Salt Mix Low salinity

[EzCheez]

Hey guys,
Yesterday i mixed some FSW for today, to do my water change this morning. I use reef crystals, and unfortunately at this point, i don't have a container large enough to mix all of my water together, so I'm using 4 5g buckets to mix my FSW. I have a 90g w/20g sump. Long story short, its been humid in Alabama, and i didn't realize that my open bag of salt mix would get clumpy. *Note to self- use ziplock bags now*. I checked the salinity last night and it was 1.015 in the buckets. Added more salt and its up to 1.020. The salt is totally dissolved. I don't feel safe using this water, because I've put more than the recommended amount of scoops, not by much tho, maybe 1/4 cup for each 5g. But would need to add more salt mix to get it up to 1.025. Thoughts? Am i safe to use this water, once i get the salinity up? Or do i need to dump this water, and use a fresh bag of salt. Thank you in advance.

 

[EzCheez]

Correction i use Instant Ocean-Reef Crystals

 

[Decalf]

Whats the temp of the water and what r u using to check salinity. Could your sal checker be off? Need calibration?

 

[EzCheez]

Whats the temp of the water and what r u using to check salinity. Could your sal checker be off? Need calibration?

Temp of the water is 68*. I know I'm supposed to be heating the water up to within 3* of my tank which is 76*, but without having a big brute can, i don't have 4 heaters. Im using a refractometer. I don't think it needs calibrating because i checked my aquarium and I'm at 1.023.

 

[Reefing Madness]

How did you measure if its all clumped together? I'd go ahead and use it. Its not gonna look right cause its all clumped up, but should still be good. I've had this happen several times. I now use the buckets the salt came in, they have a rubber ring to keep moisture out.

 

[EzCheez]

How did you measure if its all clumped together? I'd go ahead and use it. Its not gonna look right cause its all clumped up, but should still be good. I've had this happen several times. I now use the buckets the salt came in, they have a rubber ring to keep moisture out.

I broke it up as much as possible. I guess my worry is that if I keep adding salt and get the salinity where I need it, that I'll be adding too much trace elements.

 

[Fish Bait]

Just for future ideas, keep your insta reef jockeys because they keep moisture out very well, but you can find it in the box like the stores buy it on doctors foster and Smith for cheaper (not too much, but it adds up), and they often put sales on it, then give you free delivery.

 

[Fish Bait]

Buckets, not jockeys, sorry

 

[VicD81]

GO for it! Specially with them 5 gallon buckets. You never really have exactly 5 gallons in there anyway. When I only had my 29g Biocube I would buy the bag of salt. I would just twist the bag and wrap a rubber band tightly around it and before use just mix it really well to break up clumps and mix the mix. :tongue:

 

[that Reef Guy]

Whats the temp of the water and what r u using to check salinity. Could your sal checker be off? Need calibration?

His testing would not be off as water got in and hardened the salt.

I have had that happen before.

I had to break up the salt rocks (I left the Lid to the Bucket off over night and it all hardened).

I used the regular amount but the salinity was low.

I just added more salt until it got to 1.026

I used it and had no problems.

But I did have somebody once tell me to throw salt out when that happens.

But it was one person so I do not know if they were right or not?

I had no problems using it but I would wait for more people to reply to the thread to get their opinion before deciding on using it or throwing it out.

 

[EzCheez]

His testing would not be off as water got in and hardened the salt.

I have had that happen before.

I had to break up the salt rocks (I left the Lid to the Bucket off over night and it all hardened).



I used the regular amount but the salinity was low.

I just added more salt until it got to 1.026

I used it and had no problems.

But I did have somebody once tell me to throw salt out when that happens.

But it was one person so I do not know if they were right or not?

I had no problems using it but I would wait for more people to reply to the thread to get their opinion before deciding on using it or throwing it out.

Yeah that sounds good. Ill wait till later in the day to decide what I'm going to do. Thanks everybody

 

[that Reef Guy]

I would buy new salt until you decide (Save the Hard Salt for Later).

That way if you do use it you won't loose any money on salt and you will not risk any problems.

Has anybody out there ever heard of a tank crashing or any other problems from using Salt that Hardened?

 

[EzCheez]

I would buy new salt until you decide (Save the Hard Salt for Later).

That way if you do use it you won't loose any money on salt and you will not risk any problems.

Has anybody out there ever heard of a tank crashing or any other problems from using Salt that Hardened?

I bought the bags, so i still have bags that are good. But my 4 5g buckets are full and ready for a water change (if i decide to use the water). So either i dump the water and make some new water (which i don't want to do if possible), but i won't risk killing anything off.