Any tips for keeping salt dry?
- Thread starter kakan
- Start date
sir_dudeguy
Active member
take a filter bag or something and fill it with rice and chuck it in there. That works really well. Whenever you go to really humid places they do that at restaurants and stuff...they putt bits of rice in the salt to keep it dry.
AnnArborBuck
New member
I throw a piece or two of bread in my buckets. Works great.
JustinReef
New member
Bread.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
sometimes those rubber seals dont work for some reason. I've had a completely tight lid on a bucket and next time i opened it it was rock hard lol. I'm in AZ so i really dont worry bout it, but my room is pretty humid from the tanks 
mystrybird
New member
What brand of salt are you using?
Are you keeping it in the same container it was in?
I have tried out a few brands over the years.
The only time I have had that problem was when I had not sealed the lid properly.
I would hesitate throwing some bread or other material in the bucket.
Might introduce some unwanted bacteria in the tank.
Are you keeping it in the same container it was in?
I have tried out a few brands over the years.
The only time I have had that problem was when I had not sealed the lid properly.
I would hesitate throwing some bread or other material in the bucket.
Might introduce some unwanted bacteria in the tank.
psyrob
New member
I have the same problem with reef crystals, even tho it has the rubber seal on the 5 gallon bucket and I whack it with a hammer to close it. I live in So Cal, dry as a bone, and I store the bucket in a different room from my tank. I decided to just by the 50 gallon bags and use them up before they get "caked" instead of the 160 gallon bucket. More money, but then I get through the salt before it gets caked.
Do you use the salt that has hardened, by breaking it up? Or do you throw it out?
Do you use the salt that has hardened, by breaking it up? Or do you throw it out?
kakan
Premium Member
I use reef crystals and I was using the bucket it came but for the last year or two I've been doing the same as psyrob and just buying 50 gallon bags and trying to use them before they cake up. I went out last night and bought a new bucket and lid and I think I'll also try a bag of rice as sir_dudeguy suggested.
thecichlidpleco
New member
I go the bread route, also great way to keep freshly baked cookies soft.
oysterxfast5
New member
Does it really matter if it gets caked besides having to break it up?
GobyJohnKenobi
New member
I premeasure it and put enough into ziplock bags to make all of my fresh batches. Then I just cut the corner off the bag and dump it in when it's time to mix.
I, uh, only mix two gallons at a time. What a pain.
I, uh, only mix two gallons at a time. What a pain.
yellowwatchmen
In Memoriam
I use a container that was used for dog treats and it works great. I will try to post a pic tomorrow so you know what i am talking about.
mystrybird
New member
How many others have had problems with Reef Crystals? I never said what brand I had cake up. I was certain it was because the I thought I didn't close the lid all the way. But it was Reef Crystals for me too!
Not here to dish or promote any brand over the other. But can say that was the only salt that went solid on me too.
When I did try to use what was left, I was not able to get it to dissolve completely and had to dump it.
Not here to dish or promote any brand over the other. But can say that was the only salt that went solid on me too.
When I did try to use what was left, I was not able to get it to dissolve completely and had to dump it.
JustinReef
New member
I leave the bread until it gets nice and moldy. That way it kind of grows a cheese on it. Then I just toast it and you have a lovely lightly salted cheese bread. Delicious with pasta.
pledosophy
Active member
I use an air tight container made for dog food. Got it at Petco.
I live in Oregon 100ft from a prtected wetland. Humid as can be. Salt is dry and powdery.
JME
I live in Oregon 100ft from a prtected wetland. Humid as can be. Salt is dry and powdery.
JME
jdieck
New member
Sometimes salts get on the rubber seal and does not allow it to seal properly. In any case the best to keep things dry is a filterbag filled with silica gel which can be regenerated in an oven at 230*F for one hour.
I use it to dry the air going into the Ozone generator.
It is important to keep the salt mix as dry as possible. Moisture will degrade some of the components specially compunds that give the final mix the proper calcium, magnesium and alkalinity levels.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/2249
I use it to dry the air going into the Ozone generator.
It is important to keep the salt mix as dry as possible. Moisture will degrade some of the components specially compunds that give the final mix the proper calcium, magnesium and alkalinity levels.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/2249
