Mixing salt. Is there a right or wrong way?

[CocoReef]

I plan on switching salts from fritz rpm soon and while researching I noticed many comments about mixing salt at room temp, but I see no specifications on my fritz bucket.
Are there cons to mixing salt in heated water?
I prepare my water the day before and my pump heats 5 gallons to 82° within 2 hours. No heater. The only thing I notice during water changes is a "slime" feeling on my equipment, but Ive read its normal. Never had problems come from it (that I know of lol).
And should I switch to a smaller pump?

 

[Spare time]

Heating it makes precipitation more likely. You can mix it in heated water, just don't store it heated for long periods of time.

 

[CocoReef]

Heating it makes precipitation more likely. You can mix it in heated water, just don't store it heated for long periods of time.

Is the precipitate noticeable? I usually let my water mix around 15 hours and havent noticed anything in the year+ of using it. But it does sit at 82° for 10 hours-ish. Is that too long?

 

[Spare time]

Is the precipitate noticeable? I usually let my water mix around 15 hours and havent noticed anything in the year+ of using it. But it does sit at 82° for 10 hours-ish. Is that too long?

I don't know how much you would notice at once outside of testing the water but in storage bins you would see the crusty brown stuff

 

[Roli's Reef Ranch]

Depends on the salt. Follow the instructions. In general, high DKh salt needs to be mixed at lower temps to avoid precip (and throwing money away). I use Red Sea Coral pro, which is supposed to be mixed at 68 deg F, since it's 12 DKh and should be used shortly after mixing for the same reason. Low DKh stuff like Tropic Marine C/pro is only 7 DKh and is supposed to store w/o precipitates. The myth and marketing is that it "mixes clean" due to pharmaceutical grade components, such as turkish mud and silt... lol But seriously, salt isn't going to be a limiting factor in anybody's system unless it's a bad batch. I sit on it for months before using it for this reason. Eventually the word will hit the street here on R2R if a manufacturer is putting out garbage during that time frame.

 

[blaxsun]

I just toss it in a bucket, add RO and stir.

 

[Tankkeepers]

Depends on the salt. Follow the instructions. In general, high DKh salt needs to be mixed at lower temps to avoid precip (and throwing money away). I use Red Sea Coral pro, which is supposed to be mixed at 68 deg F, since it's 12 DKh and should be used shortly after mixing for the same reason. Low DKh stuff like Tropic Marine C/pro is only 7 DKh and is supposed to store w/o precipitates. The myth and marketing is that it "mixes clean" due to pharmaceutical grade components, such as turkish mud and silt... lol But seriously, salt isn't going to be a limiting factor in anybody's system unless it's a bad batch. I sit on it for months before using it for this reason. Eventually the word will hit the street here on R2R if a manufacturer is putting out garbage during that time frame.

Exactly this

Follow the instructions by the salt manufacturer

I use red sea coral pro and it says to not let it mix for more then 2 hours

I do tho as the ro water is real cold so I bring it up to temp via a heater while mixing takes about 4 hours and iv never had a problem

But iv also never left it for longer then that

I once fell asleep while mixing and I threw it away and started over as the entire walls and bottom of the bucket had turned white and the parameters were way off

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Follow the instructions by the salt manufacturer

FWIW, many companies do not have a good understanding of the chemistry principles of their own products, and are not always the best source of information.

As an example, I once asked Red Sea to clarify something they claim about mixing Red Sea coral pro salt (the odd claim they make to mix without aeration until pH stabilizes, but pH stabilizes only by gas exchange), and a tech rep came back with an answer that was simply wrong (that CO2 leaving the mix raised alkalinity).

 

[Tankkeepers]

FWIW, many companies do not have a good understanding of the chemistry principles of their own products, and are not always the best source of information.

As an example, I once asked Red Sea to clarify something they claim about mixing Red Sea coral pro salt (the odd claim they make to mix without aeration until pH stabilizes, but pH stabilizes only by gas exchange), and a tech rep came back with an answer that was simply wrong (that CO2 leaving the mix raised alkalinity).

