Daily AWC saltwater storage

[GoBlue923]

I have a 150 g DT that gets a daily 1 gallon water change using a DOS. My saltwater storage tank is a ~15 g Advanced Acrylic tank. Every 4-5 months I have to take my saltwater storage tank out to clean some brown slug that starts to accumulate on the bottom and sides. I use RODI water and Red Sea Blue bucket to make my saltwater. The tank is under my DT so it is in a controlled temp environment with no temperature swings or extremes. There is a light under there but its for visibility when I'm working on my equipment not for a refugium or anything like that. Any ideas as to what it might be? I've considered dosing a small amount of vibrant or something similar in my storage tank to see if that will keep it from getting grungy looking. Any advice or experience in this matter is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gatorpa]

I have a 150 g DT that gets a daily 1 gallon water change using a DOS. My saltwater storage tank is a ~15 g Advanced Acrylic tank. Every 4-5 months I have to take my saltwater storage tank out to clean some brown slug that starts to accumulate on the bottom and sides. I use RODI water and Red Sea Blue bucket to make my saltwater. The tank is under my DT so it is in a controlled temp environment with no temperature swings or extremes. There is a light under there but its for visibility when I'm working on my equipment not for a refugium or anything like that. Any ideas as to what it might be? I've considered dosing a small amount of vibrant or something similar in my storage tank to see if that will keep it from getting grungy looking. Any advice or experience in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Just curious why a 1% daily water change?
Doesn’t seem like it’s worth the hassle?…

 

[GoBlue923]

Just curious why a 1% daily water change?
Doesn’t seem like it’s worth the hassle?…

It’s an alternative to doing one or two large water changes a month. It’s really not a hassle. Changing 1 gallon a day I can go roughly 14 days without making water or emptying my waste tank. It’s also gives me roughly 30 gallons a month that I’m changing out. I’m just trying to figure out if others that do daily water changes see a buildup of brown slug in the bottom of their fresh saltwater tank after a few months? If not, are they adding anything to the fresh saltwater to keep it from developing this brown sludge like buildup?

 

[ReefRondo]

I've never found a solution to this and have just installed a new 800L baffled storage tank for my AWC. I installed a drain so now I can spray the inside of the tank when almost empty with a concentrated citric acid solution and then rinse it down with the garden hose allowing it to drain as I rinse.

 

[areefer01]

You can do a search on BRS as they did a video a few years back on mixing water and storage. It covered residue and water parameter drift over time.

Example. I used to use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. I would mix up 40 gallons and use it over a couple months. Over time I would have this build up on the bottom of the container. Thick, brown, crust. Easy enough to clean with a bit of elbow grease. Not harmful just residue. I later switched to Tropic Marin Pro Reef, mixed the same amount, used it over the same amount of time, and zero residue.

It wasn't really about which salt was better or cost more or cheaper but rather residue vs no residue. Not suggesting you change but the video isn't bad and may help you outside of just ignoring it.

Edit: no to vibrant or other product - it is a cleaning over time or a salt mix or ignore thing.

 

[BigMax]

I'm just throwing a few things out for you to look up in R2R, so I'm not saying that these are the answers, but definitely something you should research.

Red Sea salts are know to precipitate, that's a fact. Whether it's anti-caking agents such as clay or Calcium / Alkalinity precipitate I don't know.

Mixing at room temp is a good idea...Per Holmes-Farley mixing 'cold' will reduce precipitate. e.g. don't us a heater when mixing / storing

Tropic Marin is, based on reviews, less likely to produce sludge, but it is more expensive as well...

Lastly, Vibrant targets algae not sludge. And if you have corals realize Vibrant is an algaecide. Personally I would never use Vibrant in reef tank. There are huge strings on the Vibrant debate, I used it, but will never use it again.

Here's a BRS video that may give you more insight

 

[mckinney0171]

Following along. I’ve noticed that my TDS creeps up when I keep water in my storage container (Brute can) after a couple days. Wondering if anyone else has had this or found a solution. My containers are pretty well sealed but it still seems to creep. I’ve thought that maybe my circulation pump causes it. Or maybe when I lift the lid outside dust settles. I’m sure I have the same problem with my saltwater container.

