Question about salt water itself.

[Joshua Agostoni]

So i have a 35 gallon container i use to mix salt water in. Now since i have a refugium that does a great job keeping the nitrate levels down i normally do a water change every two months normally for 30 gallons with a 75 gallon full system. Last time though i cleaned my sump and didn't use all of the water.

My question is i have this left over water that isn't being mixed or heated right now and im wondering if i can use it or should i just dump it out and make a fresh batch.. The reason for the question is more for knowledge since i came across this situation im wondering if i have left over water and an emergency happens if i can use it or do i need to make fresh?

Wondering if its chemistry will change over time just sitting.

 

[ZoWhat]

Plz don't be offended....

But doing a WC every 2mos will only accumulate Nitrates and Phosphates no matter if you got a refugium or not. SW in our little glass boxes has to be exported out at least every 2-3 weeks at around 20%.

Old SW is unusable. I've heard people watering their lawns with it.....but idk, sounds like grass would hate the sodium.

Do what you want....but IMO 2mos WCs are just asking for trouble

 

[madweazl]

Plz don't be offended....

But doing a WC every 2mos will only accumulate Nitrates and Phosphates no matter if you got a refugium or not. SW in our little glass boxes has to be exported out at least every 2-3 weeks at around 20%.

Do what you want....but IMO 2mos WCs are just asking for trouble

All those balling methods are failing miserably eh?

Edit: I'm a big proponent of water changes (I do weekly changes) but there are far too many tanks that are working just fine without water changes to make a statement like that.

Export doesn't have to come in the form of a water change.

 

[Instigate]

How old are we talking here? I'm pretty sure the old SW would be fine to use. Was it in a sealed container? Freshly mixed saltwater with no organics can last plenty long. What salt are you using? Some salt mixes have organics in them so they have to be used right away I believe.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

Plz don't be offended....

But doing a WC every 2mos will only accumulate Nitrates and Phosphates no matter if you got a refugium or not. SW in our little glass boxes has to be exported out at least every 2-3 weeks at around 20%.

Old SW is unusable. I've heard people watering their lawns with it.....but idk, sounds like grass would hate the sodium.

Do what you want....but IMO 2mos WCs are just asking for trouble

I test my levels and when my nitrates are below 5ppm after no water changes for 2 months I think my refurgium is working fine.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

How old are we talking here? I'm pretty sure the old SW would be fine to use. Was it in a sealed container? Freshly mixed saltwater with no organics can last plenty long. What salt are you using? Some salt mixes have organics in them so they have to be used right away I believe.

I use instant ocean.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

I use instant ocean.

And we are talking about 2 months old. I have no problem with making to water at all I was just wondering in case of an emergency if it would be ok to use like omg fish is sick need to set up my hospital tank and use the water I have left over kind of thing.

 

[Bob Weigant]

I constantly have salt being mixed 24/7. Never had any issues in the years I’ve been doing this. Speaking for myself I wouldn’t be comfortable doing water changes every 2 months

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

I constantly have salt being mixed 24/7. Never had any issues in the years I’ve been doing this. Speaking for myself I wouldn’t be comfortable doing water changes every 2 months

Well I'm have some algea problem so I bought new lighting, go, and plan on doing a 50 percent once a month from now on my refugium is great for nitrates but the phosphates are rough.

 

[Instigate]

And we are talking about 2 months old. I have no problem with making to water at all I was just wondering in case of an emergency if it would be ok to use like omg fish is sick need to set up my hospital tank and use the water I have left over kind of thing.

As long as the water didn't look or smell funky I would use it. Especially since you're using IO, no added organics.

Well I'm have some algea problem so I bought new lighting, go, and plan on doing a 50 percent once a month from now on my refugium is great for nitrates but the phosphates are rough.

That plan isn't ideal but I'm not going to say you wont be successful doing that. Smaller, more frequent water changes provide a more stable environment as well as much more room for error. Doing 50% WC's I would want the new water to be exactly the same temp/SG/ph and alk(if it's a reef tank) as the old. With smaller changes it's not as much of a concern. GFO should knock out any excessive po4.

 

[Joshua Agostoni]

As long as the water didn't look or smell funky I would use it. Especially since you're using IO, no added organics.


That plan isn't ideal but I'm not going to say you wont be successful doing that. Smaller, more frequent water changes provide a more stable environment as well as much more room for error. Doing 50% WC's I would want the new water to be exactly the same temp/SG/ph and alk(if it's a reef tank) as the old. With smaller changes it's not as much of a concern. GFO should knock out any excessive po4.

No coral fish only.

 

[Instigate]

No coral fish only.

Not a huge deal then, as long on your temp/salinity/ph are on point.