View Full Version : I can't mix saltwater!!
jayghmi
03-13-2008, 9:24 AM
I finally installed a new RO unit - Yeah! No more running to the LFS at inconvenient times because I have run out of top off water!
Now I am mixing my own saltwater in a five gallon bucket. I have a heater and a small power head in the bucket. I put in 3 and 1/2 cups of instant ocean and stir like mad. After a couple of days of this I still have a little bit of salt that will not dissolve - what's up?
Cheech
03-13-2008, 9:26 AM
Days??????
eessh... Have you measured your salinity levels in the water ?
Reefscape
03-13-2008, 9:28 AM
Its a common thing i had when i used to use IO salt...I had to manualy crush up the particles that would not dissolve...never had that peoblem again since i switched salts....
nycsicktank
03-13-2008, 9:30 AM
i use my powerhead facing towards salt and dissolves easily
Subliminal
03-13-2008, 9:40 AM
Make sure the water goes in first, then the salt. My process it this:
Fill bucket with water
Add powerhead
Add salt
This works the best for me. Salt then water usually results in undisolved for me. But I use reef crystals, so I'm not really sure if that makes a difference...
I have seen that as well using Reef Crystals.. there would be small specs of undisolved salt. I would just turn off the power head shortly before using it.. let the specs settle to the bottom, and use the top. I mixed mine in a 32G trashcan though. The last gallon or so just got tossed out and the trashcan cleaned out after each mixing. Don't have that problem any longer since switching to filtered ocean water.
jayghmi
03-13-2008, 9:47 AM
Reefscape - what salt do you use now? and yes cheech I have measured the salinity (or specific gravity) and its right at 1024. Maybe its the salt? I have been for the last year buying my saltwater from the LFS that used IO. Are there any implications to the tank if you change salts?
Reefscape
03-13-2008, 9:50 AM
Reefscape - what salt do you use now? and yes cheech I have measured the salinity (or specific gravity) and its right at 1024. Maybe its the salt? I have been for the last year buying my saltwater from the LFS that used IO. Are there any implications to the tank if you change salts?
I currently use a mixture of Reef Crystals and Seachem.....
HiepNotik
03-13-2008, 10:25 AM
I use IO also and it's not a problem for me. I add the salt to the water not water to the salt, then stir, when I finish stirring I add the power head and heater, everything dissolves in about 5 minutes for me. water is crystal clear.
Reefscape
03-13-2008, 11:44 AM
Make sure the water goes in first, then the salt. My process it this:
Fill bucket with water
Add powerhead
Add salt
This works the best for me. Salt then water usually results in undisolved for me. But I use reef crystals, so I'm not really sure if that makes a difference...
I use IO also and it's not a problem for me. I add the salt to the water not water to the salt, then stir, when I finish stirring I add the power head and heater, everything dissolves in about 5 minutes for me. water is crystal clear.
Jayghmi - Can you confirm which method your using to mix your salt and water mate???
jayghmi
03-13-2008, 1:18 PM
Reefscape, thanks for moving the thread.
I actually have the water in the bucket for a day before I add the salt, because I transfer 2 gallons of RO at a time to fill up the bucket (my RO holding tank only holds about 3 gallons of water). So it is definitely water first. This last time I heated the water before I put in the salt, thinking more would dissolve in warm water.
Subliminal
03-13-2008, 1:39 PM
It is also possible you got a bad batch...I've heard of that happening before.
kcress
03-13-2008, 2:17 PM
I too do the add water. 32g
Add heater and large powerhead(tossed on bottom).
Once temp is correct add salt.
Temp is the biggest 'dissolve' factor. Low temp = hard dissolving.
dolfans1
03-13-2008, 6:37 PM
3.5 cups for 5 gallons seems like an awful lot of salt to me. I use just about 2 cups for 5 gallons, and the SG ends up around 1.025. Of course, I'm using a different brand, but I wouldn't expect the volume of salt needed to be that far off.
clown-lover
03-13-2008, 9:19 PM
I was going to say the same dolfans.. 3 1/2 cups should be enough salt for 7 gallons of water or there abouts. How are you measuring your specific gravity. I know when I was using IO and now when I use RC 1/2 cup per gallon and a little more gets me to my 1.0262 sg.
Are you testing your salinity with a refractometer or a swing arm?
jayghmi
03-14-2008, 6:46 AM
I am using a swing arm and i rinse before and after every use. I broke it in by floating it in saltwater for a couple of days - last year.
Yes I thought 3 1/2 cups was a lot of salt, but I just retested it and it's actually below 1024.
As of right now 7:45 am Friday morning there is still salt in the bucket (4 or 5) table spoons and its been in there since Wednesday.
nycsicktank
03-14-2008, 6:50 AM
that explains it, get a refractometer
Agree with above. The 1.024 is probably incorrect reading from your swing arm. I read somewhere the other week some one took a reading with a swing arm as 1.025. He added his mix to his tank and all his fish died over night, bought a refractometer, re tested his water and it measured 1.044
clown-lover
03-14-2008, 7:32 AM
That was a user on this site.. Jay I can say with almost 99.9% certainty that your salt content in that bucket is way above 1.024.. Instant ocean is one of the easiest to dissolve salts and if you read on the bucket it does give you mixing instructions as to how much salt vs how much water. At 3 1/2 cups of salt like I said you have enough salt in there for approximately 7 gallons.
I used to use a swing arm and have become an extreme advocate of refractometers. You can get a decent on on Dr. Fosters for like 40 bucks. I agree with the above statement to ditch the swing arm and get a refractometer.
Take a water sample to your LFS and have them test it with their refractometer so you can at least get an immediate reading
jayghmi
03-14-2008, 9:46 AM
Thanks All! I will throw out this water and start over.
I assume you mean this one http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+9957&pcatid=9957
It's a good thing my wife loves me - because every month I tell her that I NOW have everything I need. Last month was an RO unit. I love my tank, maybe if the stock market keeps crashing (my job) I can trade it for a used car!
clown-lover
03-14-2008, 5:38 PM
yeah thats the one. ummm I have yet to have everything I need for this hobby and I've been in it just over a year.. :)
So yeah.. ;)
jayghmi
03-14-2008, 8:09 PM
I am over a year and the list is still so long. For the heck of it I filled another bucket with 5 gallons and added 2 cups of salt. The directions say a 1/2 cup per gallon and I still have about 3 tablespoons undissolved. I will check tomorrow and see the outcome. If that doesn't dissolve, I will try 1 cup per 5 gallons and see if I can get that to dissolve.
As far as not having everything - it is kind of the never ending quest for perfection that makes the hobby IMO. Maybe I will knock a wall out and build bigger - but first I will learn to make the water salty. Jay