Product Information
As you have read on the outside of this container of NēoMarine, we make the
claim that it is so close in composition to natural seawater that marine
organisms cannot tell the difference. How can we make this claim if the product
does not provide every element present in natural seawater?
The answers are not as complicated as one might think, and may be addressed in
three separate but very important aspects: 1.) the nature of the elements
present; 2.) their concentrations with respect to average natural seawater
parameters; 3.) the quality of ingredients utilized and the means in which the
salt is produced. These points are addressed individually below.
First, all major elements are present in NēoMarine, however only minor and trace
elements known to undergo biological and/or chemical interactions (e.g.
depletion) in natural seawater are included. What this means is that there is a
specific change (decrease) in the concentration profile of the element measured
in the surface waters where life is concentrated; such elements are believed to
interact with marine life and/or with other substances present in the water, and
these elements are considered to exhibit “non-conservative” behavior. Elements
that do not exhibit these characteristics do not apparently interact with marine
life or these other substances (at least as far as current analytical methods
can discern); they are not likely necessary for the continued health or
existence of marine organisms. It follows that these elements are not required
for success with a marine aquarium; in fact, if added they would gradually
accumulate with time. Because of this, they may be omitted from the salt mix and
the savings in raw materials and production procedures passed on to the
aquarist.
Second, the comparison table on the outside of this package indicates that, when
mixed to a specific gravity of 1.024 g/cm3, the concentrations of elements
present are extraordinarily close to those observed in natural seawater; in
fact, with only one exception (chloride), all major, minor, and trace elements
present are in the proportions to one another that they are in natural seawater.
The natural seawater concentrations of elements listed are taken from current
data compiled by oceanographers, and the formula is adjusted as analytical
methods are improved and new data becomes available. These changes are so minute
that they will not noticeably alter the performance of the salt or the
appearance of aquarium inhabitants; we simply want the concentrations of
elements present to remain as close to those found in natural seawater as
possible.
Third, as with all Brightwell Aquatics water care products, we use the very
highest purity ingredients available, period. This means that the majority of
individual ingredients in NēoMarine are of USP or ACS grade, the highest levels
of purity in existence. We do not cut any corners when it comes to what goes
into our products. Additionally, we manufacture our salt mix on-site under very
strict environmental conditions, ensuring the maximum degree of quality and
accuracy to our formulation, and every container of NēoMarine is lot numbered
for quality control.
This formula has undergone extensive testing and has produced very impressive
results. Livestock from every common family of ornamental marine organisms has
been maintained in water prepared with this formula without incident, many of
them reproducing freely when they had not done so in aquaria maintained with
other salt brands.
If you have purchased this package, used a portion of it, and find that the salt
falls short of your expectations, please do not hesitate to contact us. We want
you to use this salt and be 100% satisfied with it. We are confident that
NēoMarine Salt Mix is the best such product on the market because we have
formulated it to contain everything needed by marine life in precise natural
seawater concentrations, and because we have paid such close attention to all
pertinent details of purity and manufacturing. We thank you for choosing
Brightwell Aquatics as your supplier of marine aquarium salt, and wish you the
best of success with your aquaria.
A Brief Discussion of Specific Gravity (Density) and Salinity
Specific gravity is a measurement of density, and the relationship that it has
with salinity is dependant upon water temperature. Oceanographers generally
agree that the average salinity of the world’s oceans is ~35.0‰, however the
salinity of water in some areas may be considerably higher. This is largely a
result of the balance between evaporation and influx of freshwater in specific
areas and/or bodies of water; the higher the rate of evaporation and/or the
lower the relative volume of freshwater influx, the higher the average salinity
tends to be. The Red Sea is a prime example of this: essentially surrounded by
desert and with very little exchange of water between itself and neighboring
water bodies, the average salinity tends to be quite high relative to that of
other tropical marine environments; areas of the Red Sea may exceed 40‰ at
times. For the most part, however, salinity in tropical areas tends to fall
between 35 – 37‰, and this is a sensible range to maintain within marine
aquaria.
