Fritz salt

wake122 · Oct 12, 2020

If anyone else is using Fritz salt (blue box) has it been mixing very dirty lately? I checked my RODI and it is coming out 0 ppm. I mix my salt water in brute trash can and I clean it out once I start seeing build up. I cleaned it out recently and then started my normal mixing process and it already needed to be cleaned again after the first batch of salt I made. It was also very white and I wasn't able to see to the bottom in it. So I though I might have done something wrong so I drained that water washed it out again. I added the salt slower than I typically do to let it mix thoroughly and it still happened again. Heat is at the normal range and the power head I use to mix it was acting normal. I added the water to one of my spare tanks and and added filter floss to it and the water cleaned up within an hour or so. Anyone know what is going on? Is the salt dirty or what? I thought it might be participating out that's why I added it slower but it didn't seem to change anything. I typically add 7 cups (not actually cups) of salt to my water and I usually add them all at once and I have never had a problem doing it this way before. When I added it slower I split it up about half and half ( so like 3 1/2 cups and same about 4 hrs later).

fcmatt · Oct 12, 2020

Do you heat the water first?

Do you put a pump in that tends to run very hot?

I have much better luck mixing at room temp or lower and using a pump which creates very little heat. Once mixed to the right approx salinity give it the heat and a faster pump for a final mixing.. then a final adjustment of salinity.

My main point is now that I mix at a lower temp i do not have that issue like I did in the past with diff salts.

wake122 · Oct 12, 2020

Temp is around 75. Ya I typically heat the water before I add the salt. Pump isn't very hot. It is fairly cool to the touch.

HockeyRooster · Oct 12, 2020

I’ve seen a bit of grime build up with the Fritz I use but it comes and goes. Doesn’t depend on whether it’s a new now or an opened box. I mix mine up and let it sit with a heater and pump for months. I use it for water changes and critter cultivation so I always like to have it ready. Not sure the grime is much of a problem based on a bit of interwebz reading

wake122 · Oct 12, 2020

Hmm interesting. Maybe I'll do a little research into that as well. I was thinking of possibly switching to a cleaner mixing salt but not sure which one.

FlexingFishSticks · Oct 12, 2020

Oh no I hope that doesn’t start happening to me! I Haven’t had an issue yet. I usually put 2.5 cups of Fritz in a 5G bucket of RODI with a power head in it. Honestly I’ve never used a heater since it’s such a small amount of water nonetheless it mixes fine and is clear with in 15 minutes I let it sit for a couple hours before the water change. I purchased the box of salt back in April.

wake122 · Oct 12, 2020

I'll take some before and after pics of water when I am doing it tonight. I am using the water currently in a QT system so I am not to worried but still.

GainesvilleReef · Oct 12, 2020

Always mix at room temp.

Brent Harpe · Nov 25, 2020

I’ve had the same issue never had it before these last 2 boxes. I hope their quality isn’t starting to take a ****. Parameters seem ok. But rodi water is crystal clear before mixing in white bucket. Pull out of my weekly mix with same white bucket and the water has a brown hue to it really making me consider switching salt. Makes me not want to put it in my tank.