Storing Mixed Salt

grantfoster02 · May 18, 2021

How do you guys store your saltwater? I have a smaller tank as of right now, (13.5G) so I wouldn’t need to store a lot of it, just enough for w/c and top offs. It’s kind of a hassle to mix salt every time I need it when I could premix and store it.

mrlavalamp · May 18, 2021

Food grade buckets with the lids that have a gasket has worked well for both ato top off and small amount of salt water storage for me. Lids are hard to take off so keeps little hands out.

I use a 50 gal brute can for water changes and mixing salt water up. They come in smaller sizes too, works good for those smaller tanks.

ZoWhat · May 18, 2021

grantfoster02 said:
It’s kind of a hassle to mix salt every time I need it when I could premix and store it.

Not a hassle to me to pour water into a gallon milk jug, take a funnel and pour 1/2 cup of dry mix in.... then shake it. It's all part of the hobby.

Most veterans keep about a 20-30 day supply in a lidded-drum with internal water flow.

Your needs are tiny so I'd really would just accept the 3-5 min task

.

bmeily · May 18, 2021

Most salts store well for a few weeks. Keep it circulating with a spare power head/pump. 5 gal with lid is fine or brute with lid is better. For a 5 gal: After a water change you can just refill the bucket and add salt and have it mixing, ready for next week. Turn heater on the day before next change or leave it on the whole time.
for a brute can it’s basically the same. Just have to have a way to take it from the can and Into the tank.

Finallysalty80 · May 18, 2021

+1 for brute can with lid. Then I have a BUNCH of repurposed 1 gallon distilled water jugs for smaller amounts.

Reef. · May 18, 2021

grantfoster02 said:
How do you guys store your saltwater? I have a smaller tank as of right now, (13.5G) so I wouldn’t need to store a lot of it, just enough for w/c and top offs. It’s kind of a hassle to mix salt every time I need it when I could premix and store it.

probably just a mistake in wording but you do know that you don't top up with salt water?

Rjn31714 · May 19, 2021

Does anyone have experience storing fritz salt does it hold up well and does it leave the bin clean?

acanman · May 19, 2021

I keep 10 gallons of fresh rodi water in lidded 5 gallon buckets and 10 gallons of saltwater in the same thing with a power head running to keep it stirred

Rjn31714 · May 19, 2021

Any drop in levels or precipitation ? How long do you store it I'm mixing 55 gal at a time to do auto water changes using iorc and I'm wanting to swap to fritz or brightwell just trying to figure out which way to go

Auntjemimma · May 19, 2021

I purchased a 65 gallon rain barrel for $80 and threw in an old power head / heater.

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 19, 2021

Rjn31714 said:
Any drop in levels or precipitation ? How long do you store it I'm mixing 55 gal at a time to do auto water changes using iorc and I'm wanting to swap to fritz or brightwell just trying to figure out which way to go

High alk mixes will often precipitate calcium carbonate over time, especially if warm/hot or in a low CO2 environment. That['s not usually a problem since they started high.

FWIW, most mixes can be stored unstirred and unheated, but some mixes, such as reef crystals, may have problems unaerated since the organics in it may decompose and make the water stagnant.