How precise is everyone when mixing salt?

[EricR]

As others, I only ROUGHLY measure (both water and salt), then adjust after initial mix.
*I lean towards a little too salty during initial mix, then just add RO/DI to get to desired salinity later

...usually just going fast so never cared to take the time to be more precise

 

[BZOFIQ]

I took a kitchen scale and figured out how much salt is needed for a 40G bin up to the line.

Marked it with a sharpie and now the process is much much faster.

 

[Troylee]

I fill my barrel to 60 gallons and add 30 cups of reef crystals which is almost spot on every time I mix it! Gotta adjust a little here or there cause not every scoop is perfectly level.

 

[jhadaway]

I use a brute can to mix. I discovered that five full scoops of a plastic popcorn container gets me to 1.025 sg. I check it before use. Sometimes my scoops aren’t all equal, and I adjust with more water or salt. No harm done if it isn’t mixed precisely at first. Just check and adjust before use. I also recommend adjusting alkalinity if you have sps or lps coral as well.

Agreed. My water change water matches the alk and temp of my tank water.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I get close to what the manufacture recommends but slightly on the lower end side. Then slowly add more until it reaches my desired salinity. But for anything I mix not just salts. I use grams. I want pinpoint accuracy.

 

[Snoopy 67]

Using ESV salt I weigh each ingredient to get the specific measurements I want on salt & magnesium.

 

[VinnyBoy]

I have 5 gallon buckets I use to mix, I just eye ball it for the most part and then check with my salinity tester. I think weighing is a little overkill but if that makes you feel better then I see no harm.

 

[jermzisurmom]

Not at all , lol. 2 1/2 cups of salt per five gl rodi....

 

[Reeferbadness]

I mix up my 50G drum with what i think is correct (approx 1/2 cup of salt per gallon) but then test with hanna salinity tester and dial it in. Pretty basic. Don't see the point in weighing and getting exact amounts prior to mixing and testing. If too much salt, add RO/DI water, if not enough, add as needed.

 

[stewy14]

Not at all , lol. 2 1/2 cups of salt per five gl rodi....

exactly the same, but ro for me XD

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

I purchased one of these, taking a plastic knife to level the cup, is perfect for each two gallons of RO/DI https://a.co/d/9XIGqzS

 

[BZOFIQ]

Using ESV salt I weigh each ingredient to get the specific measurements I want on salt & magnesium.

The best salt out there bar none.....just a bit pricey.

 

[herozero]

Weigh my aquaforest salt, 1537g per 10g at 78 degrees, comes out 35ppt every time. No reason to mess around with osmotic shock of my animals when the fresh saltwater solution is caustic enough. (is caustic the right word I want here?)

 

[Snoopy 67]

Only 5 gallons a week for a change so that's 1/3rd of the last tank.
Therefor the ESV.

 

[Alexraptor]

Kitchen scale, and 10l bucket with liter markings. I end up mixing 640 grams of Red Sea Coral Pro to 18 liters of water every time. Been working fine like that for over a decade now.

I do always do a "safety check" with my trusty two-decade-old Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer, before performing the WC.

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Kitchen scale, and 10l bucket with liter markings. I end up mixing 640 grams of Red Sea Coral Pro to 18 liters of water every time. Been working fine like that for over a decade now.

I do always do a "safety check" with my trusty two-decade-old Coralife Deep Six Hydrometer, before performing the WC.

I have two Coralife Deep Six, first one was really getting old. So I ordered the second one. Both are accurate. BTW, if you get one of these, you need to soak it in Salt Water for 48 hours, they say 24 hours, but it’s better to go longer before use.

 

[Royce White]

I put 3 1/2 pints in in 11 gals of RODI and adjust from there.

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Taste it.

 

[cohojoe412]

I have a rough spot I fill my brute can to, then use a certain number of scoops. Followed by checking and adjusting.
After hearing stories about electronic salinity checks my final confirmation is doing a test on tank salinity and new water to ensure both have the same result on the same calibration cycle.

 

[apb03]

I have a 50gal container for which I use a 50gal bag of salt (1/4 of a box of reef crystals). I never measure, just dump the whole bag in. It usually is pretty close, and I don't really stress about it being slightly off.

For me it's more important to be efficient than to be accurate. Otherwise, I'll avoid doing water changes.