This may be true but you did not ask red sea you asked a rep

They are different and saying red sea does not understand somthing by what you was told by a rep is not helpful

Again follow instructions

And the reason you mix it without aireation is becouse water can only hold so much

Mixing this cold without aireation untill completely dissolved aids in keeping it from practicing

The reason you do this untill the pH stabilizes is becouse that's when it's fully mixed and can now be aireated or put into storage with a mixing pump

It has absolutely 0 to do with gas exchange and 100 percent to do with making sure it's fully mixed before warming up and agitating

Read the directions

 

[Big Smelly fish]

The way I do it is the right way. I fill a 44 gallon brute with Rodi water then add salt slowly until I reach salinity I want and then let it circulate overnight or longer before using.
I don’t think there are two many ways to mix saltwater. Just always add salt to water and not water to salt.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I forgot to mention I never hear the water. The pump gives off enough heat.

 

[Tankkeepers]

The way I do it is the right way. I fill a 44 gallon brute with Rodi water then add salt slowly until I reach salinity I want and then let it circulate overnight or longer before using.
I don’t think there are two many ways to mix saltwater. Just always add salt to water and not water to salt.

There are alot of ways to mix saltwater

To aireate or not

Heat or not

Leave overnight or not

3 factors right there alone make a heck of alot of different ways

Red sea has high everything so mixing it warm with alot of agitation can cause precipitation which in turn will throw off the pH

That's why there are directions why does no one read directions and think they know best

 

[Big Smelly fish]

There are alot of ways to mix saltwater

To aireate or not

Heat or not

Leave overnight or not

3 factors right there alone make a heck of alot of different ways

Red sea has high everything so mixing it warm with alot of agitation can cause precipitation which in turn will throw off the pH

That's why there are directions why does no one read directions and think they know best

I agree , most never read the instructions, myself included. The only time I did was using seachems salinity. . I did follow the instructions . But now I only use IO and RC.

 

[jda]

Some salts have some ammonia in them, which can make some slime bacteria in your mixing gear. Use it sooner if you want the benefit of adding the ammonia to the tank.

It only takes a minute to come up with your formula for your fresh saltwater. For me, it is 44g brute with cold water, full 50g bag of IO and 2 tbsp of dowflake. Mix. Add in 20mls of muriatic acid, heat and mix again for another day with surface agitation. Ready to go that next day. If I get RC instead of IO (if a sale comes), I have to use more muriatic acid. Both of these salts have ammonia, and I have never tested if it sticks around for the 2-3 days, but I really don't care since I feed my fish so much... if the ammonia is still there, then my corals can have a treat and if not, then no big deal.

 

[ScubaFish802]

I always let mine mix for at least 8 hours (generally 12-24) to be sure the salt has fully dissolved. If I remember I will throw a heater in a couple hours before making the change.

 

[Potatohead]

I just toss it in a bucket, add RO and stir.

Always add salt to water, not water to salt.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This may be true but you did not ask red sea you asked a rep

They are different and saying red sea does not understand somthing by what you was told by a rep is not helpful

Again follow instructions

And the reason you mix it without aireation is becouse water can only hold so much

Mixing this cold without aireation untill completely dissolved aids in keeping it from practicing

The reason you do this untill the pH stabilizes is becouse that's when it's fully mixed and can now be aireated or put into storage with a mixing pump

It has absolutely 0 to do with gas exchange and 100 percent to do with making sure it's fully mixed before warming up and agitating

Read the directions

I asked Red Sea on their web site, and that is who they provided to give a wrong answer.

So I reiterate: manufacturers are often wrong and should not be trusted to give accurate advice without verification.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

And the reason you mix it without aireation is becouse water can only hold so much

Mixing this cold without aireation untill completely dissolved aids in keeping it from practicing

The reason you do this untill the pH stabilizes is becouse that's when it's fully mixed and can now be aireated or put into storage with a mixing pump

It has absolutely 0 to do with gas exchange and 100 percent to do with making sure it's fully mixed before warming up and agitating

Read the directions

I am very aware of exactly what is happening when a salt mix dissolved. That is why I questioned Red Sea’s seemingly impossible claims to not aerate but to stabilize pH.

Since you are questioning my claim, explain to me what one is waiting for when allowing pH to stabilize” if there is no gas exchange?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That's why there are directions why does no one read directions and think they know best

Maybe because they know many manufacturers lack understanding of their own products.

I would never trust Brightwell or Seachem to give accurate advice without making sure it was accurate or at least sensible. They have a poor track record.

 

[blaxsun]

Always add salt to water, not water to salt.

So they say. Not sure of the rationale behind it though.