Toxic Salt??

[gogol]

Here is an article that I came across that concludes that salt mixes often have heavy metal concentration that are 100 to 100s of thousand times more than what occurs naturally.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/11/aafeature1#h5

Is this cause for concern ? There are many many aquarists who use and recommend the brand I currently use, IO Reef Crystals. Does any one have any negative feedback on them? Please note that the study was done on sea urchin larvae and was extrapolated to other marine life forms.

 

[Phyl]

We used Reef Crystals for years and never had any problems with it. We changed on the quest for a "better" salt, but in the grand scheme of things the salt is the least of your problems!

 

[REEFLECTIONS]

i have used only instant ocean for the past 4 years, and have not had any issues

 

[gogol]

That is precisely my thoughts when I see some research date that is contradictory to empirical results. (The big Deep/Shallow sand bed and bare bottom issue is another case in point).

If anything hasn't exhibited harmful effects over years of usage by millions of users, then it can't be all wrong.

Now, if I could just get sunlight to my aquarium ;D

 

[redfishbluefish]

Chemistry 101: Phosban (i.e. GFO, GFH) also removes heavy metals. Assuming they are there in "high" concentration, they are removed by phosban (assuming you are running it).

 

[gogol]

Whoa !! I just realised that I had not looked at this foot note ever. Is there a list of the metals that Phosban removes?

I found the following product which pretty much removes everything (including the required ones). Perhaps it aimed at a freshwater market ?
http://theaquariumfiltration.blogspot.com/2009/03/metal-gone-alternative-to-phosban-and.html

 

[redfishbluefish]

It is used in water treatment plants to remove heavy metals. So if you search "water treatment" and either "iron oxide hydroxide" or "ferric oxide hydroxide," you should find a wealth of literature on the stuff.

 

[Dave]

I found the following product which pretty much removes everything (including the required ones). Perhaps it aimed at a freshwater market ?
http://theaquariumfiltration.blogspot.com/2009/03/metal-gone-alternative-to-phosban-and.html

FWIW - If you look there is a freshwater and a saltwater version....that said, i know nothing about this stuff.

 

[gogol]

If phosban does reduce heavy metals (and looks like it does), then remind me again why we dont use dechlorinated (perhaps even filtered) tap water with phosban. I thought heavy metal removal was RO/DI's major selling point ???