Mixing realities: Saltwater chemistry variable with mixing time?

[FishFilet]

Has salt mix formula changed over the decades? Because I always mixed a batch for the next day. Now I hear that if you leave it that long you’re somehow making the chemistry of the salt askew. Has everything gone topsy-turvy?

 

[Spare time]

It depends on the salt.

 

[KrisReef]

Has salt mix formula changed over the decades? Because I always mixed a batch for the next day. Now I hear that if you leave it that long your somehow making the chemistry of the salt askew. Has everything gone topsy-turvy?

With that kind of salt migration, wouldn't you need to be doing constant water changes to prevent the salt from going "askew" inside your tank? I do believe that some parameters reportedly change with time when mixing but I have never worried much about these things, only God can really keep up with the trace elements and complex reactions that constantly occur all around and inside of us.

 

[FishFilet]

It depends on the salt.

But what’s different about that salt? Grain size? Components? What’s the poor outcome by leaving it too long?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

But what’s different about that salt? Grain size? Components? What’s the poor outcome by leaving it too long?

It's probably best to go to the website for the salt you want to use and see what the manufacturer says... there are too many different brands to be able to give you a complete answer

 

[FishFilet]

Kind of interesting. More to do with heat of the water or the elevated levels in some salts. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/salt-blue-bucket-mixing-time.259960/#:~:text=Don't%20mix%20for%20too,to%20as%20precipitation%20will%20occur.

 

[Pod_01]

But what’s different about that salt? Grain size? Components? What’s the poor outcome by leaving it too long?

I suspect what you are referring to is salts that have some probiotics/bacteria in them, Best to use them ASAP or the organics might grow.

Ones like this:

 

[FishFilet]

It’s the Red Sea Blue bucket I started to use that began me asking “why questions.” But I see how bacterial and prebiotic additives could further the confusion.

 

[Pod_01]

It’s the Red Sea Blue bucket I started to use that began me asking “why questions.” But I see how bacterial and prebiotic additives could further the confusion.

I used to use the Red Sea Pro salt when I started, darn thing required a PhD degree to mix. Yes I do recall specific timelines to use it. Not sure maybe they have plutonium in there .

So I moved on to salts that my kids can mix ( water, bucket, salt and mixing stick).

 

[Spare time]

But what’s different about that salt? Grain size? Components? What’s the poor outcome by leaving it too long?

Its based off of things like alk. Salt mixes with elevated elements (i.e. high alk and calcium and such) are able to precipitate.

 

[Spare time]

I used to use the Red Sea Pro salt when I started, darn thing required a PhD degree to mix. Yes I do recall specific timelines to use it. Not sure maybe they have plutonium in there .

So I moved on to salts that my kids can mix ( water, bucket, salt and mixing stick).

What do you mean? Its half a cup per gallon and mixed for like 10 minutes. I guess I have a PhD now XD

 

[FishFilet]

I used to use the Red Sea Pro salt when I started, darn thing required a PhD degree to mix. Yes I do recall specific timelines to use it. Not sure maybe they have plutonium in there .

So I moved on to salts that my kids can mix ( water, bucket, salt and mixing stick)

Mixing salt should be as easy as saying your a,b,c’s and 1, 2, 3’s. Rocket science it is not. Lol.

 

[Pod_01]

What do you mean? Its half a cup per gallon and mixed for like 10 minutes. I guess I have a PhD now XD

Well I guess you have different Red Sea Pro salt:

This is what my bucket has:

I am curious to see your instructions…
I still stay by my statement… painful to mix with a bonus of residue after mixing.
I stand corrected there was minimum and maximum times for mixing.

 

[FishFilet]

What do you mean? Its half a cup per gallon and mixed for like 10 minutes. I guess I have a PhD now

It’s not a PhD thing. It’s a whoops, life got in the way and I couldn’t use my salt within the time range thing to the detriment to my tank thing.

 

[FishFilet]

Why did I bother making a batch of salt that now is going to screw up my chemistry?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why did I bother making a batch of salt that now is going to screw up my chemistry?

I don’t know what you mean, but your concern is not justified for any mix not containing organics like vitamins.

Very high alk mixes can tend to precipitate calcium carbonate, but that is not anything new and is not going to mess up the tank since it is high to begin with.