Mixing pump

[Budluvcash]

What's a good pump to use for mixing salt in a brute garbage can, and using the same pump to pump it into the tank? Brand and size ?

 

[Budluvcash]

Or should I get a separate pump for each?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I originally mixed using a Koralia K4 and a MAG 7, which was also used to pump the new water in. What happened is that the granular salt ground away the portion of the front cover plate where the impeller met the plate. Lucky for me they sell just the front plate. I now use a Koralia K4 and K8 in a 32 gallon Brute to mix my salt.....and the MAG 7 to pump the new water in.

 

[G8trBait16]

I use a cheap adjustable 1500 gph return pump I got off of ebay for $20. I just have a 4ft 1" clear tubing attached to the end of the pump and mix it with that in my 32G Brute.

 

[Budluvcash]

Ok thanks

 

[mcarroll]

Honestly, regular pumps are terrible at mixing saltwater unless you take quite a bit of care to position them optimally. (Not obvious or straightforward in most scenarios.)

A handheld mixing paddle or your hand is literally just as good as an ideally situated propeller pump (which is better than an impeller pump).

Proof on video! (There's no reason that a larger volume would necessarily take drastically longer...the paddle is very effective)

using electricity

using a mixing paddle

 

[redfishbluefish]

Matt (@mcarroll ), you left out the best part of using a mixing paddle.......Neanderthal-style! I like it!!! So I do 25 gallons, and that probably means I'll have to find the paddles to my canoe....and end up with a good workout. Good thing I'm lazy, because just the simple action of bending over to plug in the two powerheads is all the exercise I want in making saltwater.

I just so happen to be making water tonight, and this is a cool picture of my two Koralias (old school K4 and K8), mixing it up.....one high, and one low in the Brute.

 

[mcarroll]

I do 25 gallons, and that probably means I'll have to find the paddles to my canoe

I don't think so....but I'm sure it'd work!

I use a 36" mixing paddle I got at US Plastics:

(Specifically, item [HASHTAG]#23096[/HASHTAG].)

Tamco makes big paddles because they make giant tanks like this...

...so I'm sure one of these 36" paddles will rock your 25 gallons (even 150 gallons) quite easily.

This paddle is actually ridiculous overkill for a five gallon bucket but I didn't want to stoop over to use a smaller paddle or my hand. It's $28, but unlike any electrical device it'll last me until I decide to quit mixing saltwater.

 

[Newb73]

That's what I use my old retired hydros for. ....

 

[mfinn]

I glued a magnet on the back of a old rio pump I have and use another magnet on the outside of my mixing barrel. I can position it down at the bottom and it stays in place.
I also have a couple of mag pumps attached to hoses, I use to move water from the mixing barrels to the display tanks.

 

[Ashish Patel]

I am actually looking for a new mixing pump.. I've used my mag 550g bought it 15 years ago and still works. However, I did not trust it after it stopped turning back on when powering up. For mixing salt its fine and I couldnt see me needing anything more than 500 gallon/per house as it seemed more like 1000gallons without head.

For my new mixing setup I will run PVC with a cross connection and 3 valves that run the water out in circular motion. Once ready to feed the water back to the tank just flip a few valves and turn on the return valve and watch the water go up and out to the tank.. This is a simple solution to making salt water changes easy as possible if you don't have a fish room of course.

 

[mcarroll]

I actually like a manual mixing paddle better than most pump mixing methods as it's usually a lot faster and can be more complete.

I use this one:
36" PP Mixing Paddle

 

[recess62]

I use the pump that i use for filling the tank. I use the hose to generate a vortex within the brute container. No need to worry about pump position. Just coil the hose in the brute and you are set to go. It takes longer to heat the water than to mix it. No reason to purchase another pump. I mix 25 gal per batch

 

[Ashish Patel]

I actually like a manual mixing paddle better than most pump mixing methods as it's usually a lot faster and can be more complete.

I use this one:
36" PP Mixing Paddle

Why not just spend $16 and purchase a inexpensive pump? I currently use an old mag 500gph and it way powerful for a 30G brute container. Once you use a pump you'll never go back to mixing with a paddle. When the pump is on the center pushing water up the salt does not have a chance to settle and it aerates great.

https://www.amazon.com/KEDSUM-Subme...219&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=aquarium+pump&psc=1

 

[mcarroll]

I had all kinds of pumps around – didn't need to spend anything. After testing them all, in many configurations, the paddle works at least as well – better in many cases.

Pumps only worked well in particular mounting positions.

I've done testing in everything from a 150 gallon Chemtainer vessel down to 5 gallon buckets and this seems to be consistent.

 

[mcarroll]

For what it's worth, it takes about 5 minutes to mix up a 5 gallon bucket of water. Only a little more to mix a 55 gallon drum. The paddle rocks – easy AND simple.

 

[Reef man 89]

I have a 44 galleon brute and I use a cheep petco Aquon Powerhead it's the Aquon 1250 works great if I am mixing a full 40 gallon I run the Aquon on bottom and a mj1200 on top

 

[Rjukan]

I'm bringing this thread back from the dead since the pumps I've used to mix my SW in a 5g bucket all gave out on me. I was going to use what was suggested in the past, but I was surprised to read people use baking spatulas instead...

What should I do, get a Koralia or just use a paddle/spatula? Since I don't have any working pumps for now, I'm going to give the spatula a try but any input is appreciated.

 

[mfinn]

I'm bringing this thread back from the dead since the pumps I've used to mix my SW in a 5g bucket all gave out on me. I was going to use what was suggested in the past, but I was surprised to read people use baking spatulas instead...

What should I do, get a Koralia or just use a paddle/spatula? Since I don't have any working pumps for now, I'm going to give the spatula a try but any input is appreciated.

I guess it just depends on how strong is your arm?
I usually mix my saltwater from a few hours to overnight.
Pumps for me.

 

[Peace River]

Sicce's Ultra Zero may be another approach worth considering. Good luck with whatever you decide!

@Sicceus19