I thought reef crystals had high(ish) levels of calcium and magnesium? Isn't that why it is more expensive than Regular IO?

Anyway, these days I dont dose my new salt water (I dose my main tank) but after mixing my heater and the inside if the mixing drum is coated with a fine white/brown powdery substance. I read that this is normal with regular IO. Not sure if it is the same as your powdery substance tho. It has been like that for me for a long long time. Doesn't seem to affect anything and I just accept it :-)

well, i tested it serveral times with several different buckets of reef crystals and they are not any near what they claim on the bucket label so I have to dose to bring it to match with my tank params

I am experiencing the white/brown coating just like you do. It is not affecting anything but i have to clean the container and heater after mixing water which sucks

This is why I just stick with regular old IO. So many people report that the claimed levels on the bucket are false. I'm sure you get some buckets that do match, but in my opinion, if you're paying that much for a pale of salt and they claim those levels then there should be those levels! No exceptions. Otherwise you're paying for a very very expensive bucket of regular IO :lol:

I don't clean the heater or the trash bucket.. i just leave it! :lol: Well, maybe clean it out once every few months. I did test it for ammonia and nitrates and phosphates which there doesn't seem to be any trace of so I'm not sure what that film is :-)

For sure, you're getting a precipitate. Adding magnesium and calcium to regular IO, usually prevents that from happening and I have had none for years, since switching to that particular method.

I use to leave the mag & ca over night also but now just mix it a couple hrs. before adding the salt. I do add the mag first and let it mix awhile before adding ca.

Sounds like the alk is to high for some reason or the extra calcium RC is suppose to have. Like Kein, same reason I stick with IO.

oh man, i guess i will have to go back to IO once my 3 RC buckets are gone. In the mean time i will try to mix mag first then ca and see if problem still occurs.

Thanks guys