POLL: Do you mix salt using a scale?

[NY_Caveman]

I highly recommend using a scale to mix salt. It can make this regular chore quick and easy.

It may seem rudimentary, but sometimes we all miss the obvious. Many reefers are like rock musicians, they can jam all night, but cannot read music to save their lives.

I use LiveAquaria salt (not to be debated here, but it hits my targets consistently and I really like it). The instructions call for 1/2 cup of salt mix per gallon. The reality is my RO/DI water takes just a little more salt to get to 35 SG.

This salt takes a while to mix, but the range and accuracy are more important to me than the speed. When mixing, I was adding a half cup per gallon, waiting, then calibrating and testing with the refractometer. Add more salt, wait, test, repeat, repeat. This was inefficient.

A couple of weeks ago I grabbed my digital scale and started weighing my salt. The newly mixed water has been dead on 35 SG on the first calibrated test every time. Even adjusting for different volumes, I still nail it.

For my LiveAquaria’s mix, I get the following:

1/2 cup = 140g
1 Tbs = 17.5g
152g mixes 1 gallon RO/DI to 35 SG

Digital scales are not too expensive. You may even have one (in the kitchen, for example). People who dose home made mixtures probably use them, but may not have thought to weigh their salt. I am curious if this is something most folks already do. So, how about it, do you weigh your salt?

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I used to. I've since upgraded to a 44 gallon Brute trash can to mix my saltwater. So, all I have to do now is fill the Brute with water and add a 50 gallon bag of Instant Ocean.

Before that, I always weight the salt. Every new bucket/box of salt, I weight the salt I used to make the first batch to make sure my baseline was still about right.

 

[falconut]

I just used my plastic measuring cups. 3 cups gets me the right salinity for 6 gallons. It has worked fine for over 14 years.

 

[bonnie.klassen1]

I highly recommend using a scale to mix salt. It can make this regular chore quick and easy.

It may seem rudimentary, but sometimes we all miss the obvious. Many reefers are like rock musicians, they can jam all night, but cannot read music to save their lives.

I use LiveAquaria salt (not to be debated here, but it hits my targets consistently and I really like it). The instructions call for 1/2 cup of salt mix per gallon. The reality is my RO/DI water takes just a little more salt to get to 35 SG.

This salt takes a while to mix, but the range and accuracy are more important to me than the speed. When mixing, I was adding a half cup per gallon, waiting, then calibrating and testing with the refractometer. Add more salt, wait, test, repeat, repeat. This was inefficient.

A couple of weeks ago I grabbed my digital scale and started weighing my salt. The newly mixed water has been dead on 35 SG on the first calibrated test every time. Even adjusting for different volumes, I still nail it.

For my LiveAquaria’s mix, I get the following:

1/2 cup = 140g
1 Tbs = 17.5g
152g mixes 1 gallon RO/DI to 35 SG

Digital scales are not too expensive. You may even have one (in the kitchen, for example). People who dose home made mixtures probably use them, but may not have thought to weigh their salt. I am curious if this is something most folks already do. So, how about it, do you weigh your salt?

I also weigh my salt. Much easier than to keep adding and checking. [emoji106]

 

[Larry L]

I do it just like you do, using a kitchen scale - so easy. First go around, I made a line in my mixing container and filled it with RODI to that line. I weighed a container of salt that I knew was more than I needed for that amount of water, then gradually added salt to the container and tested the salinity with a refractometer until I got to 1.026. Weighed what was left of the salt, did the math, and now I know exactly how many grams of salt I need to add to that container filled to that line. Now I can mix up a new batch of salt in just the time it takes to fill the container to the line and weigh out the right amount of salt.

FWIW I use Red Sea Coral Pro in the black bucket, and it works out to about 148 grams of salt per gallon to mix to 1.026.

 

[csb123]

Using a scale is also very quick for me. Just put a container on the scale, and pour till you hit the magic number

 

[Crabs McJones]

Never thought about it. Always just did 1/2 cup of salt to gallon of water. I may look into this

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I use a scale at all times. ESV salt

 

[Gareth elliott]

I originally bought my scale for mixing up fertilizers for my planted as goes to thousandths of a gram.

But also use for mixing salt . In larger batches easiest function is to measure what one leveled scope is(use a straight edge). And calculate how many you need for the gallons being made.

 

[Mike Reef Addict]

I just used my plastic measuring cups. 3 cups gets me the right salinity for 6 gallons. It has worked fine for over 14 years.

10 rounded cups of RC to 15 gallons gives me 1.025 to the TEE everytime very rarely do I have to add salt or RO/DI

 

[NY_Caveman]

Nice. Looks like it is split about half way so far. I was not sure what to expect.

 

[Tony Thompson]

I weigh mine. I know what weight I need for 35 ppt from the first batch. Just add salt to the jug on the scale till the weight is reached,. That way you don`t` have to measure every cup and level off. I also use a Conductivity probe to check salinity against Temp to check after salt has fully dissolved (overnight) 53mS/cm at 25c.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I tossed in a bunch (like a full bag), let it stir, then later tossed in more to get in the right ball park.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Randy, you are like me. I have had the same container for mixing for so long I just toss some in and read refractometer. Then add more if needed to get correct salinity. Of course I wait to read the next day after throwing it in. Just lazy.

 

[Alfrareef]

Always with a scale...

 

[Sleepydoc]

0.5~0.6 cups per gallon. 8 cups for a 15 gallon water change generally gets it about right.

I can’t see it being an improvement over the dollar-store measuring cup I use. A scale would jsut be another piece of equipment to buy and seems like it would be more work rather than less. I would still check with my refractometer, regardless.

 

[Sleepydoc]

0.5~0.6 cups per gallon. 8 cups for a 15 gallon water change generally gets it about right.

I can’t see it being an improvement over the dollar-store measuring cup I use. A scale would jsut be another piece of equipment to buy and seems like it would be more work rather than less. I would still check with my refractometer, regardless.

I've noticed that in many (European) countries, ingredients for cooking and baking are usually measured on a scale whereas in the U.S. they are typically measured with measuring cups. I wonder if that carries over to salt as well? Americans are likely used to measuring things with cups and thus would default to a measuring cup for salt whereas Europeans may be more likely to default to a scale. Just a theory...

 

[NY_Caveman]

I've noticed that in many (European) countries, ingredients for cooking and baking are usually measured on a scale whereas in the U.S. they are typically measured with measuring cups. I wonder if that carries over to salt as well? Americans are likely used to measuring things with cups and thus would default to a measuring cup for salt whereas Europeans may be more likely to default to a scale. Just a theory...

Interesting point. I will say as an American, I have always used scales for years with freshwater and marine aquariums. I also tend to use scales when cooking as well, which I got in the habit of while keeping a food journal for a while.

 

[Mr. Bill]

I didn't vote because my answer wasn't there... "No, because there is a reason I don't need to". Fact is, 6 level scoops always brings my weekly 10% WC to 1.026 SG with Instant Ocean.

 

[NY_Caveman]

I believe the fourth choice would be the best selection. At least that is how I intended that choice, for those who get satisfactory results through other means.

EDIT: I should have phrased it “Never needed to” not “Never cared to” but I cannot edit the text. Assume that choice is for those who find measuring cups sufficient