Mixed Salt Parameters

[marxman]

Hi all,

Doing a water change today and decided to mix and test my salt before adding it to the tank.
Im using Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt and mixed 16 gallons at a standard 1/2 cup per gallon. I then let it mix for a few hours and tested.

Temp - 77.8F
SG - 1.026
Calcium - 459
Magnesium - 1520
Alkalinity - 14.9

can that alkalinity number be right?? I tested it twice and got 15 the next time.

thanks

 

[homer1475]

Did you shake the bucket up before adding it to your water?

Stratification is a real thing in salt buckets when they have been sitting for a while.

 

[marxman]

Did you shake the bucket up before adding it to your water?

Stratification is a real thing in salt buckets when they have been sitting for a while.

I did not... thank for that tip! This was the last cups of a bucket I’ve been using. I’ll test again with the new bucket When I get it.

 

[homer1475]

BRS actually did a video about it. I was surprised to see it was an actual thing that happened.

In 20 years of reefing I have never shaken a bucket, and now I know why sometimes the parameters were way off.

 

[marxman]

Well the reading must have been correct because my dKH has gone up almost 1 pt since the water change.. hope it’s doesn’t affect anything too bad.

thanks again for the tip

 

[Dr. Jim]

I ususally get 7.6 dKH with that salt