Came In Really Nice Powder No Clumps At All!

ScruffyRubicon · 12-03-2009, 04:41 PM

I sent them an email to them and had a response within an hour. See below:

Hi Eric,

Thanks for your email. We have had some clumping and hardening of the
Pro-REEF in a couple of recent batches. We have done a lot of testing in our
lab to determine whether the salt that experiences this had degraded in any
way. It seems that, although I am not happy that we have product out there
that is lumpy and hard, there is no problem with using that salt and no
degradation of the product in any way. That being said, we don't like our
salt to have that consistency and we are evaluating our mixing process to
rectify the problem. Bottom line is that you can go ahead and use that salt
without any worry and you will most likely never see that constancy again in
one of our buckets.

If you do experience any kind of problem at all, or have any questions as
you start to use our products, please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Best regards,

Lou Ekus
Director of US Operations
Tropic Marin USA
44 Center Street
Montague, MA. 01351
ph: 413-367-0101
fax: 413-367-0144
email: office@tropicmarin-usa.com

Seamore · 12-03-2009, 05:40 PM

It is my understanding that they had an entire batch that hardened to different degrees in unopened buckets. Both of the LFS I use sent their shipments back and have held off replacing until recently. The problem is supposed to be corrected and it is supposed to be back to the quick dissolving powder we are accustomed to. I am going to buy some this weekend. I'll let you know what I see.

ScruffyRubicon · 12-03-2009, 06:56 PM

I used a bit tonight making my water up. It comes apart pretty easy. Just a light scrape with the measuring cup. Looking forward to using it.

Seamore · 12-03-2009, 07:22 PM

I think you'll like it, my corals went into hyper-growth mode and have been happy with it for 2 years now. Look for it to dissolve quickly leaving 0 percipitates, about 1/2 cup/G will get you close.

ScruffyRubicon · 12-03-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamore

I think you'll like it, my corals went into hyper-growth mode and have been happy with it for 2 years now. Look for it to dissolve quickly leaving 0 percipitates, about 1/2 cup/G will get you close.

It did dissolve very fast and 1/2c. per gallon just like the RC I was using before. I was having incredible growth on my montis with RC. I just hope to get about the same. Anything more will be a bonus.

Seamore · 12-03-2009, 08:07 PM

Let me know what you experiance, my Monti's have always been fast, the staghornes and other Acroporas really took off for me too. I run mine at 1.026 SG.
Good luck.

whatevva · 12-04-2009, 06:31 AM

Here's my original report from back in 2006. Was clumping back then as well.

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/f6...t=tropic+Marin

Quote: I'm thinking that "clumped" may not have been the proper word to use. That makes it seem like there were large chunks and that's not the case. It was more like one solid piece. I more or less had to scrape it out with the measuring cup. It wasn't difficult at all, I'm just trying to give a full report of everything that I've noticed. It certainly wouldn't hinder my decision to use it.

Loverotties · 12-04-2009, 06:34 AM

That's what I used back when I made my salt!Loved it.

WharfRat · 12-04-2009, 03:13 PM

Geez Scruffy..salts giving you the razzberries of late.

ScruffyRubicon · 12-04-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WharfRat

Geez Scruffy..salts giving you the razzberries of late.

It is! I bought some new LR today though. So I can use the RC to cook that at least. I don't want to put it in my tank anymore.

Seamore · 12-04-2009, 05:06 PM

Went to LFS and the new shipment of TMPR came in I checked several buckets, all were clump free crystals like I am used to seeing. The clumpy salt should be fine but I'd check w/your source and see if they will swap your bucket out for a new one.

Hendersonracing · 12-04-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamore

Went to LFS and the new shipment of TMPR came in I checked several buckets, all were clump free crystals like I am used to seeing. The clumpy salt should be fine but I'd check w/your source and see if they will swap your bucket out for a new one.