 

[BigMax]

Here's a good thread. I have to go back and research myself. I've always used a circulation pump in my short term saltwater storage tank, but I remember reading that once it's fully dissolved circulation and aeration should be discontinued if you intend to store for week(s) for AWC? (currently I just do water changes so anything brewed is used in 2 days)

How Do You Make Your RO/DI Water and Salt

Hello everyone just wanted to start a post about how other people make there RO/DI water and there salt mixes hoping to get some new ideas on how to store and mixing techniques. So i recently decided to start to make my own RO water and mix my own salt as apposed to buying from the Fs and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[BigMax]

Following along. I’ve noticed that my TDS creeps up when I keep water in my storage container (Brute can) after a couple days. Wondering if anyone else has had this or found a solution. My containers are pretty well sealed but it still seems to creep. I’ve thought that maybe my circulation pump causes it. Or maybe when I lift the lid outside dust settles. I’m sure I have the same problem with my saltwater container.

The purpose of reading the TDS of the output is to make sure the stuff from tap water got removed.
Once in storage it really doesnt matter what it is. The tap water stuff didnt get back in there.
If you opened a salt bucket near the water storage without it totally sealed the TDS would go up from the salt dust.
Lots of things could make the TDS rise but none of them will bother your tank with reasonable precaution.

 

[GoBlue923]

I'm just throwing a few things out for you to look up in R2R, so I'm not saying that these are the answers, but definitely something you should research.

Red Sea salts are know to precipitate, that's a fact. Whether it's anti-caking agents such as clay or Calcium / Alkalinity precipitate I don't know.

Mixing at room temp is a good idea...Per Holmes-Farley mixing 'cold' will reduce precipitate. e.g. don't us a heater when mixing / storing

Tropic Marin is based on reviews is less likely to produce sludge, but it is more expensive as well...

Lastly, Vibrant targets algae not sludge. And if you have corals realize Vibrant is an algaecide. Personally I would never use Vibrant in reef tank. There are huge strings on the Vibrant debate, I used it, but will never use it again.

Here's a BRS video that may give you more insight

Thanks for the video. BRS always OP. I watched the storage video make sure I could store it for the required time without the chemical properties drifting but never saw this video. Possible the sludge starts white then turns brown over several months with out cleaning? Now I’m considering changing salt to Tropic Marin Classic or Pro. I figure at a gallon a day over time shouldn’t really affect my DT. Thoughts?

 

[BigMax]

Thanks for the video. BRS always OP. I watched the storage video make sure I could store it for the required time without the chemical properties drifting but never saw this video. Possible the sludge starts white then turns brown over several months with out cleaning? Now I’m considering changing salt to Tropic Marin Classic or Pro. I figure at a gallon a day over time shouldn’t really affect my DT. Thoughts?

I added a second post (above). I know Holmes-Farley has high regard for Instant Ocean as to minimizing precipitate, he does 'not like' IO Reef Crystals as the formulation will precipitate. I use Reef Crystals currently and it does precipitate, but it's always on sale so I use it anyway. Tropic Marin would be a fine choice.

I try to buy standard IO salt when on sale and have had good luck with it, definitely brews 'cleaner' than Reef Crystals or the Red Sea Pro I've used. Although IO is not on par with Tropic Marin overall it's a fine salt and meets my needs.

 

[ReefRondo]

Tropic marin mixes cleaner than any other salt I have used. It is really nice to work with.

 

[areefer01]

Thanks for the video. BRS always OP. I watched the storage video make sure I could store it for the required time without the chemical properties drifting but never saw this video. Possible the sludge starts white then turns brown over several months with out cleaning? Now I’m considering changing salt to Tropic Marin Classic or Pro. I figure at a gallon a day over time shouldn’t really affect my DT. Thoughts?

I don't like spending other peoples money. The only thing I can recommend is finding a salt that comes close to the parameters you want to keep and start there. Then factor in price to include your time if you are to clean it every so often. You may find that it is easier to just keep X salt and add cleaning time every few months and save some money.

It is going to come down to different needs and expenses for each hobbyist. I use Tropic Marin but also know regular instant ocean would also work. Hopefully this makes sense.

 

[GoBlue923]

You can do a search on BRS as they did a video a few years back on mixing water and storage. It covered residue and water parameter drift over time.

