Water Change Salt Mixer?

[Spare time]

I use a Sicce Syncra Silent 1.0 in a 20 gallon Brute can to mix my saltwater. I have been using the same one for 6 years now.

I have one of those that has been working since 2018. They are fantastic pumps.

 

[Spare time]

If you are worried about aeration during storage, just add an airstone+airpump.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

I use Tropic Marine and I use a board or pipe and mix it like I am using an oar.

 

[pulpfiction]

If you are worried about aeration during storage, just add an airstone+airpump.

Problem is I can store a bucket of salt water in a closet. I can't store a bucket with cords attached to an outlet without it being in the way and in the middle of a bathroom.

 

[polyppal]

ive just used whatever old sicce pump and heater I have lying around. I use coral pro, which has a lot of crud, but every few barrels when it gums up the pump I just take it apart & clean

 

[Spare time]

Problem is I can store a bucket of salt water in a closet. I can't store a bucket with cords attached to an outlet without it being in the way and in the middle of a bathroom.

In that case, you might want to do what I do. I can't store large amounts (only 5 gallons at a time). So what I do is keep a 5 gallon bucket of RO water at my disposal, and then mix salt when I need to. Red sea (and coral pro) salt mixes in about 10 minutes or so, which lets me make saltwater on the spot without issue.

 

[Sean Clark]

I usually don't store saltwater. I typically make it as I need it unless I am planing some kind of maintenance that I know will need saltwater. I always have lots of rodi water made up though.

 

[pulpfiction]

In that case, you might want to do what I do. I can't store large amounts (only 5 gallons at a time). So what I do is keep a 5 gallon bucket of RO water at my disposal, and then mix salt when I need to. Red sea (and coral pro) salt mixes in about 10 minutes or so, which lets me make saltwater on the spot without issue.

I thought it had to be mixed for about 24 hours before everything dissolved? So it doesn't irritate corals or burn fish?

 

[Spare time]

I thought it had to be mixed for about 24 hours before everything dissolved? So it doesn't irritate corals or burn fish?

Red sea's is ready to go when clear (as said by manufacturer). Most salts are ok once clear in my opinion.

 

[Pistondog]

I've gone through several aqueon circulation pumps for my water mixing bucket. It seems they break every two weeks and I'm getting really annoyed. I have one in my tank and that one never dies for some reason. I've had to take it out of the tank several times just to mix salt. What do yall use for mixing your salt?

Try a powerhead, the blades might be more forgiving than a pump impeller.

 

[Karen00]

BRS has a video on that.

Thanks for this! I should have known BRS tested this. LOL Most stay really stable and even the ones that change aren't huge shifts. The increases were interesting. I use Fritz RPM so I should run my own tests out of curiosity but I have to assume it's fairly stable as well.

 

[pulpfiction]

Try a powerhead, the blades might be more forgiving than a pump impeller.

I think they're the same? /shrug. I think pouring salt into the bucket while the power head was on killed one of them. I then only started up the powerhead a few minutes after pouring in the salt. It still died.

Thanks for this! I should have known BRS tested this. LOL Most stay really stable and even the ones that change aren't huge shifts. The increases were interesting. I use Fritz RPM so I should run my own tests out of curiosity but I have to assume it's fairly stable as well.

It does seem to stay stable. I'm not sure if they stored it with or without a pump. Not sure if that would make a difference in the changes.

 

[Karen00]

Problem is I can store a bucket of salt water in a closet. I can't store a bucket with cords attached to an outlet without it being in the way and in the middle of a bathroom.

The BRS video that was provided tested storage stability without mixing/aeration/ heating for up to 3wks. All of the mixes remained stable. I have been storing mine almost exactly the way they did in their test (which is re-assuring). I don't even use a pump when mixing. Just my stick.

 

[pulpfiction]

Red sea's is ready to go when clear (as said by manufacturer). Most salts are ok once clear in my opinion.

I have instant ocean. It stays cloudy for a good while.

 

[pulpfiction]

The BRS video that was provided tested storage stability without mixing/aeration/ heating for up to 3wks. All of the mixes remained stable. I have been storing mine almost exactly the way they did in their test (which is re-assuring). I don't even use a pump when mixing. Just my stick.

Oh, it did? Hmm. Maybe I'll try it that way as well.

 

[Karen00]

Oh, it did? Hmm. Maybe I'll try it that way as well.

I'm glad I watched it. I'm like you where I store my bucket there are no outlets nearby so I was glad to see that's how they ran their test. They stored it at 68 degrees (I guess that's room temp for them) and with no aeration after the initial mix.

 

[pulpfiction]

I'm glad I watched it. I'm like you where I store my bucket there are no outlets nearby so I was glad to see that's how they ran their test. They stored it at 68 degrees (I guess that's room temp for them) and with no aeration after the initial mix.

They have a time to mix to dissolve the salt too. It's an interesting watch.

 

[n2585722]

No idea. Mixing salt is still the hardest and most frustrating thing for me in this hobby. Something always goes wrong. I usually let a 5 gallon bucket sit and mix for 24 hours then water change. But don't understand if I can mix for 24 hours, then store without it still being aerated. I'm trying to downsize the amount of my water changes and its just messing up the whole process.

My system does auto water changes and the water is drawn from a 20 gallon Brute can without heating or aeration. The can last about 4 weeks. When it goes low the system transfers the water from the mix tank to that tank if the mix tank is ready to use. The mix tank is also a 20 gallon brute can. Once the water is transferred the Mix tank is automatically refilled with DI water from the RODI. it has a circulation pump but no heater. All I have to do is add the salt mix and press a button when it is ready to use. I have about 4 weeks to get that done. Both tanks are in my garage under my workbench along with one for DI water for auto top off.

 

[pulpfiction]

My system does auto water changes and the water is drawn from a 20 gallon Brute can without heating or aeration. The can last about 4 weeks. When it goes low the system transfers the water from the mix tank to that tank if the mix tank is ready to use. The mix tank is also a 20 gallon brute can. Once the water is transferred the Mix tank is automatically refilled with DI water from the RODI. it has a circulation pump but no heater. All I have to do is add the salt mix and press a button when it is ready to use. I have about 4 weeks to get that done. Both tanks are in my garage under my workbench along with one for DI water for auto top off.

That's way more plumbing than I have space for XD. Nice system though.

 

[Karen00]

My system does auto water changes and the water is drawn from a 20 gallon Brute can without heating or aeration. The can last about 4 weeks. When it goes low the system transfers the water from the mix tank to that tank if the mix tank is ready to use. The mix tank is also a 20 gallon brute can. Once the water is transferred the Mix tank is automatically refilled with DI water from the RODI. it has a circulation pump but no heater. All I have to do is add the salt mix and press a button when it is ready to use. I have about 4 weeks to get that done. Both tanks are in my garage under my workbench along with one for DI water for auto top off.

Impressive! I'm envious of people with the space to do this and the automation is awesome! I dream of the day I can do this.