Instant ocean salt

[Joel j]

Hello, all. I am new to the hobby and am filling my tank for the first time. I have instant ocean salt and am having a hard time getting the measurements correct. I have a 4 gallon bucket. By the directions I should use 2 cups of salt. The first bucket came out at 70 ppt. I did the second bucket with no salt just ro/di water. That brought the total down to 40ppt. The third bucket I only used 1 cup and it measured at 40 ppm.
Is there something I am doing wrong or is the measurements in the instructions not to be trusted?

 

[skey44]

How are you measuring salinity? Also I typically measure in parts per thousand or specific gravity. 35ppt or 1.026 sg

 

[VintageReefer]

It’s 1/2 cup per gallon and that brings you slightly under 1.026.

I use 1/2 cup per gallon, mix for a few hours with a powerhead, then fine tune adding a little more at a time until I hit 1.026

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

You need a tool to measure the salinity. You need a refractometer, or digital tester, or hydrometer. (Refractometers and digital testers are the best).

 

[Joel j]

How are you measuring salinity? Also I typically measure in parts per thousand or specific gravity. 35ppt or 1.026 sg

I am measuring with a refractometer.
I meant to put ppt, accidentally typed ppm.

 

[Joel j]

It’s 1/2 cup per gallon and that brings you slightly under 1.026.

I use 1/2 cup per gallon, mix for a few hours with a powerhead, then fine tune adding a little more at a time until I hit 1.026

I'm measuring 70 ppt at 1/2 cup per gallon.

 

[TheMetalReefs]

i do 140 grams per gallon. i use reef crystals though, so i dont know if they weight the same.

 

[TheMetalReefs]

i do 140 grams per gallon. i use reef crystals though, so i dont know if they weight the same.

for 1.025 salinity by the way

 

[Dburr1014]

I am measuring with a refractometer.
I meant to put ppt, accidentally typed ppm.

I dump in salt, measure, dump in more salt, measure, dump in more salt, measure.
When I get to 1.020 I stop, let it mix a couple hours, then add more salt to hit 1.026. The pump is always on BTW.
I don't think I have ever read the directions on the bucket, ever.

 

[KStatefan]

I'm measuring 70 ppt at 1/2 cup per gallon.

That has to be measurement error tool or procedure. What are you using?

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

I am measuring with a refractometer.
I meant to put ppt, accidentally typed ppm.

make sure your refractometer is calibrated and mix the solution longer. 1/2C per gallon. Personally I would add 1.5C salt to your 4 gallons of RODI then stir it for several hours, then take a reading. then adjust with small amounts of that remaining 1/2C till it is where you want.

edit: temperature you mix at throws it off some too. heat the RODI up to temp.

 

[VintageReefer]

How are you mixing? How long? It sounds undissolved. Or, your measuring tool is not calibrated

Do you have rodi? What’s that read on the tool?

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

make sure you have the correct amount of water, measure it also.

 

[skey44]

Your ratio seems close. I question the measurement accuracy.

 

[Asm481]

Measure your buckets. I never get 5 gallons in a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[Aqua62]

I use Reef Crystals, 2 cups to 5 gallons, let it mix a couple hours then add to tank, as it mixes with all the existing water I check the overall salinity and adjust as need from that point on.

 

[VintageReefer]

I use Reef Crystals, 2 cups to 5 gallons, let it mix a couple hours then add to tank, as it mixes with all the existing water I check the overall salinity and adjust as need from that point on.

This is definitely not enough. Have you measured the salinity after using that ratio and letting it mix a few hours ? Are you filling a 5g bucket right to the brim? Maybe it’s less than 5g and that’s getting you closer to 1.025/1.026

 

[petcellar]

I'm measuring 70 ppt at 1/2 cup per gallon.

Agree - something is wrong with either the measuring or the refractometer. 1/2 cup per gallon should get you awfully close, and 70 ppt is way far out.

 

[VintageReefer]

Nothings wrong with my refractometer!

 

[vetteguy53081]

If so, how are you calibrating the refractometer?