Ro/di help

Bryon · Aug 28, 2012

Hello everybody,

I've been reading the forums for a while now and finally decided to start seeking some help from so many of you knowledable people on here. This may seem like a stupid question, but I've read many books and did a lot of searching online and still haven't found my answer.
I want to start making my own saltwater for water changes instead of going to the store all the time, but I'm not real sure the steps to take. I know I would need a RO/DI unit, but what esle. After you get the water to a bucket or whatever I use, how do I mix for a water change? Won't the newly made water need to cycle like a tank set up for the first time or can it be added directly to the tank? For topping off, I can just put unmixed water in jugs, but the mixed water has me stumped. Any help or comments would be appreciated.

jdpiii3 · Aug 28, 2012

Get a power head and put it in your mixing container you can also add an air stone, add your salt mix slowly wait until its clear. Check your specific gravity and Ph of mix water when it matches your display you can do the water change. I usually wait about 6-8 hours to use my mix water.

For top off water, yes you can just fill jugs and add as needed.

Loki · Aug 28, 2012

this is what I have/use/do

I have an RO/DI unit that fills a 55 gallon drum with RO/DI water. Every few days I take 10-20 gallons of water out to top off my auto top off as well as my other smaller tanks. When filling the evaporated water I only use RO/DI because salt does not evaporate and does not need to be replaced as evaporation occurs.

When it comes time to mix up saltwater for a waterchange. I get my brute trash can and put my measured salt into it. Then I dump my RO/DI water into it. I have a heater on a controller to monitor the temp to match the tank as well as a pump with 8 feet of hose. I keep these on a surge protector and use only when mixing new saltwater. I let the water mix for about 24 hours. The pump sits at the bottom of the brute can and pumps the water to the top. I feel this is the best way to keep all of the water moving with only one pump/powerhead. Also when it is time I turn the pump in the brute can off and then check the salinity making sure it matches the tank if everything is a go I use the same pump and hose to pump the new saltwater into the tank. again I get to use one pump and it makes life a lot easier for me.

I have always have 55 gallons of RO/DI water on hand in a barrel with a lid. I test it often and let it sit for more than a week and nothing changed.

I have heard of people putting fresh saltwater into 5 gallon jugs and storing for weeks so I see no issue there either.

I hope this helps

Mufasa31 · Aug 28, 2012

I use 5 gallon buckets to mix my salt water.
For the powerheads, I use koralia 3's. They seem to do a better job of mixing the salt and there seem to be less dead spots.
I mix my water at least 24 hours. That insures the salt is mixed in and the water temp has adjusted to room temp.

Downbeach · Aug 28, 2012

I have a Brute 32 gal. trash can I use to make my SW(25 gal.). I do my WC's every two weeks and use almost all of it. I make fresh SW right away, so it will be sitting until the next WC. I keep a heater and two PH's in the can, one for aeration at the top, and another for circulation laying in the bottom, that I leave on 24/7.
Here is the method I use:
Reef Keeping Salt Water and Mixing Saltwater | Successful Reef Keeping

For my top off(2 gal./day) I have a 2 gallon jug that I add 2 tsp of kalk to, shake, seal and use the following day.

AZDesertRat · Aug 28, 2012

I use either empty salt buckets or a Rubbermaid trash can to mix new saltwater depending on the volume I need. I mix it no more than 24 hours ahead of time and add a heater and powerheads to mix and get temp correct.

Bryon · Aug 28, 2012

Thanks for all the quick answers. I learn something new every day on this forum.

Newb73 · Aug 28, 2012

Yeap, i use 3 5G buckets with RO/DI water and a 5g bucket of reef crystals. I think its 1 cup per gallon or something of salt to wather.........throw in a maxi jet 400 powerhead with the flow head on it (500gph). Leave it a couple hours and then i drop it in one of the other buckets...after all three are mixed you just drain and pour. Make sure there isnt salt sitting on the bottom of the bucket unmixed. Some times if its chilli in the house, ill throw a heater in the buckets as well (only have one heater and one extra power head but it sure would be easier if i had 3 extra heaters and 3 extra power heads)