Salt mixing advice needed!

[Robert_Popa_918]

I recently bought a 32 gallon garbage can and filled it up with RODI water. Roughly 12 hours ago, I added Instant Ocean sea salt and things aren’t going so well. The salinity reads at 0.020 specific gravity and there’s still quite a bit of salt on the bottom that isn’t dissolved after being hand mixed for a period of time and then having a pump and heater on through the whole time. I need to do a water change tomorrow and I’m not sure what comes next. Do I add more salt to get the salinity level up to 0.022 or do I wait for the rest of the salt to dissolve and salt level will rise on its own? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

Before you add more, stir the salt on the bottom to help it dissolve. You will probably have to add more still. I use a long piece of PVC pipe to stir with.

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

Before you add more, stir the salt on the bottom to help it dissolve. You will probably have to add more still. I use a long piece of PVC pipe to stir with.

Thanks for the help! Just out of curiosity though, will the salt level rise on its own once fully dissolved or will it not change salinity level whatsoever?

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

That all depends on how much water there is and how much salt was on the bottom. Best bet is to get it all mixed before adding more.

 

[nitrodude]

Hand mixing does not sound like fun.
If you have a decent sized spare pump throw that in there and let it do the work.

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

Hand mixing does not sound like fun.
If you have a decent sized spare pump throw that in there and let it do the work.

I have a cheap pump inside the tank that is rated for roughly 325 gph. Turns out there’s a dumb design on the bottom of the trash can that traps salt inside the crevices and is making it really tough to dissolve salt fully. I’ll just work on it tonight and hopefully it’ll be fully dissolved by tomorrow.

 

[Doctorgori]

I recently bought a 32 gallon garbage can and filled it up with RODI water. Roughly 12 hours ago, I added Instant Ocean sea salt and things aren’t going so well. The salinity reads at 0.020 specific gravity and there’s still quite a bit of salt on the bottom that isn’t dissolved after being hand mixed for a period of time and then having a pump and heater on through the whole time. I need to do a water change tomorrow and I’m not sure what comes next. Do I add more salt to get the salinity level up to 0.022 or do I wait for the rest of the salt to dissolve and salt level will rise on its own? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

All I saw was “Instant Ocean” and knew all you just described is typical of that brand... I bought my 1st box I the 70s and whether they changed formulas since is unknown but that sg and undisolved stuff has not changed ...I still buy it but watch the BRS vids..no suprprises there believe me

 

[Robert_Popa_918]

All I saw was “Instant Ocean” and knew all you just described is typical of that brand... I bought my 1st box I the 70s and whether they changed formulas since is unknown but that sg and undisolved stuff has not changed ...I still buy it but watch the BRS vids..no suprprises there believe me

I figured that Instant Ocean wasn’t the best quality of salts but I figured it would do fine since there won’t be any coral in the tank for a while, due to my Koran Angelfish. Changing roughly 30 gallons a week takes quite a toll on my wallet and I wanted to get something more affordable. So you’re saying that the salt not dissolving will be a constant issue? If so I might reconsider another salt brand that’s somewhat affordable.

 

[lapin]

Before moving to a new salt you could spend the money on a powerhead instead of the pump. The are cheap ones out there. I would test it with one of those then if it works get a good one that wont short out.
sun powerhead = cheap

sun powerhead at DuckDuckGo

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more expensive options

koralia powerhead at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I don't have any issues with IO salt dissolving. When you are mixing it, just add it slow. It does take longer, but you will be fine with it.

 

[Doctorgori]

I figured that Instant Ocean wasn’t the best quality of salts but I figured it would do fine since there won’t be any coral in the tank for a while, due to my Koran Angelfish. Changing roughly 30 gallons a week takes quite a toll on my wallet and I wanted to get something more affordable. So you’re saying that the salt not dissolving will be a constant issue? If so I might reconsider another salt brand that’s somewhat affordable.

IO is fine, it’s just not the fastest dissolving brand... and yeah lil chunks do remain often times.... IMO Fosters and Smith dissolves the fastest .... as for quality, well options vary tremendously ...AFAIC most common brands work fine

 

[MTBake]

Sounds like you need a larger pump or powerhead to mix it up better. My mixing container has enough flow to swirl the water rapidly and mixes clear in about 15 minutes. Pretty sure it's rated at 1400gph and I mix in a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[CelticReef]

Add it slower next time with a pump going in your mixing station so you won’t have so much undisolved salt reach the bottom...you can rubber band a pump to a pvc pipe that way u can aim it at the spots the salt has settled.

 

[GThompson]

I also mix in a 5 gallon bucket with a 1200 gpm pump and my IORC dissolves completely

 

[Lith1um]

I use a powerhead (twin head) in my 20 gallon can. I used instant ocean salt crystals. I have never had an issue with salt on the bottom. Make sure u dont dump alot... drop the salt crystals slow and let the powerhead do the mixing

 

[Rams54]

Go to Home the Depot paint Dept. and buy a paint mixer. They have a 5 gal. and 10 gal. paint mixing paddle. they have 6 plastic fins on them. I can do a 10 gal water change in less than an hour, that includes siphoning 10 gal. from the tank and raising the temperature of the water. Put a heater in the bucket to heat the water up. Also go to Harbor Freight and buy a fountain pump (if they are available this time of year), if they don't buy one online. Go back to HD and buy some plastic hose that will fit the pump. You can pump a bunch of water (after mixed) in no time at all. Don't be shy, give it a try. Let me know how it goes....Mark

 

[mike550]

I use a submersible pump and attached a PVC pipe to the outflow so it raises the water back to the top and creates some agitation. When adding salt, I add it about one cup at a time -- not dumping all at once. Let it go for a couple of hours and pretty much all dissolved. For whatever remains I use a PVC pipe and stir for 5-10 min to raise the salt back into the water and let them pump work on it some more.

 

[Krully]

I've been using IO salt for a year now with 0 issue, I just toss a powerhead randomly with my heater in a bucket, wait for the RO/DI water to be at least at room temperature and then add the salt slowly just shaking the recipient I use. Never had any issue with it.

 

[Rams54]

Everyone has their way of doing it, what works for you may not work for the next guy all are good suggestions.

 

[piranhaman00]

I didnt read through the posts but the stuff not dissolving is most likely because the water is cold. That happens to me and when I heat it up it dissolves easily. And yes that will raise the sg but should be very minimal.