Instant Ocean Salt mixing

[Dawson_hatton]

alright so i’ve been wondering about this for a while, how many cups of instant ocean salt should I use to get 1.025? the back of the bag gives instructions saying 1/2 cup per gallon for 1.022 but I need 1.025 if I want to get coral and I can’t seem to get it up past 1.21-23. I’ve been adding small amounts of more salt to my dosages (about 1/8th of a cup) randomly to see if it raises it a little (I don’t wanna raise it too much on accident) but it still doesn’t move it much at all. so basically all i’m asking is: does anyone know the exact amount of instant ocean to use for 1.024-26

 

[tehmadreefer]

Use a refractometer...but for the lazy it’s about 3 cups.

 

[hds4216]

I do about 3/4 cup per gallon at first and eyeball it, then after it's mixed I measure it with a refractometer and add either salt or RODI water as necessary.

 

[Brett S]

Are you measuring the salt in your mixing container before you add it to your tank or are you just measuring the salinity in your tank?

When you are mixing salt you should mix it and then test the salinity in the container to see if it’s where you want it to be. If it’s too low, then just add more salt, mix more and then test it again, then repeat until you get it where you want it to be.

That way you don’t have to worry about it being too hight. It it does get too high you can just dilute it with a bit of fresh water to bring it down.

 

[Ssdangeranger]

I don’t use instant ocean anymore because every time I mix salt there are some undissolved white pieces at the bottom. I’m using Fritz and it’s dissolved in 30 minutes

 

[iReefer]

I don’t use instant ocean anymore because every time I mix salt there are some undissolved white pieces at the bottom. I’m using Fritz and it’s dissolved in 30 minutes

Plus 1 and they don't make 50g per bag as stated. I always have to add more to bring the salinity up

 

[tehmadreefer]

I don’t use instant ocean anymore because every time I mix salt there are some undissolved white pieces at the bottom. I’m using Fritz and it’s dissolved in 30 minutes

Good for you

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I don’t use instant ocean anymore because every time I mix salt there are some undissolved white pieces at the bottom. I’m using Fritz and it’s dissolved in 30 minutes

Why not just grab a strainer and get the debris to float then scoop it out? It'll work, just sayin'

 

[tehmadreefer]

Why not just grab a strainer and get the debris to float then scoop it out? It'll work, just sayin'

Refer to my first post... laziness lol

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I found this, someone mentioned it worked for instant ocean

Useful salt mix calculator

If you ever wonder if your using enough salt, or if your device is broken and you need to weigh the salt, this calculator was nearly perfect! https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/DirectSaltCalculator.php

www.reef2reef.com

 

[anew2thereef]

Get a 5 gallon bucket any big box store sells... 4 1 cup scoops should get you right on 1.26 if not 4 1/2 cups... I use reef crystals and seems to work fine.

 

[Greg P]

... does anyone know the exact amount of instant ocean to use for 1.024-26 ...

I do !!
For me, 4.99ml raises 1g by 0.001 (approx)
1298.1ml/10g mixes 1.026
Add 49.9 to 1298.1 in 10g and you get 1.027

Hope that helps !!

 

[Greg P]

So if you want 1.025;
1248.2ml/10g should do it

Keep in mind that salt settles during shipping, and humidity has an impact on density.
Roll/mix your new purchase before the first use to ensure all the elements are evenly distributed and you should be close using my measurements.

 

[Greg P]

Keep in mind that a 1/2 cup is not 125mls, it's only 118.29mls

This is what I calculated;
Per gallon each 4.99ml is 0.001 points. So 4.99269*26=129.80994mls

Change the *26 to your desired SG per 1 gallon

So per gallon;
1.025 = 124.82mls (125mls is close enough)
1.026 = 129.81mls (130mls is close enough)

 

[kenchilada]

Weigh the salt as you add it, and work out how many pounds it takes for your container. When I used to mix 40G Rubbermaid cans of salt I knew exactly how much salt I had to weigh out to get 1.025. Only need to figure it out once.

Put empty bucket on scale, pour salt in until correct weight, dump into trash can, walk away.

I need to start doing this again myself.

 

[Dawson_hatton]

Are you measuring the salt in your mixing container before you add it to your tank or are you just measuring the salinity in your tank?

When you are mixing salt you should mix it and then test the salinity in the container to see if it’s where you want it to be. If it’s too low, then just add more salt, mix more and then test it again, then repeat until you get it where you want it to be.

That way you don’t have to worry about it being too hight. It it does get too high you can just dilute it with a bit of fresh water to bring it down.

I’ve been mixing it in a bucket beforehand and measuring it...not sure why but I forgot the fact that I could just add fresh water if it got too saline lol

 

[Dawson_hatton]

Keep in mind that a 1/2 cup is not 125mls, it's only 118.29mls

This is what I calculated;
Per gallon each 4.99ml is 0.001 points. So 4.99269*26=129.80994mls

Change the *26 to your desired SG per 1 gallon

So per gallon;
1.025 = 124.82mls (125mls is close enough)
1.026 = 129.81mls (130mls is close enough)

so basically with those calculations I’d be using about 3/4 cup per gallon for 1.026? which is relatively close to what a lot of other people are saying. I need to buy a refractometer, my hydrometer ain’t cutting it lol

 

[jda]

Get your mixing container, figure it out, write it down and then duplicate it.

For me, it is 44g brute, cold RO nearly to the top, whole 50g bag of IO, 2 heaping TBSP of dowflake (calcium chloride). Mix. Add in 20mls of Muriatic Acid. Let mix and aerate for another day or two. Perfect water 1.026, 7.0 dKh, 425 calcium.

 

[Jeffcb]

so basically with those calculations I’d be using about 3/4 cup per gallon for 1.026? which is relatively close to what a lot of other people are saying. I need to buy a refractometer, my hydrometer ain’t cutting it lol

yep

 

[Greg P]

so basically with those calculations I’d be using about 3/4 cup per gallon for 1.026? which is relatively close to what a lot of other people are saying. I need to buy a refractometer, my hydrometer ain’t cutting it lol

3/4 cup would be too much per gallon. It would result in about 1.036
It's just under 0.55 cup which is a seriously ridiculous fraction. A 1/2 cup plus a tablespoon would take you to 1.0265
You could then add a dribble of water at a time to drop it to 1.026

To be closer, use 1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon. That'll give you 80 + 45 + 5 = 130

Something such as this is very versatile and maybe a dollar store has something suitable
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Holiday-...oops-Sugar-Cake-Baking-Scales-Spoon/236157006

For future mixing, measure it out and mark a container, or weigh it.