Mixing saltwater in advance?

[Xandernfs]

I have a mixing station set up and I keep 15 gallons of salt mixed at all times. I've been doing a little more digging and read that this may be a bad idea? I only use about 5 gallons a week. The saltwater bin has a heater and pump in it mixing the saltwater 24/7. Is it bad that I'm mixing it so far in advance? Should I convert that to just heated RODI water and mix 24 hours in advance? Currently I'm using Fritz.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a mixing station set up and I keep 15 gallons of salt mixed at all times. I've been doing a little more digging and read that this may be a bad idea? I only use about 5 gallons a week. The saltwater bin has a heater and pump in it mixing the saltwater 24/7. Is it bad that I'm mixing it so far in advance? Should I convert that to just heated RODI water and mix 24 hours in advance? Currently I'm using Fritz.

It all depends on the container it's being held in. I think that's the biggest issue is certian containers leech phosphates and other stuff into the water after sitting for so long. As long as you have certified food safe containers it shouldn't be an issue. I use food grade 6 gallon buckets, and had saltwater sitting in one for two weeks once, tested it before putting it in just to be safe, and it came back good

 

[Xandernfs]

Good to know. It's in a Brute so I'm assuming it should be good. I think I'm eventually going to switch over to RS Coral Pro and it says it shouldn't be mixed for more than 4 hours? Why would the be considered bad?

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

Optimist S-t-r-e-t-c-h says: the manufacturer might be accounting for less than ideal circumstances. Water not circulating. Less than ideal container. Potential contamination. That sort of thing, to CTA.

Cynical S-t-r-e-t-c-h says: package instructions are also used to generate sales. If even 1% of people toss x gallons of fresh saltwater because it sat for a few hours, that means they have a customer that needs more salt.

Don't forget to clean the container every so often too. Even the safest container will start to form its own ecosystem in time, which can impact the quality of the water going into the tank. "Life finds a way" and such...

 

[K. Steven]

I think that specific salt can precipitate out calcium and alkalinity as calcium carbonate if heated and mixed too long.

 

[S-t-r-e-t-c-h]

I think that specific salt can precipitate out calcium and alkalinity as calcium carbonate if heated and mixed too long.

What keeps that from happening in the tank?

 

[K. Steven]

What keeps that from happening in the tank?

It does happen, though I'm sure not in any appreciable amount, assuming magnesium is not low. There are also a whole host of biochemical processes and reactions occurring as part of the tank's ecology, many of which we do not fully understand, that do not take place in a water mixing container.

 

[Brew12]

I wouldn't worry about mixing most salts in advance. There are some salts that contain probiotics, amino's, and other organics that you do not want to mix very far in advance.

I built my mixing station a year ago and routinely have my Red Sea blue bucket salt mixed weeks or more in advance.

 

[Haggisman14]

Not a pro here by any means, but for my 29 gallon cube, I have 3 5 gallon food grade water jugs that I get filled up with RO every 3 weeks, and I do 5 gallon water changes every weekend. So far haven't had any issues, corals seem to be happy and growing, and I currently don't does anything.

Time will tell as the coral population grows, but as of now haven't had any issues.

 

[Xandernfs]

It had crossed my mind to ditch the salt can and just have more RO in the container with a heater and a pump. If I needed saltwater, just use the heated water. But Judging by what most have said, I think I'm good.

 

[JoshuaRock]

For what it’s worth, I use fritz currently and love it. I have noticed that if I don’t have the water moving constantly it does seem to precipitate. Not a whole lot but some, and it seemed to happen pretty fast(within 4 hours). I have since mixed up 20 gallons at a time with a power head running and have let it go for almost 8 days just to see if it will precipitate and it never did. So, so long as the water is churning I can vouch for a weeks worth of storage with it. I am using a 32 gallon brute can.

So there’s my 2 cents.

