anyone weigh salt?

skelator · Feb 5, 2014

i was thinking of weighing the salt so i could make the whole water change process faster. if i had a number go with and i marked off the bucket i would think it would make the process of getting the proper salinity much faster. if anyone has done it do you mind telling me what weights and gallons your mixing at? thanks, Mike

jdl513 · Feb 5, 2014

I would be concerned about the weight is salt mix varying depending on the percentage of moisture it contains.

See no problem with using a pre-weighed amount to get close, but I would use a refractmeter to verify.

Usctom · Feb 5, 2014

Good questions. I'v been thinking about doing the same thing. My salt covered measuring cup is never even close.

Velodog2 · Feb 5, 2014

I keep my "measuring cup" (a large coffee mug) reasonably clean and if I fill it dead even with the top it always makes me a pail of water at the right salinity. It is fairly sensitive to being even slightly under or over filled.

Mike J. · Feb 5, 2014

I also have a large cup that I use. Filled to the top it is always right on. Sure makes things easier. Of course I always test it, but it's always right on.

EW_Fish · Feb 5, 2014

I weigh my salt. I have a digital scale that I place a plate on and tare it then add the salt. After I dump the salt in slowly I dip the plate to get the salt that is stuck off. I don't know why he said moisture. Your suppose to keep your salt dry. I never marked my bucket I eyeball it and always right on

kschweer · Feb 5, 2014

I also weigh my salt most of the time using the same method above.

Quick funny story about it. I had a problem with my cable and had an appointment for the cable guy to come fix things. I left work early which is rare for me so I decided to do some tank maintenance while I was waiting. Cable guy got there and I didn't think about it but on my dining room table was a digital scale with a plate full of salt. Cable guy did a triple take. He fixed the problem very quickly and was gone just as quickly. Guess he wasn't sure what he had walked into...lol

skelator · Feb 5, 2014

^hahaha thats pretty good. i left work early today too cuse of a bad snow storm. the daycare was closing so i had no choice but to come home. so i also decided to do maintenence. i cleaned the canister filter and changed the carbon. also did a 10g watcer change. i got the digital scale out and the big measuring cup i bought special for this. i got i weight thats pretty close to the right salinity then i just tweek it a little with straight ro di water to get it right on.

looks like its snowing in the tank now but i think its just air from the canister filter. ill give it a little time if it dosent settle down ill check it out.