Making my own salt water and ph question

[dnguyen1]

Hey guys I'm making my own salt water with reef crystals. I make the water about a week or two ahead of the water change... sometimes I don't use it all so the water stays in my container longer. It's a rubberneck container with a lid but not airtight so I lose water... I do top off and ensure water is mixed and turn on my Powerheads a few hours before the water change and drop in a heater... is there anything wrong with this water "œsitting" outdoors? Change in temp and not consistently mixing? Thanks all


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[Sk8r]

Aeration will be your worst problem outside of salinity. A strong skimmer or circulation pump will help. And it will aerate a bit going in. But testing the salinity of your mix, very important.

 

[mcgyvr]

As reef crystals has some organics and vitamins in it the salt should not be stored for more than (x days.. x to be filled in by an IO company representative).. It can become stagnant and being to accumulate hydrogen sulfide..

If you are not making/using your water in a fairly short amount of time then you should probably switch to another salt (regular IO does not have the vitamins/organics in it)..

[Thank you, mcgyvr, well-caught.---Sk8r]

 

[allendehl]

Thank you OP for your question. I am in the exact same boat and never thought it was an issue. As part of my WC routine I leave the salt water mixing for the next one, usually in two weeks. I do check salinity before the WC and it had never changed so I'm not loosing too much water to evaporation.
I use a brute 35G bucket and IO regular salt. I may be changing to the reef crystal since I've added a couple of lps and softies. It seems I may have to update my routine and mix the day before WC.

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[sde1500]

I would not leave it stagnant. I use RC, and make 30 gallons at a time, stored in a brute trash can. The can has a heater and powerhead running 24/7 Avg weekly 5 gallon water changes.

 

[dnguyen1]

No problem I think then it's safe to say to not mix the salt until it's close to go time... I'll leave the ro waiting is that okay? For ro to sit?


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[mcgyvr]

I may be changing to the reef crystal since I've added a couple of lps and softies. k

Thats certainly not needed and I would suggest against it solely because of its higher alkalinity and most are maintaining lower alk now than in previous years as lower nutrient levels are even easier to achieve now thus potentially causing alk burn,etc..
I ran from RC a while back and there are TONS of us maintaining coral reef tanks using regular IO..

Frankly I'm not even sure why they make RC anymore.. The alk is so high and it just costs more.. There is really no proven benefit from it that I can see..

 

[allendehl]

Thats certainly not needed and I would suggest against it solely because of its higher alkalinity and most are maintaining lower alk now than in previous years as lower nutrient levels are even easier to achieve now thus potentially causing alk burn,etc..
I ran from RC a while back and there are TONS of us maintaining coral reef tanks using regular IO..

Frankly I'm not even sure why they make RC anymore.. The alk is so high and it just costs more.. There is really no proven benefit from it that I can see..

Mc...not guessing you age here but...for how long have you been in the hobby? Geez man, you're like a reef encyclopedia.
(not trying to hit on you, I believe we cleared that point a few posts ago )

 

[mcgyvr]

Mc...not guessing you age here but...for how long have you been in the hobby? Geez man, you're like a reef encyclopedia.
(not trying to hit on you, I believe we cleared that point a few posts ago )

Join Date: Sep 2003

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The answers to 99.999999% of the questions asked on this forum and virtually all others are easily available in a simple internet search..
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[dnguyen1]

As reef crystals has some organics and vitamins in it the salt should not be stored for more than (x days.. x to be filled in by an IO company representative).. It can become stagnant and being to accumulate hydrogen sulfide..

If you are not making/using your water in a fairly short amount of time then you should probably switch to another salt (regular IO does not have the vitamins/organics in it)..

Hey mcgyvr do we know what "œx days" is? Thanks!!!


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[mcgyvr]

Hey mcgyvr do we know what “x days” is? Thanks!!!

Well.. I don't off hand (I could probably google though but not sure that this "X" is public knowledge).. I'd assume that the breakdown starts immediately but it would take a while to become a real issue..
If I had to guess I'd say that I wouldn't store it for more than a few weeks..maybe a month max..

I would contact IO if I was you.. and if you do please post back.. I'm not sure they will answer that question though as there are many variables envolved.. but it can't hurt to ask..

 

[dnguyen1]

Thanks sir! I'll shoot them an emol


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[lapin]

As reef crystals has some organics and vitamins in it the salt should not be stored for more than (x days.. x to be filled in by an IO company representative).. It can become stagnant and being to accumulate hydrogen sulfide..
[Thank you, mcgyvr, well-caught.---Sk8r]

You need to mix RC with some sort of pump to move the water. If not you will get precipitation of some ingredients. Once mixed you need to keep it moving . This allows the carbon dioxide in the aquarium water to reach equilibrium with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which normalizes pH. It also adds oxygen. The longer you store it without a pump, the less likely you will get the full benefits. Once settled some parts will not re-dissolve.

+1 with all 3 secrets )))))

 

[Cancun]

No problem I think then it's safe to say to not mix the salt until it's close to go time... I'll leave the ro waiting is that okay? For ro to sit?


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Great question....I always have RODI in a 32 gallon Brute trash can on hand....as far as the salt....I use Red Sea Coral Pro....I do 10 gallons a week...heat the water the night before....mix the salt a couple of hours before I do my water change the next morning. I have never had a problem with PH or anything. I can't weigh in on any other salt brand though....

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