I can't mix saltwater!!

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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