The following table lists various specific gravity values that correspond with
salinity and temperature values normally found in tropical reef habitats:
| Temperature |
°F |
77.0 |
77.9 |
78.8 |
79.7 |
80.6 |
81.5 |
82.4 |
| Temperature |
°C |
25.0 |
25.5 |
26.0 |
26.5 |
27.0 |
27.5 |
28.0 |
| Salinity ppt |
35.0 |
1.02360 |
1.02349 |
1.02337 |
1.02326 |
1.02314 |
1.02303 |
1.02291 |
| 35.5 |
1.02398 |
1.02386 |
1.02375 |
1.02363 |
1.02352 |
1.02340 |
1.02329 |
| 36.0 |
1.02436 |
1.02424 |
1.02413 |
1.02401 |
1.02390 |
1.02378 |
1.02367 |
| 36.5 |
1.02474 |
1.02462 |
1.02451 |
1.02439 |
1.02428 |
1.02416 |
1.02405 |
| 37.0 |
1.02512 |
1.02500 |
1.02489 |
1.02477 |
1.02466 |
1.02454 |
1.02443 |
|
Specific Gravity |
Instructions and Guidelines
Each 138.8 grams of NēoMarine will increase the specific gravity of 1
US-gallon of purified water to approximately 1.024 g/cm3. To obtain a higher or
lower specific gravity when preparing water, divide the desired value by 1.024
and then multiply this number by the volume of water (in gallons) being
prepared, then multiply this value by 138.8 to obtain the mass of salt required
(in grams) to be added (example: if target SG is 1.021 in 5.0 gallons of water:
1.021 ÷ 1.024 = 0.998; 0.998 × 5.0 = 4.985; 4.985 × 138.8 g = 691.92 g, as
opposed to 694.0 g required to increase SG in 5.0 gallons to 1.024 g/cm3). If
not using an accurate scale to measure salt, dissolve approximately 4 oz., or
half a cup, of salt mix in each gallon of purified water to obtain a target
specific gravity between 1.021 – 1.024 g/cm3, and adjust as needed by adding
more salt or water to increase/decrease specific gravity, respectively. It is
strongly recommended that water purified via reverse osmosis and/or deionization
be used for seawater preparation. Add the required amount of water and salt to a
clean container such as a large plastic pail and mix it thoroughly with a
submersible pump. Always use an accurate hydrometer or (preferably)
refractometer to determine the specific gravity of prepared seawater. Ensure
that the water temperature matches that of the established aquarium (use a
submersible heater if necessary). Although the prepared water may be used
immediately upon reaching the desired specific gravity and pH (and temperature),
it is recommended that at least one hour (and preferably several hours) of
mixing be allowed to pass before adding the water to an established aquarium;
this extra time enables gas formed during the salt dissolution to escape,
further stabilizing pH.
Water changes in all marine aquaria should be made weekly to help maintain the
natural seawater ionic ratios. The addition of supplements (which add elements
that are affected by both biological and chemical interactions (non-conservative
elements), as well as others that are not affected by these processes
(conservative elements) and therefore accumulate with time unless removed with
water changes), the depletion of various non-conservative elements, loss of salt
to the external environment through water spraying, interaction of various
elements with organic matter in the aquarium, and removal of elements via
chemical filtration all alter the ionic ratio of the water. Weekly water changes
of at least 5% of the total volume of water in the system will help counter
these processes and provide a more stable environment for ornamental marine
organisms. Note that if an aquarium is established with an inexpensive synthetic
salt blend lacking adequate concentrations of non-conservative elements,
additional money must be spent on supplements to correct the deficiencies before
any animals are introduced to the system; these supplements may contain
conservative elements that further alter the ionic ratio of the water. In light
of these facts, it can be said that purchasing an inexpensive salt blend saves
no money in the long run and does not encourage the health of livestock.
