Is This Normal?

[Robert_Popa_918]

I’ve been mixing my own saltwater for water changes for a long time now but today I experienced something that’s concerning.... using just regular Instant Ocean salt and distilled water, I created a mix 2 days ago and today when I opened it up to check on it... the whole thing is white! I figured that the salt might not have been mixed properly but there’s been a pump in the bucket for 2 whole days. It seems like there is a paint like white substance that covers the heater and pump... The substance smells and dries on your hands much like paint does. I’m not sure what causes this but I don’t want to repeat it ever again.

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

Could my salt mix be the issue?

 

[Samina]

Looks like it may have precipitated. Did you happen to add the salt too quickly to the water? It can also happen if you had water to salt and not the other way around. Was the bag of salt hard at all?

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

Looks like it may have precipitated. Did you happen to add the salt too quickly to the water? It can also happen if you had water to salt and not the other way around. Was the bag of salt hard at all?

No I added the salt very slowly to the water and I had just purchased that batch of salt and used It just once. It was packaged right from what I can tell and the salt was not hard at all whatsoever.

 

[Samina]

Have you tested the alkalinity and pH in that batch?

Maybe mix up another batch and let it mix overnight and see if you get a different result.

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

Have you tested the alkalinity and pH in that batch?

Maybe mix up another batch and let it mix overnight and see if you get a different result.

No I haven’t tested it and unfortunately had already dumped it but yes I’ll be making another batch and see what happens... Thank you for the help!

 

[Is this the LFS]

No I haven’t tested it and unfortunately had already dumped it but yes I’ll be making another batch and see what happens... Thank you for the help!

Sorry can’t help on the reasoning. All I know is that I wouldn’t risk it in my tank. Was this a new bag of salt?

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

Sorry can’t help on the reasoning. All I know is that I wouldn’t risk it in my tank. Was this a new bag of salt?

Yes it’s a brand new bag of Instant Ocean Sea Salt... I’ll continue trying to make another batch of saltwater and see if the same thing occurs. Hopefully I won’t have to scrap the whole box

 

[jurgenph]

i've had IO do this as well, i no longer use IO


J.