Salt related questions

[ssunthar]

Hi Experts, have 2 questions regarding salt which my LFS not able to explain:
1. Is it a bad practice to add salt directly (without pre-mixing in water) into the tank? Any explanations as to why?
2. Is it required to keep the pre-mixed salt water for sometime (up to 24 hours were suggested) before adding it into the tank? Any benefits in doing so?

Thank you very much.

 

[Ludders]

1. Yes
2. No

 

[ssunthar]

1. Yes
2. No

Hi Ludder, thank you. Any reasons you could share for 1?

 

[saltyfins]

Hi Ludder, thank you. Any reasons you could share for 1?

in part, because direct unmixed salt will burn corals and fish, and also how would you keep the parameters right? it'll settle on the bottom of tank, why would you? it's not that hard to mix a bucket of salt in fresh RODI water....?

 

[josephxsxn]

If you're using anhydrous salt like NeoMarine it will get hot.. very hot while it rehydrates.

 

[Ludders]

Sorry for the short response, on point 2. 24 hours is a good amount of time to mix salt water for, but if you can't, using preheated ro water and mixing the day of your water change is possible. The longer you leave it mixing, the more accurate you can match the specific gravity to your desired level, which increases your chances of maintaining a really stable environment.
Corals had swings, specifically SPS, so stability is king.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

i would also add that you can read the instructions on your salt package and follow those directions. always check salinity before adding to your system

 

[ssunthar]

in part, because direct unmixed salt will burn corals and fish, and also how would you keep the parameters right? it'll settle on the bottom of tank, why would you? it's not that hard to mix a bucket of salt in fresh RODI water....?

Interesting, thanks.

 

[ssunthar]

If you're using anhydrous salt like NeoMarine it will get hot.. very hot while it rehydrates.

Wow, didn't know that.

 

[lefkonj]

Are you talking about for a water change? If so then it is more than just the salt and water. You need the water to hit a similar temperature, which will dissolve the salt the proper salinity. Additionally mixing with a pump to achieve the right distribution throughout the water you are adding is also important.

Having said all of this it also depends on what you are doing? Adding 4 gallons to a 200 gallon system, 24 hours would not be required. adding 40 gallons though I would get the temp and mixing done for a day.

 

[ssunthar]

Sorry for the short response, on point 2. 24 hours is a good amount of time to mix salt water for, but if you can't, using preheated ro water and mixing the day of your water change is possible. The longer you leave it mixing, the more accurate you can match the specific gravity to your desired level, which increases your chances of maintaining a really stable environment.
Corals had swings, specifically SPS, so stability is king.

Thanks. So, it is ok to mix salt in preheated water (my RO filter system does dispense preheated water).. should i be concerned about the max temperature i should mix the salt at?

 

[josephxsxn]

Thanks. So, it is ok to mix salt in preheated water (my RO filter system does dispense preheated water).. should i be concerned about the max temperature i should mix the salt at?

I'd read the instructions carefully for whatever salt mix your wanting to use. For NeoMarine they recommend having heated water for mixing and say to never ever mix it in the aquarium with live inhabitants right on the bucket, They also strongly recommend 24 hours to clear. At the very bottom mine has the warning not to handle with wet hands as it will get hot on your skin while rehydrating.

I don't heat my water tho lol.. but I wait almost 7 days typically before using because I'll mix 100 gallons at once.

 

[ssunthar]

Are you talking about for a water change? If so then it is more than just the salt and water. You need the water to hit a similar temperature, which will dissolve the salt the proper salinity. Additionally mixing with a pump to achieve the right distribution throughout the water you are adding is also important.

Having said all of this it also depends on what you are doing? Adding 4 gallons to a 200 gallon system, 24 hours would not be required. adding 40 gallons though I would get the temp and mixing done for a day.

Thanks lefkonj, very informative.. very different to what i am doing now.
1. In my case for every water change i do mix the salt in RO water upfront (normally a few hours before) and will try to get the right salinity level. However i won't be too worried about temperature (but it should be at room temperature before adding it in).
2. In the case of water top up I normally add RO water (which will a small amount, directly into the tank) and i don't normally add/mix salt if my salt level is already at optimal level.

Please suggest if the above are not the right way of doing it, thanks.

 

[ssunthar]

I'd read the instructions carefully for whatever salt mix your wanting to use. For NeoMarine they recommend having heated water for mixing and say to never ever mix it in the aquarium with live inhabitants right on the bucket, They also strongly recommend 24 hours to clear. At the very bottom mine has the warning not to handle with wet hands as it will get hot on your skin while rehydrating.

I don't heat my water tho lol.. but I wait almost 7 days typically before using because I'll mix 100 gallons at once.

Thanks, and a good reminder to revisit the instructions and the fine prints... will do that first.

 

[ssunthar]

i would also add that you can read the instructions on your salt package and follow those directions. always check salinity before adding to your system

Good point.. something that i had not been doing. Thanks.

 

[lefkonj]

Thanks lefkonj, very informative.. very different to what i am doing now.
1. In my case for every water change i do mix the salt in RO water upfront (normally a few hours before) and will try to get the right salinity level. However i won't be too worried about temperature (but it should be at room temperature before adding it in).
2. In the case of water top up I normally add RO water (which will a small amount, directly into the tank) and i don't normally add/mix salt if my salt level is already at optimal level.

Please suggest if the above are not the right way of doing it, thanks.

For top off I would just use RO water, no salt at all, since the salt is still in the water just H2O has evaporated.
With regards to water change, as I said it depends on what percentage of the total volume you are changing. Other than that seems fine

 

[Rmckoy]

1) yes
Undissolved salt will burn anything it comes in contact with , and how do you know how much salt is needed ?
2) every bucket has directions with their recommendations of how long to mix . And it’s sometimes cloudy when first mixed

I’ve never measured but I was always led to believe the alk of new water is high and mixing lowers a little .

 

[ssunthar]

For top off I would just use RO water, no salt at all, since the salt is still in the water just H2O has evaporated.
With regards to water change, as I said it depends on what percentage of the total volume you are changing. Other than that seems fine

Thank you again

 

[vic5hands]

best way to keep numbers the same while doing water changes
1. Mix your dry salt unless using the entire container.
2. weight the salt you are going to use. That way you know exactly how much salt your adding to the fresh water . This is where adjustments can be made. Food grade scale can be purchased on line.

 

[ssunthar]

1) yes
Undissolved salt will burn anything it comes in contact with , and how do you know how much salt is needed ?
2) every bucket has directions with their recommendations of how long to mix . And it’s sometimes cloudy when first mixed

I’ve never measured but I was always led to believe the alk of new water is high and mixing lowers a little .

Thank you. And reading the instructions on the bucket surely reiterated what many had said above.... i am using salt from Red Sea and the first instruction is to not to mix the salt directly into the tank.