Switching from your present salt mix to NēoMarine: Stability of
water chemistry is one of the most important aspects of successfully maintaining
a marine aquarium. Therefore, sudden changes in water chemistry, such as when
making high-volume water changes with water that has different chemical
characteristics (no matter how slight the differences are), can have significant
negative impacts on the livestock; even if they appear to be healthy initially,
they may very well be found in poor appearance or even deceased a few hours
later. This is often the case when manufacturers alter their salt formulation
(either by accident or design) without informing their customers; what would
seem to be a routine water change with a salt that has been used for months or
even years can result in disaster.
It is imperative when changing from your current brand or formula of salt to a
new one that the transition be gradual. We strongly recommend that the maximum
water changed when switching to a new salt mix not exceed 5% of the total system
volume (taking the water in sumps and displacement of water due to rock and
bottom substrate into account) per 7-day period. This maintains relative
stability in the water chemistry and has a much lower impact on aquarium
inhabitants than does changing larger volumes. While it may take 5 – 6 months to
completely switch over to a new formula (when doing a weekly 5% water change;
water changes with less frequency will increase the time to complete transition
accordingly), this should not be viewed as a nuisance, but rather as insurance
that the livestock will make the transition smoothly and without illness or
death. Considering the degree of care that goes into maintaining most marine
aquaria, this method of careful transition is well worth the effort.
If you have recently changed from another brand of marine aquarium salt to this
one, we would love to see “before and after” photos of the system after it has
been established. Contact us for details on photo submission, and a chance to
have your photos featured on our website.
What’s in NeoMarine:
Anhydrous-only forms of major elements
Average Mg, Ca, K, and Sr concentrations of 1,290-, 413-, 399-, and 8 ppm,
respectively
All non-conservative minor and trace elements found in seawater
Sufficient salt to reconstitute purified water of the stated package volume to
1.025 g/cm3
Our commitment that this salt blend is the best you have ever used
What’s not in NeoMarine:
Anti-caking agents
Vitamins, amino acids, and other unnecessary organic substances
Hydrated forms of major elements such as magnesium and calcium
Saltwater evaporite (e.g. dehydrated saltwater)
Ammonia*
Phosphate*
*Ammonia and phosphate are undetectable in water prepared to 1.025 g/cm3 using
Hach standard test kits with reagents within the usable dates. Every batch is
tested and results are logged.
How was NeoMarine formulated?
Basically, we reverse-engineered saltwater by creating an extremely-precise
calculation method that takes into account all necessary chemical
characteristics of the salts that provide desirable elements. Natural seawater
concentrations of all major elements, as well as the minor and trace elements
that are considered to be non-conservative (e.g. they are utilized in biological
and chemical processes that occur in marine environments), were used as the
design template. We then tested several combinations of ingredients that
ultimately provided identical concentrations of each important element (except
chloride, which was the only ion that varied in concentration); we were
specifically interested in assessing the dryness and homogeneity of the blend,
as well as the solubility and speed with which the blend completely dissolved
into solution. For what it’s worth, the final formulation provides all major,
minor, and trace elements at concentrations within 0.000001% (with the exception
of chloride) of their respective average natural seawater concentrations. We
strive to reproduce this formulation with our production process.
How was NeoMarine tested?
Once we had arrived at a final formulation, we tested it in multiple research
systems for a period of three years. Our research systems house all conceivable
types of marine fishes, cnidarians, bivalves, gastropods, echinoderms,
crustaceans, coelenterates, and poriferans, as well as ancillary organisms such
as suspension-feeding worms, macroalgae, sea grasses, and mangroves. We have
exclusively been using our salt formulation on every system during the
three-year testing process, with remarkable success: several coral spawning
events have taken place, fishes have reproduced, and the coloration and apparent
health of all residents in the systems is very good. Additionally, NeoMarine has
been successfully used in a large reef aquarium on display at a prominent
national museum in the Nation’s Capitol.
How is NeoMarine manufactured?
