Does storing reef salt in freezing temps wreck it? Does salt expire?

[duganderson]

I have a bucket of reef salt that was stored in the garage in MN freezing temps. Did this wreck it?

Does salt expire?

Thanks, Doug

 

[NaasReefer]

I store my salt in a shed that was well below freezing for at least a month over the winter, the bucket was at least a year old. I made up a new batch of saltwater a couple of weeks ago for my tank upgrade using that salt and everything is perfect. I think as long as the salt doesnt get wet it's fine.

 

[homer1475]

As long as it's not hard, it's fine in my experience. I usually buy a few 200G boxes at a time and store them in my garage. In upstate NY it gets way below 0 for many days at a time and I have never had an issue.

 

[dtapke]

Theory would say it should store better at freezing temps. I'd be cautious of rapid freeze thaw cycles though.


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[xsentrixsupra]

As long as it's not hard, it's fine in my experience. I usually buy a few 200G boxes at a time and store them in my garage. In upstate NY it gets way below 0 for many days at a time and I have never had an issue.

What do you mean by "not hard" sorry I'm fairly new to saltwater. Are you talking about if salt gets a bit of moisture and starts to clump or something else?

 

[nereefpat]

Are you talking about if salt gets a bit of moisture and starts to clump

Yes

 

[lolgranny]

What do you mean by "not hard" sorry I'm fairly new to saltwater. Are you talking about if salt gets a bit of moisture and starts to clump or something else?

Yes this is what he's talking about.


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[homer1475]

Yup, exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[scuzy]

I think even if it clumps once dissolve it's the same. I don't see any of the component going anywhere. When it evaporates it's just the water not the particles in it. maybe I'm wrong.


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[nereefpat]

If it clumps, I wouldn't be afraid to use it.

But, you may have to boost the alk and Ca back up. The moisture would probably cause localized precipitation of calcium carbonate.