Welcome to MyBatch™, a unique service from Red Sea providing all users of Red Sea’s salts easy access to the actual chemical analysis of the specific batch of salt purchased, as tested by our QC lab.

Good water chemistry is the most basic element of reef keeping and you deserve more than blind faith to ensure that you are getting exactly what you want.

Red Sea is one of the few salt manufacturers that accurately states on the package the guaranteed range of all of the parameters that will be achieved when mixing our salts according to the mixing instructions. We are able to achieve this as our salts are produced according to a highly controlled, small batch production process that guarantees both a high level of homogeneity within each batch as well as consistency from batch to batch. The process is monitored by thorough quality control testing in our laboratory that includes state of the art ICP analysis, calibrated specifically for the unique composition of seawater.

The accuracy of our salt production and analysis is so reliable that if you follow all of the mixing instructions and adjust the salinity using a correctly calibrated and highly accurate seawater refractometer such as Red Sea’s REEF-SPEC Refractometer, you will be able to use your salt mix as a standard solution to assist with learning how to precisely use, or to check the reliability of, your marine and reef test kits.

NOTES:
*MyBatch™  service is available only for salts produced as of January 2015
**MyBatch™ is available only for 7kg, 22kg buckets and 22kg & 25kg bags
***The batch number is a 10 digit number and can be found on the outside of the product (see example hereunder)

22kg/175 gal and 25kg/200gal bags

MyBatch™ FAQ

• I can’t find the batch number?
• How do I know if “MyBatch™” is available for my specific product?
• My batch number only has 9 digits?
• How does Red Sea do its salt analysis?
• I have tested my salt and the parameters do not exactly match the MyBatch™ analysis?
• I have tested my salt and the results are outside of the guaranteed parameters printed on the package?
• What is the correct way to prepare saltwater for accurate analysis?
  

I can’t find the batch number?

The batch numbers are currently on a small label attached to the outside of the packaging as shown above.

Some buckets have a second batch number label on the inside of the lid.

Unfortunately some batch code labels have become detached during transportation and therefore you will not be able to get a MyBatch analysis for this specific product.

How do I know if “MyBatch™” is available for my specific product?

Check the batch number.

MyBatch™ is available for all batch codes where the 5^th number from the right is 5 or larger

My batch number only has 9 digits?

On some of the batch codes the first digit is either missing or not clear. The number should have the values of 0, 1, 2 or 3. If you are unable to determine the value of the missing 1^st digit you will not be able to receive the MyBatch™ analysis.

How does Red Sea do its salt analysis?

Red Sea’s QC laboratory uses the most sophisticated analytical instruments including ICP-OES for elemental analysis, spectrophotometers and automatic potentiometric titrators. All of the tests carried out in the lab have a maximum measuring mistake up to 1%. Salt samples are mixed with DI (deionized) water. Coral Pro is adjusted to a salinity of 35ppt and Red Sea Salt is adjusted to a salinity of 35.5ppt.

I have tested my salt and the parameters do not exactly match the MyBatch™ analysis?

The MyBatch™ analysis shows the exact parameters of the sample that was tested in our QC laboratory and guarantees that the full batch will be within the parameters written on the package. Due to the natural variance in the homogeneity of the salt mix throughout the batch, the results of your mix will vary from the MyBatch™ analysis results however they should all be in the acceptable range for each parameter. For more information see the section on preparation of seawater for analysis.

I have tested my salt and the results are outside of the guaranteed parameters printed on the package?

Testing results outside of the guaranteed parameters are most likely due to the salinity, preparation of the water sample or the limitations of the accuracy/resolution of the testing.

Salinity: MyBatch™ analysis relates to salt mixed to a salinity of exactly 35 ppt (g/l) for Coral Pro salt and 35.5 ppt (g/l) for Red Sea salt. If the salinity of the test sample is not exactly 35 or 35.5ppt the test results should be adjusted accordingly.

Preparation: Use of a refractometer not calibrated specifically for seawater will result in an error in the salinity measurement. For laboratory analysis DI (deionized) water should be used for preparing the saltwater sample and not distilled or RO water. The salt within the package must be well mixed before taking the sample. Sample size for mixing must be at least 500g. For more information see the section on preparation of seawater for analysis.

Testing: All test kits indicate the resolution of the test (the actual levels that it claims to detect) however this is not the same thing as its accuracy as all tests have a built in deviation due to the limitations of the chemistry. For example, a calcium titration kit may have a scale indicating a measurement to a resolution of 5 ppm but have a built in accuracy due to the chemistry of 10 ppm.

Even advanced equipment such as ICP-OES, spectrometers, IC etc. as used by professional laboratories can result in measuring differences. This is due to different methods of detection, quality assurance, detection limits and standardization requirements and the overall experience and knowledge of sea water analysis of each laboratory.

In any case were the results shows a deviation of more than 5 % from the acceptable range please contact us for further investigation.

What is the correct way to prepare saltwater for accurate analysis?

1. Always use clean non-toxic utensils for the mixing.
2. Due to possible stratification of the salt during transportation, the complete package of salt should be mixed together before the sample is taken for dissolving in water.
3. To produce seawater with a salinity of 35ppt for Coral Pro or 35.5ppt for Red Sea Salt prepare 534.8g of salt.
4. Prepare 14 liters of deionized (DI) water at a temperature of approximately 20C/68F. While RO water is good for seawater used for reef aquariums it is not sufficient for accurate analysis. Note: R.O. water with TDS levels of above 20 ppm may indicate the presence of some elements such as Ca, Mg and HCO₃ that will affect the test results.  The presence of NO₃ and PO₄ in levels below 1 mg/L has no significant influence on TDS measurements. Therefore, both NO₃ and PO₄ might be present in a detectable concentration, even when the TDS readings are very low.
5. Add about 13.7 liters of the DI water to the mixing vessel and add a small submersible pump to keep the water moving. Add the salt sample to the water slowly and continue mixing for no more than 2 hours. Do not aerate the water during the mixing.
6. When all of the salt is dissolved raise the temperature of the saltwater to 25C°. Add additional DI water to reach a total volume of 14 liters of mixed seawater at 25C°.Note: Adding the weighed sample of salt to a volume of 14 L of DI water will result in a seawater with a salinity lower than 35 ppt. This will cause a reduction of 1-1.5% in the measured parameters ( 4-6 mg/L of Ca, 12-16 mg/L of Mg and – 0.3 meq/L of Alkalinity).
7. Check the salinity of the mixed seawater with a refractometer specifically designed for measuring sea water salinity (such as Red Sea refractometers) or conductivity meter or high precision hydrometer with temperature measurements for accurate conversion from S.G. to Salinity. Make sure that the test equipment is properly calibrated before use. Note: Refractometers designed for brine may have ±1 ppt mistake that is equal to ±3% error in each parameter test results.