We’ll give you a hint: no cement mixers are used! The exact process is deemed
proprietary, but what we can divulge is that the process is such that a
homogenous particle size and blend are created in a clean, climate-controlled
atmosphere within our own production facility. Rather than producing several
tons of NeoMarine in each batch, we create batches of modest-size that enable us
to maintain maximum quality control and ensure the most homogenous blend; the
more ingredients that are used, the more difficult it is to create homogeneity
throughout the finished product (our formulation makes use of nearly 40
ingredients, for reference), so producing gigantic batches of salt is not an
option for us. If we were just blending table salt with “ice-melt” and Dow flake
and calling that a finished product, we could make multi-ton batches and not
lose any sleep doing so.
How long does it take for NeoMarine to dissolve?
On average, 75deg.F water that has the proper amount of NeoMarine added to
increase the specific gravity to 1.025 g/cm3 will clear in less than 15-minutes
with vigorous mixing, however when mixing a large batch (e.g. ≥50-gallons) all
at once it may take longer for the mix to completely clear. Two things factor
into the speed that a salt mix will clear in water of a standardized
temperature: the degree of mixing taking place within the mixing vessel, and the
solubility of the various salts that are present in a mix. Regarding the former,
it can be said that the speed of dissolution is directly related to the amount
of water movement in the vessel; that is, faster water movement decreases the
time required for the mix to completely dissolve and clarify, assuming that
samples are prepared using the same salt blend. Companies selling sea salt
blends have been hyping the speed with which their salt dissolves completely for
so long that aquarists now use this as a bench-mark to judge the quality of a
salt mix; ironically, salts that mix immediately into water are typified by low
concentrations of magnesium, calcium, and/or the use of a large percentage of
highly-soluble hydrated ingredients that drag unwanted substances into their
final product (see the following section). Honestly, salt water should mix
overnight in order to allow all intermediate gasses formed during the
dissolution process to escape and pH and alkalinity to become stable. If the
newly-mixed saltwater doesn’t become crystal-clear within 30-seconds, who cares?
Why is NeoMarine more expensive than other brands?
As with all items baring the Brightwell Aquatics name, we do not cut corners in
any aspect of the salt formulation or preparatory process. The primary reason
that the salt is higher-priced is that the ingredients are of such high purity
that they command a higher price from our vendors; for instance, because we use
superior grades of anhydrous magnesium salts rather than low-grade hydrated
forms (which contribute ammonia and insoluble particulate material into a
finished product), our cost increases by an order of magnitude. However, we
wouldn’t use hydrated magnesium (or calcium) salts for the afore-mentioned
reason, not to mention the additional weight that these salts add to a finished
product (which factors into the final price that is paid at a retail-level as a
result of the resultantly higher freight charges). Simply stated, NeoMarine is
more expensive because it truly is made of better ingredients, and more of them.
Furthermore, rather than prepare water to only 1.018 - 1.021 g/cm3, each
container of NeoMarine prepares water to 1.025 g/cm3. In this aspect alone it
costs us more to manufacture than it does our competitors whose salt blends fall
short of this specific gravity. We run a chemical analysis for pH, alkalinity,
calcium, ammonia, and phosphate on each batch of NeoMarine produced; this costs
us money. Lastly, we manufacture NeoMarine and all other Brightwell Aquatics
supplements and filtration media in-house using precision equipment that can be
used for the production of foods and pharmaceuticals, we pay our personnel a
good wage, and we are privately-owned so our operating expenses are
expectedly-higher than those of many of our competitors.
In summary, we would like to make it known that we did not set out to create a
salt blend that was superior to other salts in one aspect or another; that was
never a consideration. Our intention was to make a salt blend that recreated all
important aspects of natural seawater with such precision that captive marine
organisms couldn’t noticeably tell the difference between water prepared with
our salt and “the real thing”. To us, this approach merely makes the most sense,
and we believe that your aquarium inhabitants will agree. Thank you for your
interest in Brightwell Aquatics; we sincerely appreciate it. Oh – and remember:
it’s more than an aquarium. It’s an obsession.
-Brightwell Aquatics
