mixing salt

[angel1237]

i am new to saltwater aquarium...i have no idea how to mix the salt water...i will be doing it in 5 gallon water jugs....can someone let me know how to do this and how long it will stay good in the jugs? i bought the water already mixed for my 29 gl tank but i know i will have to mix soon...thank you.

 

[drewsteriam5]

I mix mine in a small brute container. I fill it up with RO water, place a small powerhead in it and turn it on, then add the salt. After a while of it mixing you can test the salinity, and add salt as needed to get to where you want to be.

As for how long it is good in the container, I don't have a good answer. I've heard that leaving it long term is that it could somehow get ammonia in it, but there is generally no bacteria in the container to contain the ammonia in the whole nitrate/nitrate situation.

 

[HiddenUser]

I bought a 35G Rubbermaid Heavy Duty container...I pour my RO/DI water into the container, drop in a powerhead, add half a cup of salt per gallon of water. Once the salt is mostly dissolved, I remove the powerhead and drop in a heater and let the heater run overnight to bring the water to the same temp as my tank.

I use Red Sea Coral Pro so I cannot continue mixing once the salt is dissolved or the water will become cloudy. When I was using Instant Ocean, I left the powerhead running with the heater overnight...I feel like it helped to warm the water up faster.

 

[fagundespavinp3]

I have the same Question About how long the salted water will be good for if the power head and heater are left I it???

 

[Reefing Madness]

Don't mix it up until you need it, the water alone will last a long time by itself with a heater in it and water movement. Just keep a lid on it so nothing gets in. But if mixed already, no worries, it will keep for a long while.

 

[mike007]

Let me add to this different brands all have their own mixing directions. As with Redsea they advise to only mix about 3-4 hours before use without aerating.
The reason the mix gets cloudy Is caused by precipitation of the elements. They recommended adding the salt to the ro and let it dissolve for a few hours.

 

[Palting]

i am new to saltwater aquarium...i have no idea how to mix the salt water...i will be doing it in 5 gallon water jugs....can someone let me know how to do this and how long it will stay good in the jugs? i bought the water already mixed for my 29 gl tank but i know i will have to mix soon...thank you.

I had a 55 gallon in the past, and it's pretty easy. Just partially fill your 5 gallon bucket with RODI, then slowly add salt and stir every once in a while. Once you've added enough salt, get another 5 gallon bucket and pour the salt solution back and forth a few times. Salinity check, then pour into DT.

If you want to be finicky about it, you can put a heater and a powerhead in the bucket and run it for several hours to get the temp up to your DT temp.

 

[JMSKI333]

I have a 44 gallon brute container that I fill 90% with RO water. I constantly have a heater and power head in that container to keep the salt aerated and heated to match my tank. Once the RO is up to temp, I add the salt as needed (guess and check method). I wait approximately 24 hours from when the salt has been added to when I perform my water change.

Salinity changes with temperature so I like my RO water temp to be where I want it before I even bother testing for salinity.

 

[angel1237]

i have another question...my tank is new...i am cycling..1 week now...do i have to do water changes while cycling? or just topping off as it evaporates ....thank you..

 

[WhoKnew]

Good information on mixing salt water. I do housecleaning on my tank every Sunday. I mix the water Sat. Night. Heat aerate check salinity Sunday morning. Make any adjustments and proceed.
For your second question. I just topped water off. But of parameters were really off. I did a 1/4 water change m

 

[Palting]

i have another question...my tank is new...i am cycling..1 week now...do i have to do water changes while cycling? or just topping off as it evaporates ....thank you..

It's actually controversial whether to do water changes or not when cycling. One side says no, you need all that ammonia to complete the cycle, the other side says yes, as too much ammonia can actually stall the cycle.

Choose your side .

 

[WeLoveReefers]

I'm about to start mixing my own water instead of going to the lfs. I plan on just using IO as that's what my lfs uses so I'd like to not change that. Is there any thing else I will have to add to the ro water other than the IO mix?

 

[Dalmatia]

You can mix it now,, but if not used now,,, just keep in mind water "will" evaporate and salt "won't". That being said, you may have to put in more fresh water to lower your salinity.
But your fine!!! I always have 50 gallons of cured saltwater. Never know when you'll need it