I mixed 64 cups of Tropic Marin salt in my 150 gallon tank yesterday and ALL of it dissolved. I added 4 cups every hour. I set the temps at 89F to help it dissolve better. I cracked opened a barrel of Reef Crystal. Added 4 cups an hour but not all of it dissolved. I'm at a total of 92 cups inside the 150 gallon tank now... What should I do? Also the salt in the Reef Crystal is hard as rock.
Reef Crystal Salt not dissolving.
- Thread starter XtinctioN
- Start date
- Tagged users None
markalot
Comic Relief
Hard as a rock indicates it's been exposed to moisture and needs to be discarded. When that happens the mix won't be the correct consistency. For startup, in my opinion, I would go with the cheapest salt you can find, Instant Ocean, to get to the correct salinity. That's just my opinion ... my biggest tank is a 46. 
Hold up. Do you have any flow in the tank to help break up and dissolve the salt mix? Have you measured the SG yet? I've used hard salt before, all depends on when it got the moisture in it. But you should probably look at getting more salt.
XtinctioN
Community Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2013
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 0
Yes I currently have an Aqueon HOB 75g filter running for flow and also a Jebao WP40 pushing everything from the bottom up. Everything is moving very well. I can see all the salt particles moving.
Ok, so we have some flow. Have you tried to swirl it about in the tank, get it broken up a bit more, or take the power head and blow it directly on the salt mound?
XtinctioN
Community Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2013
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 0
Yup and also the temp is at 89-90F too so it's nice and warm... I just ordered some more WP40s to blow at all the salt particles. I have to get all of them out right? it's bad to let it just sit there when I add sand?
If nothings in the tank, you rjust starting out, no, its not bad, it won't hurt anything. But I'd definately not use hard salt again. I don't remember having that issue with mine. I was using IO, so close to the same stuff. I know it will clump up in one spot, and pretty much stay there if no flow moves it about.
glb
7500 Club Member
This has happened to me. I've gone ahead and put it in my tank with the undissolved salt. It eventually dissolves. I watch the salinity by adding fresh water. It rises slowly as the salt dissolves. Not ideal for a tank full of corals but if you're starting the tank it shouldn't be a problem.
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.
XtinctioN
Community Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2013
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 0
What is SG? I added a total of 92 cups of salt. I am aiming for a total of ~ 240 gallon. 150G DT - 20G Fuge - 30G Fuge - 40G Sump
I'm planning to add more salt when I have all the plumping installed.
jedimasterben
Bubble coral sting good
Not particularly. I've mixed salt to around 70ppt before with no issues.
redfishbluefish
Stay Positive, Stay Productive
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
Article Contributor
NJRC Member
Hospitality Award
This is not recommended with reef salts that come with high alk and calc as part of the mix. At 70 ppt you are at twice the concentration and wil get calcium carbonate precipitation.
Theoretically, if the 2 salts mix the same, you have a mix for a 184g tank at an SG of 1.023.
