Mixing saltwater

11f150 · Jan 9, 2013

Getting into mixing my own saltwater and all I have done in the past is just buy it from AC. The bucket says 1.6lbs per 5 gallons. Do you guys actually weigh that out or is there another way to do it? I see theres alot of people saying 1/2 cup per gallon then add more to where you want to be.

Jake1 · Jan 9, 2013

With kent I use 3 cups of salt to 5 gal of water. Always comes out around 1.025 +- .002

palvyre · Jan 9, 2013

I mix to 1.024. To do that I mix 2 cups per 4 gallons and I adjust my whole supply if needed in the week leading up to my water change.

thejoshdavis · Jan 9, 2013

I do 2.5 cups of reef crystals per 5 gals of water. Toss it in, throw a pump and heater in and let it do its thing until I'm ready.

Dowtish · Jan 9, 2013

Being that you are mixing so much to fill your system, I would figure out how many cups it takes to get your desired salinity in a 5 gallon bucket, and then just do the math on how many total gallons.

11f150 · Jan 10, 2013

Yeah whats throwing me off as well is the space the rock is taking up as well. Im going to mix at exactly 100 gallons and see where Im at.

Jake1 · Jan 10, 2013

If you mix at 100 gal and you only have 90 gal then you will be dumping that water for nothing. Start out like you have 75 gal and work your way up.

11f150 · Jan 10, 2013

I have a 100gal cube and a 40gal sump half way full almost

Jake1 · Jan 10, 2013

So you could be safe to say you have at less 100 gallons. Jest go slow and give it 24 hours to mix after adding the bulk of the sand. Then around 6 or more hours after adding a little more salt each time.

Dowtish · Jan 10, 2013

Yeah, go with a 100 to start. That will get you most of the way there.

mixer911 · Jan 10, 2013

Matt, with the sump, I had about 110-125 gallons. Obviously this can change based rock and other things.

pickupman66 · Jan 10, 2013

if its empty, just fill the whole thing with water then add salt... let your system do the mixing...

11f150 · Jan 10, 2013

So far Ive added about 15 cups of salt and the display tank is pretty cloudy I think I need some more water movement. Im not sure just the overflow/return is enough to mix it properly. Might wait to put more in when I get a powerhead. Im getting that mag pump tonight from Radonna, Ill throw that in the tank and see what happens.

mixer911 · Jan 10, 2013

Yea, you will definately need some more flow to mix it up.

11f150 · Jan 11, 2013

I put in the mag pump and my tank is really cloudy now, didn't help in stirred my sand up good but I know that will settle. Probably just mixing real good now. Will see how it looks in the morning

_Alex_ · Jan 11, 2013

I usually put sand in after the water if mixing salt in the tank. I use kent reef salt and use 1/2cup per gal to get 1.021. And then adjust as needed before adding.

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