What comes first?

NanaReefer · Jul 20, 2015

Does it really matter if salt mix is added first or last? I like to put my salt in first then add my water. But I haven't been doing it this way because of what everyone else says [emoji12]

Downbeach · Jul 20, 2015

Yes, due to high concentrations of Ca and Alk while adding the water to the mix, may cause them to precipitate out of solution, making them unavailable for your animals uptake needs.

Shep · Jul 20, 2015

It should not really matter if you add the water all at once to the salt, if you add water slowly to the salt then it could fall out of solution.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 20, 2015

I agree with both. If you pour the water all in at once (like in 5 seconds) and stir vigorously it is fine, but anything less can lead to problems. Definitely do not let RO/DI drip into solid salt mix.

NanaReefer · Jul 20, 2015

I use a mag5 (500gph) to add water to my bucket. Take about 2min to fill 5g. Is that to long? My thinking is, I'm mixing while filling [emoji2]

redfishbluefish · Jul 20, 2015

With all do respect, lets make this simple.....always add salt to water. Why would you want to take the chance of super cells of salt/alk/calc causing ppt. Please, put the water in your bucket/Brute/etc FIRST and then add the salt with as rapid agitation as you can provide.

NanaReefer · Jul 20, 2015

Can't get any simpler than that-lol. [emoji12]

reefbeard · Jul 20, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
With all do respect, lets make this simple.....always add salt to water. Why would you want to take the chance of super cells of salt/alk/calc causing ppt. Please, put the water in your bucket/Brute/etc FIRST and then add the salt with as rapid agitation as you can provide.

Agree 100%

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 21, 2015

redfishbluefish said:
With all do respect, lets make this simple.....always add salt to water. Why would you want to take the chance of super cells of salt/alk/calc causing ppt. Please, put the water in your bucket/Brute/etc FIRST and then add the salt with as rapid agitation as you can provide.

I agree.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 21, 2015

NanaReefer said:
I use a mag5 (500gph) to add water to my bucket. Take about 2min to fill 5g. Is that to long? My thinking is, I'm mixing while filling [emoji2]

Add the water first in that case.

TD13 · Jul 21, 2015

I'm new to making my own water at home. I have a 5 gal bucket full of RO and then put a 261 GPH power head in the bucket, then slowly add the salt. After the measured amount is all in, I leave it with the PH for 45 min then add to my tank. I use Red Sea Pro Salt. Is this ok?

redfishbluefish · Jul 21, 2015

TD13 said:
I'm new to making my own water at home. I have a 5 gal bucket full of RO and then put a 261 GPH power head in the bucket, then slowly add the salt. After the measured amount is all in, I leave it with the PH for 45 min then add to my tank. I use Red Sea Pro Salt. Is this ok?

Yes. Red Sea Pro states that their salt is good-to-go as soon as it mixes clear...and used within four hours.

I would like to see a bit more agitation than a 261 gph powerhead. I have two powerheads when I make 25 gallons...a Koralia K4 and Koralia Magnum 8, 1200 gph and 3250 gph, respectively.

TD13 · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 21, 2015

TD13 said:
I'm new to making my own water at home. I have a 5 gal bucket full of RO and then put a 261 GPH power head in the bucket, then slowly add the salt. After the measured amount is all in, I leave it with the PH for 45 min then add to my tank. I use Red Sea Pro Salt. Is this ok?

That sounds just fine.