reef crystal bags of salt are solid blocks

[reef tank 2.0]

i've had a box of reef crystals salt for a while now, since my last tank set up. the box and bags are still sealed.
i opened the box tonight, and noticed that all 4 bags have become solid blocks of salt.
if i were to smash this salt up to get it back to granules, can it be used?
does it have a shelf life?

 

[LPS Bum]

Yep. This has happened to me too.

Nothing a hammer won’t fix. I’ve had no problems.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

i assumed salt is salt, hard or granules....wasn't sure if it lost any of it's elements

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Check the alkalinity. If it is normal, the salt is good to go. Precipitation of calcium carbonate as moisture enters is the concern.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

coming back to this.
i'd rather not waste a full bin of RO water with salt that may be "expired".
I assume I can mix a gallon of salt water, bring it up to 1.025 salinity, and then test parameters. ya?

is there a better, more efficient way to do this?

 

[JayM]

coming back to this.
i'd rather not waste a full bin of RO water with salt that may be "expired".
I assume I can mix a gallon of salt water, bring it up to 1.025 salinity, and then test parameters. ya?

is there a better, more efficient way to do this?

I don’t see why not. The salt won’t know if you’re mixing 1 gallon or 50.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

that's what i thought as well

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just test alk. If it is normal, calcium and everything else is ok.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I buy the old solid boxes at a steep discount, almost free. I use it for daily top off and don’t worry about testing. All out water changes would be different and I would test.

 

[aquaman67]

Get a five gallon bucket at Lowe’s and get the screw on lid for it.

Keep the salt in the bucket and I throw a big mesh bag of rice in there too.

 

[Isaac Alves]

How did the Alk test go?

 

[reef tank 2.0]

Haven't done it yet.
Most likely tomorrow

 

[Roatan Reef]

Get a five gallon bucket at Lowe’s and get the screw on lid for it.

Keep the salt in the bucket and I throw a big mesh bag of rice in there too.

i've had a box of reef crystals salt for a while now, since my last tank set up. the box and bags are still sealed.
i opened the box tonight, and noticed that all 4 bags have become solid blocks of salt.
if i were to smash this salt up to get it back to granules, can it be used?
does it have a shelf life?

Correct, or just buy the 5 gallon bucket of Reef Crystals and use, then top off with new purchased salt. I've had my 5 gallon bucket for 2 years now....I win contests and stuff and get free bags of more Reef Crystals from my LFS, and I just toss it in to the bucket and stir it around....it's like I never run out of it ...lol.

We keep the bucket in our Florida room, so it does get cooler than being inside, but not so cold....as we live on the Space Coast, but this year so far...it's been cold and rainy almost everyday for the last 4 months...but my bucket of salt stays just fine.