How do you mix your salt?

[SeahorseKeeper]

I'm curious how everyone mixes their salt. It seems pretty simple but I have been hearing that people are having inconsistencies with their salt mixes. Could the salt be mixed the wrong way? I have heard that if you just dump the salt in this can cause chemical reactions. I am hoping to find more info out.

I'm curious to know the temp of the water (pre-salt), how the salt is added and how long it is mixed. Also do you keep fresh saltwater on hand at all times? I have read that some manufacturers recommend to use within 24 hours.


Here is what I do:

I put all my fresh water in my mixing container (use distilled). The temp is usually around 70-74. I hook up my two powerheads and gradually pour the salt in. I add a heater at about 2 hours in. I wait 24 hours before using and do not store it.

 

[kwramsey2]

I run my water with a 250 pump in a 5 gallon bucket for about a week. I have an RO at home so as soon as I change my water I just run another 5 gallons I only have 50 gallons so 10% a week I feel keeps me and my coral happy!

 

[Squishie89]

I put my RODI water in a brute and put a heater in and put a power head in, wait until the water has heated and then add the salt and let mix 24+ hours.

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[Starblenny]

I get my RODI water in a bucket with a powerhead running first, then add 1/2 cup of salt every 20sec until I reach my target, then add a heater once it mixes clear and I let it sit. I triple check again with a refractometer and I do my W/C. I don't let the water sit for more than 30hours overall.

 

[goodtimes]

Water in bucket, add salt, mix with powerhead and heater until I use it. It always seems to work for me.


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[Downbeach]

Here's the procedure I follow:
Reef Keeping Salt Water and Mixing Saltwater | Successful Reef Keeping

I make 25 gal's, and do my WC's every two weeks. I make it right after I do the WC, and use an old AquaClear 70 PH with venturi for aeration, and another in the bottom for circulation. I sometimes miss a WC, so I know the water will keep for a while. Although with the pumps/heater running, some of the Ca and Alk will precipitate/collect on the pumps/heater due to the heat they generate, so I have to bump these elements to match my DT before doing the WC.

 

[HefeWeizen]

I add salt to the bucket and stir. Test SG. Then heat the water. Test again and then use. All within an hour or two.


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[Isoprene]

RO/DI water in 5g bucket, 6 hours with a mag pump and heater if needed, let it come back to 78.5 degrees to match my tank and then do my w/c. I might start letting it mix for a while longer. Either way dumping salt in before or after does not matter for the OP they are all ionic compounds (well are supposed to be according to the manufacturer) they dissociate depending on three things and three things only, amount of solvent ( pure water), amount of solute (salt mix), and temperature of the solution. Other than this it should not matter how you dump it in, however agitation, temperature, and surface area all do help the ionic compounds dissolve faster so breaking apart chunks, adding a heater and letting it mix longer will help dissolve and dissociate all of your salt mix better.

 

[Rikerbear]

Same as most above....bucket, water, powerhead, heater, salt, mix for 24 hrs, test, WC.......lather rinse repeat :tongue:

 

[larangcon]

I have a ten gallon salt mixing tank with a plumb RODI water, I turn on the heater when completely filled, turn on the powerhead and place 5 cups of salt. After work I remove 10 gals of sump water and pump the reserve saltwater from the salt mixing tank in slowly in the sump. It takes approx. 1 hour to pump in the new saltwater in the sump. Slow process but it does not shock the corals or fish in the display tank.

 

[Budman's Corals]

i just switched to Red Sea,They reccommend only mixing for 2-3 hours then its ready,so I use to mix 40 gallons and have on hand but now im cant.Might switch back to Reef Crystals

 

[AZDesertRat]

I add my RO/DI to a Rubbermaid trash can with a couple powerheads or pumps for circulation and a heater depending on the seasons. Slowly add the salt cup by cup until the SG is correct then monitor the temperature and pH until it approximates the disdplay and do the water change. No 24 hours or waiting around at all as long as the parameters are correct. On one of the other forums I participated in a semi scientific study on the 24 hour "rule" and it was found to have no basis at all. The water parameters stayed the same from the first 20 minutes through a couple days and was never unstable. Most people were very surprised by the results. FutureDoc even used some pretty good lab grade equipment and a data logging system to look closely and saw no changes.

 

[stacy_vennes]

I have 2 35 gallon barrells one for salt and one for ro/di i mix the salt in the morning than about 3 hours later i do a water change. I use Instant ocean salt. so far is works I also have powerheads and a heater in the barrell too.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Thanks everyone!! I'm also interested in how much salt is added at a time. Do you dump it in or add a little bit at a time?

 

[steamer51]

For my 55 I only need 5 gallons for 10% so I put RODI in a bucket with an old powerhead, sprinkle 1/4 cup of Reef Crystals at a time and let mix overnight with no heater. Sometimes it may be a couple of days before I do the water change and I have never any trouble with "old" saltwater and I keep about 30 gallons of RODI on hand all the time for W/C and top off so it gets pretty "old" as well with no problems. I don't worry about heating the water because I don't have an extra heater. I pour the water slowly into the tank with a one quart pitcher in front of a powerhead (alternating sides) both salt and top off so there is no temperature shock.

 

[Squishie89]

Well I do a total of 8 cups of salt. I have GIANT measuring cup (a 4cup one!) and I usually scoop out 4cups and I try to slowly pour it in so there is not a lot of back spray/splash, and then get the other 4 cups and put that in, rinse the cup in the water and let it dry. Sometimes I pour in smaller increments if the salt is being difficult or if I am down to the bottom of the bucket. But I do not do any waiting while adding the salt.

 

[goodtimes]

I just dump it all in at once. The powerhead mixes it.


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[jasonp87]

I use a seperate container with a pump in it and add just below the recommended amount for the water I have in the container. Then I adjust it up to where I like it for my tank. Once it is fully mixed I add slowly to one of the early stages of my sump so that it all gets mixed in.

 

[7FootReefer]

I get my large rubbermaid trash can and fill it full of ro/di water, then I add a bunch of power-heads to stir up the water. Next I add in the salt slowly and test the water accordingly to make sure it is perfect. I always add a little less than recommended then let the mixture stir for a couple hours, test again and add more salt to get to desired salinity. I then let the water mix with the power-heads overnight to make sure all the salt is dissolved, then the next day i check the parameters and continue with my water change.

 

[kuansreef]

I notice salinity would be different between mixing saltwater for 5 hours and mixing it for 2 days both with a power head. I always mix it for 2 days.