 

[ReeferBob]

I have a 35 gallon food safe brute which holds RO/DI and a 29 gallon mixing tank with around 20 gallons of mixed saltwater in it at all times. I change 15-30 gallons/week (2 changes) in my 150 gallon capacity tank. As soon as I add the new water to the tank, I replenish the 29 gallon with RO/DI and salt. The powerhead is working 24x7 in the mixing tank. Also I do not heat it as adding 15 gallons of 72 degree water to 135 gallons of 78 degree water has a negligible effect on overall temp.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

For 20 years, I stored IO in Brute cans for more than a month during use. The only ones I wouldn't store unstirred are mixes with organics in them (Reef Crystals and a few other brands).

 

[Big G]

Good to know. It's in a Brute so I'm assuming it should be good. I think I'm eventually going to switch over to RS Coral Pro and it says it shouldn't be mixed for more than 4 hours? Why would the be considered bad?

I use RS Coral Pro. It does precipitate in the containers after storing for a few days. And you end up with little white flakes floating around in the tank if you do not stir it for at least 10-15 minutes before use.

 

[dansreef]

I have two large 40 gal brute containers, one for RODI and one for mixed salt. I will mix a full batch (40 gals) and use it over the course of a couple of weeks. Yes, I heat it and have a pump mixing 24x7.

Randy, your comment on Reef Crystals is interesting. Why? Can you elaborate?

I have seen some build up in the container....assuming carbonate...that will start white and then turn brownish.... I have never had a problem with the water...and having it sit over time. I do a clean out once a year... where I take all the tanks apart and do a real in depth cleaning.

 

[Brew12]

I have two large 40 gal brute containers, one for RODI and one for mixed salt. I will mix a full batch (40 gals) and use it over the course of a couple of weeks. Yes, I heat it and have a pump mixing 24x7.

Randy, your comment on Reef Crystals is interesting. Why? Can you elaborate?

I have seen some build up in the container....assuming carbonate...that will start white and then turn brownish.... I have never had a problem with the water...and having it sit over time. I do a clean out once a year... where I take all the tanks apart and do a real in depth cleaning.

Reef Crystals has vitamins in it.
http://www.instantocean.com/Products/Sea-Salt-Mixes/reef-crystals-sea-salt.aspx
"Contains extra calcium to ensure stony coral and coralline algae growth, extra trace elements to provide vital nutrients and extra vitamins to support vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment "

Vitamins are an organic compound that will decompose over time.

 

[dansreef]

Reef Crystals has vitamins in it.
http://www.instantocean.com/Products/Sea-Salt-Mixes/reef-crystals-sea-salt.aspx
"Contains extra calcium to ensure stony coral and coralline algae growth, extra trace elements to provide vital nutrients and extra vitamins to support vigorous growth and survival of corals, anemones and other invertebrates in a captive environment "

Vitamins are an organic compound that will decompose over time.

Thanks for the explanation. I appreciate it. I have been doing this for the last three years. I have started just recently to do monthly water changes of 30-35 gals.... which I will then break up into a couple days in between. The rest goes to a buddy who has a smaller 29 gal AIO tank...that I try to help out. So far it has worked well for me.

 

[ChristmasCorals]

if you have a lid on the salt mixing container I think youd be set. salinity would stay the same and elements would remain in solution. otherwise some of the elements may precipitate out. i believe the ph would be affected as well. after you mix it up all the parameter are right where they should be. id just mix it up a day or two in advance. really all you need to wait is a few hours. water heats up from pump heat and ready to go. works brilliantly with 5 gallons like you use. good luck.

 

[Instigate]

if you have a lid on the salt mixing container I think youd be set. salinity would stay the same and elements would remain in solution. otherwise some of the elements may precipitate out. i believe the ph would be affected as well. after you mix it up all the parameter are right where they should be. id just mix it up a day or two in advance. really all you need to wait is a few hours. water heats up from pump heat and ready to go. works brilliantly with 5 gallons like you use. good luck.

Pump heat isn't going to warm up water in my garage and I'm in San Diego.

 

[mjlash22]

I use RS Coral Pro. It does precipitate in the containers after storing for a few days. And you end up with little white flakes floating around in the tank if you do not stir it for at least 10-15 minutes before use.

This is the only issue I've ever had with pre-mixing using the same salt. I upped the power head inside and manually mixed before transferring to the tank. Didn't really see a swing in any water parameters from doing it the "mix 5 gallons at a time" method I used to do.