Damp salt mix bad?

[Angela Short]

I have a bucket of IO that has not been sealed well and drawn in moisture pretty bad. Not soupy but for sure hard and chunky now with definet dampness. I mixed 50 gallons up with a PH and heater for 2 days and it didn't seem to mix up all the way. It had quite a bit of precipitate (?) on the bottom of my container? What chemically changes when your salt gets damp like this and should I not use it for water changes anymore and just toss it? I did mysteriously loose a cap frag after my last water change but that could have just been a coincedence....
Thanks for any advise!!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It may be slower to dissolve. The only real concern is precipitation of calcium or magnesium carbonate. Try measuring the alkalinity after dissolution, and if it is OK, the salt is OK to use.