I have a moisture problem in my basement apartment that lead to clumping in my salt mix. Running a dehumidifier in the bathroom with the door closed an the salt bag open dried the mixture out and returned it to its normal consistency.
Before mixing some salt water with it, I rotated and flipped the bag to get everything well mixed. After letting the water mix for half an hour or so, I tested pH, kH, and salinity. All three were way off. kH was 0 dkH, pH was high off the charts, and salinity was low (did not notate the value in my aquarium log book, just that it was low). It normally mixes to 7.5dkH and 7.8pH I correct it with sodium carbonate, which is also added to ATO water.
I know moisture can cause calcium to bind with other minerals (I believe carbonate to form calcium carbonate) and will not dissolve if they are in a high concentration relative to the amount of water, such as putting salt in the mixing container before the water, or in my case high moisture in the salt mix.
Would the formation of calcium carbonate (if that is the correct compound) due to moisture cause these issues? If calcium carbonate was formed, would the salt break back down to a fine homogenous mixture on its own just by being exposed to the hot dry air from the humidifier running in an enclosed bathroom? (Probably over 100°F and less than 30% humidity according to the dehumidifier)
I do not have a magnesium or calcium test kit yet as I have a pico and do weekly (or at least try to) 100% water changes, so I was not able to test calcium levels.
Before mixing some salt water with it, I rotated and flipped the bag to get everything well mixed. After letting the water mix for half an hour or so, I tested pH, kH, and salinity. All three were way off. kH was 0 dkH, pH was high off the charts, and salinity was low (did not notate the value in my aquarium log book, just that it was low). It normally mixes to 7.5dkH and 7.8pH I correct it with sodium carbonate, which is also added to ATO water.
I know moisture can cause calcium to bind with other minerals (I believe carbonate to form calcium carbonate) and will not dissolve if they are in a high concentration relative to the amount of water, such as putting salt in the mixing container before the water, or in my case high moisture in the salt mix.
Would the formation of calcium carbonate (if that is the correct compound) due to moisture cause these issues? If calcium carbonate was formed, would the salt break back down to a fine homogenous mixture on its own just by being exposed to the hot dry air from the humidifier running in an enclosed bathroom? (Probably over 100°F and less than 30% humidity according to the dehumidifier)
I do not have a magnesium or calcium test kit yet as I have a pico and do weekly (or at least try to) 100% water changes, so I was not able to test calcium levels.