Example. I used to use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. I would mix up 40 gallons and use it over a couple months. Over time I would have this build up on the bottom of the container. Thick, brown, crust. Easy enough to clean with a bit of elbow grease. Not harmful just residue. I later switched to Tropic Marin Pro Reef, mixed the same amount, used it over the same amount of time, and zero residue.

It wasn't really about which salt was better or cost more or cheaper but rather residue vs no residue. Not suggesting you change but the video isn't bad and may help you outside of just ignoring it.

Edit: no to vibrant or other product - it is a cleaning over time or a salt mix or ignore thing.

Thanks for the info. I think I’m going to switch salt once my current Red Sea blue bucket is gone. I saw the BRS water parameter drift video before but another member posted the video about the residue test. Probably try the Tropic Marin pro or classic and see how my container fairs.

 

[TL1]

I have a 150 g DT that gets a daily 1 gallon water change using a DOS. My saltwater storage tank is a ~15 g Advanced Acrylic tank. Every 4-5 months I have to take my saltwater storage tank out to clean some brown slug that starts to accumulate on the bottom and sides. I use RODI water and Red Sea Blue bucket to make my saltwater. The tank is under my DT so it is in a controlled temp environment with no temperature swings or extremes. There is a light under there but its for visibility when I'm working on my equipment not for a refugium or anything like that. Any ideas as to what it might be? I've considered dosing a small amount of vibrant or something similar in my storage tank to see if that will keep it from getting grungy looking. Any advice or experience in this matter is greatly appreciated.

It is a clay binder as I understand it. Inevitable with RS salt mixes. Just clean from time to time, or consider changing salt mixes if it bothers you. BRS did a video on salt mixes and had some commentary on which ones are "cleaner" than others.

 

[GoBlue923]

It is a clay binder as I understand it. Inevitable with RS salt mixes. Just clean from time to time, or consider changing salt mixes if it bothers you. BRS did a video on salt mixes and had some commentary on which ones are "cleaner" than others.

Thanks for the info. I was more concerned about it being harmful for the critters in my DT. Another member posted the BRS video you’re referring to. Lots of good info. I think I’m going to switch to the Tropic Marin brand salt. Anything to reduce the amount of extra work that comes with keeping a saltwater aquarium.

 

[GoBlue923]

Just curious why a 1% daily water change?
Doesn’t seem like it’s worth the hassle?…

Just to clarify, I don’t personally change 1 gallon a day. My Neptune DOS simultaneously takes one gallon out and puts one in daily at night while I’m asleep.

 

[Gatorpa]

Just to clarify, I don’t personally change 1 gallon a day. My Neptune DOS simultaneously takes one gallon out and puts one in daily at night while I’m asleep.

Yeah I got that, but the concern of a system failure screwing it up. For a minimal daily impact.
I’m just risk averse.

 

[Gatorpa]

I added a second post (above). I know Holmes-Farley has high regard for Instant Ocean as to minimizing precipitate, he does 'not like' IO Reef Crystals as the formulation will precipitate. I use Reef Crystals currently and it does precipitate, but it's always on sale so I use it anyway. Tropic Marin would be a fine choice.

I try to buy standard IO salt when on sale and have had good luck with it, definitely brews 'cleaner' than Reef Crystals or the Red Sea Pro I've used. Although IO is not on par with Tropic Marin overall it's a fine salt and meets my needs.

So glad I live near the ocean and never have to mix, what a headache what salt to use, how to store…etc etc

 

[GoBlue923]

Yeah I got that, but the concern of a system failure screwing it up. For a minimal daily impact.
I’m just risk averse.

I feel like this keeps the water parameters more stable throughout the course of a month than doing one or two huge water changes a month. Instead of getting one or two huge corrections a month doing water changes daily water changes maintain water changes steadily over that same month. Neptune DOS heads are rated for over 5000 hours and the Neptune Apex has worked flawlessly. Most of the time I hear of issues with Apex it's user error programming the equipment not necessarily the equipment failing. Given that it's only one gallon a day if it fails I feel like with all the monitoring of parameters that Apex does I should notice something isn't right before parameters get too out of wack. Plus I look at my storage and waste bins regularly and notice how much I'm collecting vs how much I'm putting back in the tank. To each his own though.