Despite my best efforts to keep it dry, my bucket of salt mix has caked up. Really caked up. I cant even bust it up with a screwdriver. Any body have advice or know how I can dry it out enough to at least get it out of the bucket?
How can I dry out my salt mix?
- Thread starter mooman
- Start date
Depends how much salt.. if you have a big enough container and water you can put some water in the salt bucket to start to disolve it, then pour the entire bucket into something like a 32G rubbermaid with RO water to mix it all up. I can't think of too many other options since you say you can't even break it up with a screwdriver.
It's almost a full 5g bucket. Are there any household things that could be put in the bucket to act as a desicant? I will try rice but any other suggestions would be great.
There's nothing much more of a desicant than salt I'm afraid - is there anyway that you could bake it to dehydrate it? Now that the salt is wet and as bad as you say, I don't think there will be anything strong enough to pull the water away from the salt. I'd be very interested, though, to hear if you find anything that works.
maybe rice? put it in a pantyhose foot and tie it closed. i know at some restaurants they put several grains of rice right into the salt shaker to keep the salt loose.
or get hold of a hair dryer and manually try to dry it. as it loosens up, scrape it out.
or get hold of a hair dryer and manually try to dry it. as it loosens up, scrape it out.
Drying it won't do any good. If it's got wet and then dried, the individual grains will be permanently stuck together now.
Regardless of whether or not the salt has dried, various chemical reactions have taken place. This primarily includes the precipitation of calcium carbonate, as well as other compounds. You will likely have to boost levels a good deal to bring the resultant solution back to "normal." Even then, the presence of precipitate will make that rather difficult.
Sorry to hear this... If it's that solid, I wouldn't even bother trying to use if for your sw tank.
I'm not sure I'd throw it away, per say... I'd see about getting it out of the bucket in a large chunk (or two) and setting it out like a salt lick for the animals (if you live out in the country or know someone that does). While it's not the same as a salt or mineral block typically set out for wildlife (sw mix is considerably more expensive), I don't see why certain salts and minerals in it wouldn't be beneficial for the animals like a more typical salt or mineral block is. I could be wrong, but it just seems like a better idea than throwing it away and it going to a landfill.
I'm not sure I'd throw it away, per say... I'd see about getting it out of the bucket in a large chunk (or two) and setting it out like a salt lick for the animals (if you live out in the country or know someone that does). While it's not the same as a salt or mineral block typically set out for wildlife (sw mix is considerably more expensive), I don't see why certain salts and minerals in it wouldn't be beneficial for the animals like a more typical salt or mineral block is. I could be wrong, but it just seems like a better idea than throwing it away and it going to a landfill.
add a hammer to this equation and you should be able to break it up. From there crush smaller pieces in a seperate, dry, bucket. But remember :
Hammer + screwdriver = salt in your eye
or
hammer + screwdriver + closed eyes = broken finger
Hammer + screwdriver = salt in your eye
or
hammer + screwdriver + closed eyes = broken finger