First batch of salt mix - cloudy

[allendehl]

Hello guys,

I am mixing my first batch of salt today. Used RODI water and IO salt. I filled up my 32G brute can up to about 4 inches from the top and "figured" the 32G would be close so I used the recommended amount of salt for 32G (16 cups of salt). Threw in a powerhead.

About 2 hrs later the water is very cloudy and has some "stuff" floating at the surface. I can also see particles moving around in the bucket. SG is up to 1.034.

Is the cloudiness normal? Also anyone has a 32G gray Brute bucket and has any idea where is the 32G line (I wonder why the manufacturers don't mark it if they sell it as such!!!)

Thanks!!

 

[Potatohead]

32G is completely full. Just keep adding water until your salinity gets to 1.026 or so.

It should be clear after an hour or so. What temp is the water?

 

[RedGabino]

Just add More water, wait 2hrs and check salinity again.
If Stills yo high you are going to take out 1 gal of water from the tank and replace it with More RODI. Repeat as need it. Do not dispose the salty water, you can use it later for water changes.

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[sde1500]

Also anyone has a 32G gray Brute bucket and has any idea where is the 32G line (I wonder why the manufacturers don't mark it if they sell it as such!!!)

Thanks!!

Well, it is a garbage can so no one really measures garbage in gallons lol. Just happens to be good to keep our water in too! Fill it to just above the handles, that should be pretty close to 32 if I am remembering correctly.

 

[thegrun]

When you mix salt you will get less calcium precipitation (cloudiness) if you pour the salt in SLOWLY into COLD water. Adding salt rapidly or into warm water each will cause some precipitation, particularly if you use a reef salt that is high in calcium and alkalinity. Your mixing the salt above normal salinity (1.026 S.G.) did not help the situation. Unless you are using an accurate scale to weigh the salt, I would mix a little less than the recommended amount of salt and then use a calibrated refractometer to figure out how much additional salt is needed bring the salinity up to the desired level.

 

[allendehl]

Well, it is a garbage can so no one really measures garbage in gallons lol. Just happens to be good to keep our water in too! Fill it to just above the handles, that should be pretty close to 32 if I am remembering correctly.

uhh....good point but still don't they know we reefers think outside the tank? :spin1:

Some say at the very top some at the handles. I found a link to a calibrated "ruler" and I'll do the exercise. I'll post the 32G mark in here for reference.

 

[allendehl]

When you mix salt you will get less calcium precipitation (cloudiness) if you pour the salt in SLOWLY into COLD water. Adding salt rapidly or into warm water each will cause some precipitation, particularly if you use a reef salt that is high in calcium and alkalinity. Your mixing the salt above normal salinity (1.026 S.G.) did not help the situation. Unless you are using an accurate scale to weigh the salt, I would mix a little less than the recommended amount of salt and then use a calibrated refractometer to figure out how much additional salt is needed bring the salinity up to the desired level.

It was at ambient temp, to be honest I didn't measure it. It makes sense. It is clearer now, just that I need to work it out backwards now to get to the gravity needed. Lesson learned, this forum is awesome.

Thanks

 

[hkgar]

I also use the grey 32 G Brute. My shut off valve is inserted 3 inches from the top and shuts off the flow at about 6 inches from the top That works out to about 24 gallons as 12 cups brings the water to about 1.025.

Your lesson from this should be:
1. Nothing goes fast in reefing. Go slow. (since you did not know the actual amount of water add slowly after reaching a safe # of cups.
2. Go slower than that.

I always stop at 10 cups and check sg. Even though I have done it a thousand times.

 

[SycoCell]

I use the 32gallon Green Brutes. Don't put all the salt in at once. Do 1/4 of the salt at a time, mix it, pour more. Never takes me more than 5 minutes from fill up to mix to change my tank. If I pour too much salt at once, the water gets cloudy.

 

[hkgar]

I also have a Sicce Lyncra 4 pump running when I am adding salt.

 

[allendehl]

Thank you all. As promised the 32g mark in the brute tank. It is about half an inch above the highest bump inside the tank.

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