Dumb question about salt mixing

[DanConnor]

does a 50 gallon bag of salt supposedly yield 50 gallons of salt water, or do you mix it with 50 gallons of water to make a bit more total? Just asking because I'm trying to decide if a 50 gallon container is going to be big enough...

 

[jsker]

25 cups should make 50 gallons of saltwater at a .25 salinity. It also depends on the brand, and it usually say on the container. You should alway test the salinity even if the contater says it make 50gallons of saltwater.

 

[DanConnor]

Yeah, just trying to figure if a 50 gallon container will be big enought to hold a bag of salt and however much water is required...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yeah, just trying to figure if a 50 gallon container will be big enought to hold a bag of salt and however much water is required...

The volume will depend on your final target salinity.

You also do not need to mix the entire bag at once.

 

[Kengar]

If your mixing a fifty gallon bag you should be using a container that is large enough that worrying about the volume of salt you add to the water is not relevant. Mix once to the appropriate salinty level, mark the container, eg on the outside if you can see water level through it or inside of the container with a deep scratch if you can't, and be done with it. You don't really want to be filling something right to the very brim of the container, do you??

 

[De Michieli]

Keep in mind some salt mixes are not good to mix in large batches as stuff will evaporate and wont be as effective.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Keep in mind some salt mixes are not good to mix in large batches as stuff will evaporate and wont be as effective.

What did you have in mind? I can't think of anything that will evaporate besides water, and a lid on a trash can will suffice to prevent that for at least a few months.

 

[De Michieli]

I just remember for my 30 gal when I was looking at mixing water i read some stuff that said that if you mix large batches of water and dont use it you will lose cal or something I dont specifically remember what it was. And I could be mistaken But on my salt (HW reefer) I mix it in an hour and use it

 

[De Michieli]

What did you have in mind? I can't think of anything that will evaporate besides water, and a lid on a trash can will suffice to prevent that for at least a few months.

So seeing as how you have a whole chemistry section for you I am going to go with I am wrong haha.

 

[kbourque]

Not to take the topic but it's kind of relevant to the op it is important to keep the saltwater circulating while in the container?

 

[FlyinBryan]

does a 50 gallon bag of salt supposedly yield 50 gallons of salt water, /QUOTE]

Yes

 

[DanConnor]

So you are saying around 49 gallons of salt are combined with the bag to ideally get 50 gallons?

I probably should just find a larger container. The 50 fits my space nicely though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Not to take the topic but it's kind of relevant to the op it is important to keep the saltwater circulating while in the container?

Depends on the mix. For most salts, without organic matter added, it is fine to sit unstirred. i leave my IO for a month or more unstirred.

But those with organics (such as Reef Crystals and Tropic Marin Bioactif) should be stirred (to prevent stagnation), and also used soon if you want the benefit of the organics they add (if there is any).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I just remember for my 30 gal when I was looking at mixing water i read some stuff that said that if you mix large batches of water and dont use it you will lose cal or something I dont specifically remember what it was. And I could be mistaken But on my salt (HW reefer) I mix it in an hour and use it

Some mixes with a high alkalinity can be prone to precipitation of calcium carbonate, especially if you heat them (with a pump or a heater). Generally, I don't think it a problem to let some precipitate collect on the bottom.

Here's the bottom my my mixing barrel:

What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm

from it:

Figure 1. The residue on the bottom of the plastic trash can that I use to mix Instant Ocean. I rarely clean it out. The solid is most likely calcium carbonate.

 

[De Michieli]

Some mixes with a high alkalinity can be prone to precipitation of calcium carbonate, especially if you heat them (with a pump or a heater). Generally, I don't think it a problem to let some precipitate collect on the bottom.

Here's the bottom my my mixing barrel:

What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium? by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm

Im going to give that a read. I dont let mine sit long enough since I only 5 gal water changes weekly I just mix as I need and use. But the salt I use people say does not leave that residue on the bottom of the mixing containers.