I'm doing something wrong mixing salt - Randy?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2015

When there is nothing in the tank, solids can't settle out. Either filter them out, or just wait till you add something so there are low flow areas.

NO, don't skip the powerhead. Faster mixing is better with respect to precipitation.

pdiehm · Feb 5, 2015

I have an AquaClear filter running in the tank.

Should I mix into cold water (like 55) or warm it up to 68/70 before mixing in salt?

Fishphi784 · Feb 5, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
One more question......how old is the salt and how long has that bag been open? I've noticed with RC and IO that when the bag turns a light yellow color, the salt is shot. I'm guessing the salt picks up moisture and causes carbonate precipitation. It won't mix up to complete dissolution. I've actually seen a batch that looked like a snow-globe, with bits of white whipping about.

This has been experience as well. No amount of time will clear it up.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2015

pdiehm said:
I have an AquaClear filter running in the tank.

Should I mix into cold water (like 55) or warm it up to 68/70 before mixing in salt?

It likely doesn't matter much in that range, but cooler could lead to less precipitation of calcium carbonate in the early stages of dissolving.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 5, 2015

joekool said:
Doesn't your bag give you a mixing time. I use Red Sea coral pro red bag and it says 30min max 4hours mixing time. White cloudiness is calcium precipitation.
What is the Ca level in tank

I've never heard of a mix other than Red Sea specify not mixing longer than a certain time, and in general such limitations are not believed to be very important. Most salt mixes have more than enough calcium and alkalinity to allow for some precipitation losses.

pdiehm · Feb 6, 2015

Picked up a new bucket of IO at Petsmart. Had a coupon got it for $40.

Anyhows, I've mixed 10 gallons, without heating in my brute container. Appears to be clear. I'm waiting to make up 20 gallons before I bring it up to temperature. Letting it mix until tomorrow afternoon and then take a salinity test once it's at 76-78 degrees.

Does that sound good? Do I need to do anything different?

I'm wondering if I accidentally splashed some water in my other bucket, as it's got clumps, almost balls of sand stuck together.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 6, 2015

Sounds fine to me.

pdiehm · Feb 7, 2015

Well...new salt, same color in the tank.

This time I got a picture of it. I'm completely at a loss for why I can't mix saltwater clear, and it continues to have a white cloud to it. I'm going to let it sit with no circulation and see if stuff settles, but if I put it in a clear glass it's clear. adding it to the tank it gets cloudy. The tank is clean...is it as simple as possibly running carbon on it?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 7, 2015

As I said, most salts mix cloudy and need some way to settle. That is the norm.

pdiehm · Feb 7, 2015

how long does it take to settle? Do I run my filter or shut it off til it settles?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Feb 8, 2015

In a mixing barrel, it usually settles overnight.

in a tank with rock and such it would too, even with flow, but in a tank without any dead spots, it won't settle unless you turn off the flow.

A fine filter might be a better way in a display tank without dead spots since unless you suck it out somehow, it will just stir up again when you restart flow.