Salt mix in brute can- need help

Roachbeef19 · Sep 22, 2020

So whenever I mix salt and have a pump circulating it and it is in the can for multiple days it leaves a residue on the side of the can. Anyone know what this is? Its reef crystal salt with rodi water

ichthyogeek · Sep 22, 2020

Probably just calcium carbonate. It's precipitate, and is harmless. If it bothers you, you can run the brute can with a citric acid bath prior to mixing new water which will get rid of the residue.

Tiki Reef Joshua · Sep 22, 2020

You using IO?

fishface NJ · Sep 22, 2020

It's a cake/powder binder they use. Instant Reef salt does this. Nothing to worry about. If you don't like that residue, there are other salts that don't do that. Look at BRS videos that they compared salt mixes

cmoore806 · Sep 22, 2020

just noticed the same exact problem in my mixing tank...except mine had a light brown color, but the flakes were white. very unusual

Tiki Reef Joshua · Sep 22, 2020

IO gives you brown stuff. I forget what it is exactly but it’s harmless. Having said that I don’t use it.

Conchman · Sep 22, 2020

Precip, I lessen it by mixing the salt in ambient, then turning on heater as I am close and adjust the last bit about 12 hours out.

Roachbeef19 · Sep 22, 2020

Thanks guys!!!!! I noticed it only happens with io reef crystals. Regular io it doesn't happen. I'm a topic marin pro reef guy my whole life. Starting this 300gallon tank I went cheap with salt to start since I already dropped so much $$$$$$ well back to tropic marin I go. Thanks again I love R2R

RobB'z Reef · Sep 22, 2020

Roachbeef19 said:
Thanks guys!!!!! I noticed it only happens with io reef crystals. Regular io it doesn't happen. I'm a topic marin pro reef guy my whole life. Starting this 300gallon tank I went cheap with salt to start since I already dropped so much $$$$$$ well back to tropic marin I go. Thanks again I love R2R

TM is the bomb-diggity. Expensive but hassle free

mfinn · Sep 22, 2020

Been using Reef Crystals for a couple decades and you just get used to cleaning out the mixing container.
Also, the longer you leave the saltwater in the container the bigger the mess.

pseudorand · Sep 22, 2020

mfinn said:
Been using Reef Crystals for a couple decades and you just get used to cleaning out the mixing container.
Also, the longer you leave the saltwater in the container the bigger the mess.

What happens if you don't clean it out?

I've got it and I've used IO, Bright well and red sea.

I actually didn't notice it after IO, but I just did one brute before switching. I think it was actually the Brightwell that left it there, but I won't swear my memory is flawless. Brightwell actually got top marks from BRS for hastle free mixing I think.

mfinn · Sep 22, 2020

pseudorand said:
What happens if you don't clean it out?

I've got it and I've used IO, Bright well and red sea.

I actually didn't notice it after IO, but I just did one brute before switching. I think it was actually the Brightwell that left it there, but I won't swear my memory is flawless. Brightwell actually got top marks from BRS for hastle free mixing I think.

Not sure. Maybe just gets so bad it flakes off and gets in the tank?? I usually clean it out.

I once left a barrel of Red Sea Pro mix for a few days and there was the same scum in the barrel.