Mixing salt in a brute.

[AbjectMaelstroM]

I decided to start cycling my marco dry rock while the rest of the setup is being built (a month or two out). Read that people were using MJ1200's (cobalt) as a means to agitate the salt mixture, so I went out and grabbed one up.

Now, the question what is the best placement of the MJ1200 in the brute (32 gallon filled to 20 gallons) to get best agitation? Any way I tried to preposition the pump, it just wasn't doing much for mixing the salt. After about an hour of messing with it and manually agitating the water, I gave up and threw a mp40 in there and cranked it. That did the trick.

Seems that MJ just doesn't have "oomph" to do that job in a container that size. Should I be looking for something beefier or am going on about it in a wrong way?

 

[Roy Arena]

You are going to need something larger for a brute 32 gallon. I use a MJ pump for mixing salt in a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

You are going to need something larger for a brute 32 gallon. I use a MJ pump for mixing salt in a 5 gallon bucket.

Yeah, I was getting that feeling. Any suggestions? I really don't want to spend a ton of $$, but I'd rather buy once (I suppose TWICE at this point) and be done. How about something like a Mag 7?

 

[Onewolf]

I used a $16 Kedsun 550 GPH to mix in my Brute 44. Worked great.

 

[Reefnman2]

I've been using the MJ1200 in my Brutes and it mixes fine for me. I have a 75 gal. tank and started with a 44 gal brute but have now downsized to the 20 gal. I just put my heater at the bottom and the pump midway loose and by morning it's mixed and ready to go.

 

[Auquanut]

As far as mixing the salt goes, I agree that the MJ1200 is a little small (just takes longer). If your talking about just keeping the water flowing around the rock as it cures, I think it will get the job done. You shouldn't need a lot of flow for that. Sorry if I'm misinterpreting the the intent of the post.

 

[Roy Arena]

I know what you mean. I have an old Rio 2100 that I use for mixing in the brute. I think a Mag 7 should work fine. If you don't have any extra pumps for mixing maybe check the dry good forum or your local club. You can save some dollars.

 

[mfinn]

I like to use cheapo jeboas for salt mixing.
What I really like is the magnet mount.
In the past when I've used a pump or powerhead that wasn't anchored down, I found that sometimes they spin in the barrel and twist and damage the cord.
For a 32 gallon brute I use a rw 20

 

[Qasimja]

i got this pump for mixing the salt in my brute and then using a vinyl tube to pump it into my tank

Pump

 

[Reefnman2]

I've been using the MJ1200 in my Brutes and it mixes fine for me. I have a 75 gal. tank and started with a 44 gal brute but have now downsized to the 20 gal. I just put my heater at the bottom and the pump midway loose and by morning it's mixed and ready to go.

This is with IO Reef crystals I think some salts are harder to mix.

 

[S2G]

I use a 300w jager & a 3k rossmont powerhead to mix.

 

[C. Eymann]

Buy a sureflow maxi mod kit and it will turn that mj1200 into a 2000gph prop style pump and will have no problem mixing a 32gal brute!

I personally used a old magdrive 1200 for my brutes because it kicked off so much heat I didnt even need a heater! lol

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Buy a sureflow maxi mod kit and it will turn that mj1200 into a 2000gph prop style pump and will have no problem mixing a 32gal brute!

I personally used a old magdrive 1200 for my brutes because it kicked off so much heat I didnt even need a heater! lol

That's pretty slick!

Is this it? https://premiumaquatics.com/products/flow-1600-kit.html

 

[C. Eymann]

That's pretty slick!

Is this it? https://premiumaquatics.com/products/flow-1600-kit.html

Yep bingo !

 

[C. Eymann]

^^^ that's what we used for cheap flow before Hydors, Jebaos, sun sun etc etc were available way back in the day! They work great !

 

[AZMSGT]

I tried the cheap pump route and it took those cheap pumps forever to really mix the salt.
I had spare Tunze 6105 powerhead and tried that... Holy Moly.. that did the trick. My salt mix is desolved and ready to go in 30 min. It’s not a cheap pump but the whirlpool flow it can generate is unbelievable. The Turnbell directional head on this makes a big difference.

Now I’m not saying to use a $300 multi speed pump to do the job. Tunze makes a single speed that I think would do as good a job for $165 new. It’s the 6085 model. It has their Turnbell housing and 2100gph. It or a lesser model would give you lots of flow for that live rock.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Rio 2200 or supreme aquamaster.

 

[CindyKz]

The MJ1200 set up as a powerhead and stuck on with the suction cups about 1/3 of the down from the top worked fine in my 44 gal Brute, except when the suction let loose occasionally. Even then it mixed the salt ok while sitting on the bottom.

 

[JasonK84]

Current USA model 6011 (3170 gph). It’ll mix it as fast as you can pour salt! Pump doubles as a spare for my DT if it ever fails.

But for keeping water moving for rock curing the mj1200 should be fine once the salt is mixed.

 

[mfinn]

I tried the cheap pump route and it took those cheap pumps forever to really mix the salt.
I had spare Tunze 6105 powerhead and tried that... Holy Moly.. that did the trick. My salt mix is desolved and ready to go in 30 min. It’s not a cheap pump but the whirlpool flow it can generate is unbelievable. The Turnbell directional head on this makes a big difference.

Now I’m not saying to use a $300 multi speed pump to do the job. Tunze makes a single speed that I think would do as good a job for $165 new. It’s the 6085 model. It has their Turnbell housing and 2100gph. It or a lesser model would give you lots of flow for that live rock.

Yeah, you really notice a difference when you step up and get a strong wide flow pump.
One of the things I don't like about many of the options I look at is you need a controller and a power supply.
I even started a thread looking for the most powerful magnet mount pump that didn't have to use the controller/powersupply.
The best I could find was the Sicce Voyager 4000 and the 3200.