Storing saltwater

frags · Dec 17, 2014

Does anyone know if you can store ESV salt in a brute can with no heater or circultion for a month?

tyler1503 · Dec 17, 2014

I'd add circulation, even if it's just an old air pump, but it can be done

I've stored uncirculated and unheated water for much longer before.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 17, 2014

I think that is fine. I store IO that way. ESV does not claim to contain organic matter, which would be my concern with unstirred storage and the potential to become anaerobic. I wouldn't heat it if you do not stir it, or else the heater may collect substantial calcium carbonate precipitate by becoming fairly hot.

If you do water changes of more than a few percent at once, I'd stir to aerate before use, but since I change water very slowly every day, I do not stir mine after the initial mixing.

frags · Dec 17, 2014

What does it mean turn anaerobic and how do you know this has happened?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 17, 2014

It means bacteria growing in the water convert sulfate into toxic hydrogen sulfide when they run out of oxygen. It will smell of rotten eggs if that happens.

frags · Dec 17, 2014

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
It means bacteria growing in the water convert sulfate into toxic hydrogen sulfide when they run out of oxygen. It will smell of rotten eggs if thT happens.

Ty for the info!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 17, 2014

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

NanaReefer · Dec 17, 2014

Randy-I learn something new from you at least once a day...sometimes twice even!!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 19, 2014

NanaReefer said:
Randy-I learn something new from you at least once a day...sometimes twice even!!

:thumb:

Happy Reefing

ThePriceSeliger · Dec 23, 2014

Randy, what about HW-MarineMix Reefer Salt? I'll be switching from RedSea and I'm doing the same auto-water change (.5g x 3), should I circulate for a few minutes before each water change? Would placing a bag of carbon in the container keep it from going anaerobic as quickly?

Singlefin · Dec 23, 2014

I store natural saltwater (straight from the ocean) for a few weeks sometimes before using it and haven't seen any ill effects.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 23, 2014

ThePriceSeliger said:
Randy, what about HW-MarineMix Reefer Salt? I'll be switching from RedSea and I'm doing the same auto-water change (.5g x 3), should I circulate for a few minutes before each water change? Would placing a bag of carbon in the container keep it from going anaerobic as quickly?

It seems to say it contains amino acids and some unknown thing called "biocatalysts", and if you want those, I'd use it within a day or two of making it.

The carbon will remove some of those, but not all amino acids, and would negate the value of those that are removed (if there is any).

I don't know how much of those are present, but I'd probably keep it aerated to at least a small extent on storage.

mic209 · Dec 23, 2014

One of the problems I saw with storing saltwater for extended periods was a drop in ALK and CA levels. After about 2 weeks of storage with a circulation pump and heater, the alk would be down to around 6 dkh and calcium in the low 300 range. After I realized this was why my display tank was suffering and couldn't get the levels up, I mixed a batch and tested after 2 days and alk was down 2 dkh. I experienced this with red sea coral pro and reef crystals. For this reason I stopped making big batches of saltwater and just mix what I need an hour or 2 before a water change.

SailAnnapolis · Dec 23, 2014

My problem with storing it was the fresh water evaporates to the ceiling of the container and gets super musty. Anyone have that. Even in the same blue containers.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 23, 2014

I don't have a mustiness issue, but some do, including in RO/DI water containers.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 23, 2014

mic209 said:
One of the problems I saw with storing saltwater for extended periods was a drop in ALK and CA levels. After about 2 weeks of storage with a circulation pump and heater, the alk would be down to around 6 dkh and calcium in the low 300 range. After I realized this was why my display tank was suffering and couldn't get the levels up, I mixed a batch and tested after 2 days and alk was down 2 dkh. I experienced this with red sea coral pro and reef crystals. For this reason I stopped making big batches of saltwater and just mix what I need an hour or 2 before a water change.

Since many salt mixes start fairly high in alkalinity and calcium (relative to seawater), they may suffer some precipitation, especially if there is a heater or pump that is warm.

IdahoFledgling · Dec 24, 2014

mic209 said:
One of the problems I saw with storing saltwater for extended periods was a drop in ALK and CA levels. After about 2 weeks of storage with a circulation pump and heater, the alk would be down to around 6 dkh and calcium in the low 300 range. After I realized this was why my display tank was suffering and couldn't get the levels up, I mixed a batch and tested after 2 days and alk was down 2 dkh. I experienced this with red sea coral pro and reef crystals. For this reason I stopped making big batches of saltwater and just mix what I need an hour or 2 before a water change.

I've always been told to never mix salt water for more then a couple hours for this reason. It seems like a ton of people mix it like crazy though, glad someone's tested and confirmed what I was told.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Dec 24, 2014

FWIW, it doesn't always drop nearly as much as posted above, and many people would prefer their salt mix to not have such excessively high alkalinity.

If it drops, the calcium drop will seem to be a lot smaller than the alk drop. The calcium drop accompanying a 2.8 dKH drop in alkalinity will only be about 18-20 ppm. For only a few mixes would that calcium drop be important.

FWIW, I mix my IO for a day or so, then let it sit for weeks while I slowly use it for water changes.

Streetcred · Dec 24, 2014

I've been collecting and storing natural sea water for '100s' of years ... 800L at a time and do 400L changes every couple of months, sometimes 200L per month if I'm on my game. Never had any problems with the NSW kept outside in the weather (it's warm here in Brisbane, Australia).

Streetcred · Dec 24, 2014

I store 200L of RO/DI at a time ... last me a few weeks ... never gets musty. SailAnnapolis, you ever meet a bloke up that way, Garth Hitchens ... Beneteau agent?