POLL: Do you mix salt using a scale?

[Joe's Coral Reef]

I always use a scale. Its probably just as easy to use a measuring cup. Once in a while I'll take the whole box and measure out enough for each water change, then sealed it those vacuum sealed bags. It makes me feel like tony montana with all those white sealed bags on the counter.

 

[Dawgvet]

I never really did either one, but I'm curious why folks promoting weighing of the salt think that is better than a fixed volume?

Are you thinking it is more accurate? Faster? Something else?

1- I find it faster also.

2- If someone in my family has to mix salt water, by asking them to do a certain weight per volume I feel more confident in the results they will get.

3- If I have do 1 and 1/4 cup or 1 and 3/4 cups I may not be as "consistently accurate". It may be heaping cup one time, slightly under another. Much faster to do "X" W/V ( and yes I know salt may weigh different from start of bucket to finish) and it gives the placebo effect that it makes me think I'm being more accurate.

 

[Want2BS8ed]

I never really did either one, but I'm curious why folks promoting weighing of the salt think that is better than a fixed volume?

Are you thinking it is more accurate? Faster? Something else?

Speed and convienence as well...

Figured out by trial and error how many pounds and ounces were needed for my mixing container. Toss a 5-gallon bucket on the scale, tare and pour salt until it hits the mark.

Simply found it easier than counting scoops or worrying if it was a lite scoop or a heavy scoop, etc. If nothing else it has certainly been more consistent and gone are the days of having to add a little more salt or R/O water to hit a specific gravity.

M

 

[Want2BS8ed]

1- I find it faster also.

2- If someone in my family has to mix salt water, by asking them to do a certain weight per volume I feel more confident in the results they will get.

3- If I have do 1 and 1/4 cup or 1 and 3/4 cups I may not be as "consistently accurate". It may be heaping cup one time, slightly under another. Much faster to do "X" W/V ( and yes I know salt may weigh different from start of bucket to finish) and it gives the placebo effect that it makes me think I'm being more accurate.

Sorry Dawgvet, just saw your post and we said the same thing...

Apologize for the repeat, but "yeah what he said!

M

 

[Ferrell]

3 cups and a dash to 5 gallons rodi mix then test. Usually within a tablespoon, HW reefer salt
May try weighing next batch though just for reference

 

[Ferrell]

What scales are you all using?

Postal scale (next water change)

 

[NY_Caveman]

I never really did either one, but I'm curious why folks promoting weighing of the salt think that is better than a fixed volume?

Are you thinking it is more accurate? Faster? Something else?

I find it is both fast and accurate every time.

I do not think there is a right or wrong way to do it. For me, setting up a new tank (after years away from marine tanks) and using a salt mix new to the market (LiveAquaria) the scale just seemed better than the way I was doing it. I needed about 10% more than the half cup recommended. I suppose I could add a half cup measure and then 2/3 of a tablespoon, but I had digital scales handy, so why not. It mixes dead on every time now.

I am usually only mixing 2-3 gallons at a time. If I were mixing 50 gallons I would probably just dump a bag of salt mix in. I know you used large amounts of IO salt for years in an AWC system and can understand there would be no reason to change your habits.

I would also say, many people mix their own chemical solutions for dosing and probably use a scale for that. I would think they would approach salt the same way, but perhaps they think of it differently. As a practicing chemist, you probably can quickly figure amounts in your head for dry measure.

I have excellent vision and depth perception, but I am still challenged visually at approximating sizes and weights and tend to rely on a scale for many things.

 

[Dawgvet]

I am usually only mixing 2-3 gallons at a time. If I were mixing 50 gallons I would probably just dump a bag of salt mix in.

I think this is an excellent point. I also mix 4 gal at a time so I find it easier to use a scale. Like you said, if i was mixing a larger volume maybe the scale would not be as convenient/efficient.

 

[rkpetersen]

I used to use measuring cups which I filled more or less full, and then add a bit for the final adjustment. Then I started using a scale and found that it's faster and more precise. 730 g of Red Sea Coral Pro into 5g water at 78F is 34.5 ppm very consistently; I generally don't bother to check salinity for any but the first and last batches I make with any given bucket of salt.

What scales are you all using?

Here's mine. It's inexpensive and effective for 5-10g saltwater batches although I'd use a larger one if I were making more than 10g at a time.

 

[Chuckstyr]

My answer to why I use a scale . . . I have an 8 cup graduated mixing bowl that I use. 13 gallons x .5 cup/gallon = 6.5 cups of salt. To save the trouble of leveling the entire batch, or each cup individually - I just know what 6.5 cups of salt weighs. In my case - 4lbs. Dump 4 lbs of salt in that mixing bowl and now I have no need to worry about the exactness of the volume measurement. I just sift that into the fresh circulating make up water and it comes in just about 1.024 sg. And I adjust from there depending on if I want to raise or lower the tanks SG.

The question of salt absorbing water should be a non-issue, at least I think so. But I do keep the Kent mix in the original bags, in a plastic container that has some of those desiccant packets, like you find in pill bottles, which seems to keep the salt dry and pourable.

So, I just find it easier to dump 4lbs of salt, rather than measuring out 6 1/2 cups.

 

[RP709]

I use a scale at all times. ESV salt

I'm starting the esv mix once my current batch is gone. Do you have a specific scale that you're using and hits all the accuracy, size, price points you could recommend? There are so many and the price range is extreme lol, thx.

 

[Thaxxx]

If you put crushed oyster shells (chicken feed) in pantyhose in the salt bag. It absorbs the moisture. It will dry out when removed. Then just reuse for next open bag.

 

[Want2BS8ed]

I'm starting the esv mix once my current batch is gone. Do you have a specific scale that you're using and hits all the accuracy, size, price points you could recommend? There are so many and the price range is extreme lol, thx.

Not the cheapest, but certainly reasonable for the features: 65lb capacity and more importantly accurate to +/- 0.02lbs.

https://www.anvilbrewing.com/product-p/anv-scale-large.htm

M

 

[ReefGeezer]

I just use the dump & check method. I mix in a 44 gallon Brute like a lot of people and then use it for 3 or 4 small water changes. The Brute usually isn't quite empty when I refill it. A different amount of salt is required each time.

 

[Ferrell]

I use a postal scale for my ten gallon water changes. 3# 13 oz hw reefer salt to ten gallons

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I always use a scale, as I am usually mixing a ton of water up and it is nowhere near the same amount every time to guess at how many bags/boxes to use. I know the weight of the salt per 5 gallons at 1.026, so I just go from there.

 

[RP709]

Not the cheapest, but certainly reasonable for the features: 65lb capacity and more importantly accurate to +/- 0.02lbs.

https://www.anvilbrewing.com/product-p/anv-scale-large.htm

M

Oh yeah that's a nice one! Many thanks!!

 

[RP709]

Not the cheapest, but certainly reasonable for the features: 65lb capacity and more importantly accurate to +/- 0.02lbs.

https://www.anvilbrewing.com/product-p/anv-scale-large.htm

M

Bought it, that +/-% is hard to beat most dont even list the +/-

 

[kschweer]

I always weighed my salt with a digital scale. Easy and accurate. Just be careful who comes over when you’re weighing your salt. One water change day I forgot the Cable guy was coming and had about 500 grams of high quality salt on a paper plate on top of a digital scale. He did a triple take, put his head down and got to work. Quickest and easiest cable visit I ever had!

 

[vic5hands]

Hell yeah use a scale Extremely accurate