Do I need to heat saltwater?

[MSB123]

I have always used natural sea water to do water changes and now that I have set up an automatic water change system I bought salt mix for the first time. Do I need to heat the salt water to mix it? It will not stay heated as I am only changing out 1% of the overall tank volume per day .

 

[Billldg]

I mix saltwater and have had it sit for upwards of a month before I used it and salinity didn't change. If you are only doing a 1 percent wc daily then their is no need to heat the water as it will not affect the overall water temp.

 

[MSB123]

I am more worried about the salt dissolving in 63° water .

 

[Billldg]

I am more worried about the salt dissolving in 63° water .

My water stays around 65 degrees, the only time I will heat it up is to do a water change in a QT tank as that is a 25 percent water change and will drastically change the tank temp, otherwise I use the 65 degree water to do water changes in my 120 gal tank. I check the salinity as I mix it and right before I do a water change and never have had it change, When the salt is mixed it doesn't separate out of the water when sitting, or I have never had it happen and never have heard of it happening. Like I said, I mix at least 30 gals to keep as back up and have never had any issue with it separating, even when it sits at 65 degrees in my house.

I do, however, keep a powerhead in the trash can to keep it flowing.

 

[WickedCZ4A]

I mix saltwater and have had it sit for upwards of a month before I used it and salinity didn't change. If you are only doing a 1 percent wc daily then their is no need to heat the water as it will not affect the overall water temp.

You need to be careful about what salt mix you're doing this with. The parameters of the water can change drastically and I've tested it myself.
Some salt mixes are very stable, where some have literally lost a full dkh of alkalinity in a matter of days.

 

[MSB123]

You need to be careful about what salt mix you're doing this with. The parameters of the water can change drastically and I've tested it myself.
Some salt mixes are very stable, where some have literally lost a full dkh of alkalinity in a matter of days.

Instant ocean reef crystals.
I was worried about if the salt would dissolve in the cold water very well, not weather it would precipitate out.

 

[Billldg]

You need to be careful about what salt mix you're doing this with. The parameters of the water can change drastically and I've tested it myself.
Some salt mixes are very stable, where some have literally lost a full dkh of alkalinity in a matter of days.

I use HW Marine Reefer mix, BRS has done studies on this and found it not change much. You would have to watch and see which mixes they used in the study as I haven't watched it in a while.

 

[Oshengems]

I usually mix it right away after the it’s filter it’s usually really really cold I did notice it takes longer to mix you get a few lil specks that take longer but keep the water agitated it will mix eventually I use instant ocean regular bag the cheap one. At the bottom of my container I get a mat of salt that even in cold water in about an hour Mixes up. I do use a mag drive pump tho so I get a lot of water movement

 

[Oshengems]

Btw last week a 20g wc my kh was about 9 on the display the new batch of salt water was 7.5 for some reason was low Idk why but anyways my tank dropped to 8.5 no ill effects what’s so ever. I only match the temperature on new salt water and of course salinity i try get it close enough to my display before I added not precisely but close and almost 3 years later I have no issue and I usually do 20-30g water changes ever month or 2 on a 75g dt 30g sump which is a big chunk of water.

 

[lapin]

I have always used natural sea water to do water changes and now that I have set up an automatic water change system I bought salt mix for the first time. Do I need to heat the salt water to mix it? It will not stay heated as I am only changing out 1% of the overall tank volume per day .

You do not need to heat the water to mix salt.
However temp effects salinity readings. You should heat the water to tank temp to be sure you have the correct salinity for your tank. You can then let it cool.
Salt is like most elements. The higher the temp, the more molecular activity and the faster the dissolution rate.
Salt mixes we use have other elements in them. Non caking elements ect... that might not dissolve unless you do it within the recommended temp range.

 

[MSB123]

Thanks guys!
All mixed up to 1.026!
Changing 4 gallons a day on a 180!
My UPS driver officially hates me!
8 200 gallon salt mix boxes (65lbs each)
I helped but still! He didn’t even have a Dolley!

 

[theMeat]

Don’t need to heat it, but it will take longer to mix

 

[Saveafish]

I am more worried about the salt dissolving in 63° water .

Mine stays in the mid 60's and I think it mixes better.

 

[Saveafish]

Thanks guys!


My UPS driver officially hates me!
8 200 gallon salt mix boxes (65lbs each)

I had my driver tell me right before Xmas he had 23 boxes to del. I so wanted to know where the local reefer buddies were that day.

 

[MSB123]

I had my driver tell me right before Xmas he had 23 boxes to del. I so wanted to know where the local reefer buddies were that day.

Yeah. I got home in the middle of unloading. He had 6 at my porch, but I had to bring them back down 16 stairs and then walk 400 feet and then go down more stairs (very narrow) and drop the boxes.
It took half an hour and I now have a very sore back!

 

[jda]

Salt mixes better in cold water. Elements precipitate from the solution in warmer water. Mixing cold is always best.

If you are going to heat, always heat after you mix.

 

[redfishbluefish]

It's counterintuitive, and @jda mentioned it, but you're better off dissolving salt in unheated water....it actually dissolves faster. It's the calcium part that does a better job dissolving in unheated water. So first mix and allow to dissolve and then heat.

Also, as mentioned, cool or cold saltwater will produce a higher refractive number than when it's heated up to tank temperature.

And finally, with the OP's application of only one percent water change, no need to heat before adding to the tank.

 

[MSB123]

It's counterintuitive, and @jda mentioned it, but you're better off dissolving salt in unheated water....it actually dissolves faster. It's the calcium part that does a better job dissolving in unheated water. So first mix and allow to dissolve and then heat.

Also, as mentioned, cool or cold saltwater will produce a higher refractive number than when it's heated up to tank temperature.

And finally, with the OP's application of only one percent water change, no need to heat before adding to the tank.

My refractomoter shows 1.025 at 63 degrees.
I think it will be fine.

 

[KrisReef]

My refractomoter shows 1.025 at 63 degrees.
I think it will be fine.

If you want to check what it will be when it warms up, float a bag of the fresh mix in your tank and measure it again after it is up to tank temp. Give us a report.

And for yourself, a nice hot bath or a heating pad for your back might help. Ibuprofen, gin and tonic, et al can also be applied as needed.

 

[MSB123]

If you want to check what it will be when it warms up, float a bag of the fresh mix in your tank and measure it again after it is up to tank temp. Give us a report.

And for yourself, a nice hot bath or a heating pad for your back might help. Ibuprofen, gin and tonic, et al can also be applied as needed.