Mixing instant ocean reef crystals to 1.026

[Stevenlatham01]

I'm going to mix up my first batch of saltwater later today and need some tips on how to do it. What temp is best to have my rodi water at before I add my water. Somewhere on here I read to mix at low temp and it mixes better. Also the instructions only give how much salt to use to get to 1.020 at 75F but not how much I need for 1.026. ATM I have a internal filter running. She hold I take this out? Will it damage the filters? My powerheads are coming in 2 days time so I could just mix it by hand?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Stevenlatham01]

Forgot to say, want to mix this in my QT hence the filter in there.

 

[mako61]

I use a separate mixing container. ( for me is a brute trash can or a 5g bucket )
Just add RODI water + salt. Add in an old power head and a cheaper heater.
Let is mix a few hours or over night is the best.
Check salinity after its mixed a bit.
I would not over think it.

 

[Cymonous]

I mix in a 32g brute trashcan, but generally mix about 12 gallons for my water changes. I turn on my powerheads and old heater, then add salt one cup at a time. Since it is supposed to be 1/2 cup per gallon for 1.020, I do add more to get to 1.026. I believe I do 8 full measured cups for 12 gallons.

 

[tjm9331]

The best thing to do when trying to reach a specific SG is to add the recommended amount by the manufacturer and then using a refractometer slowly add salt until you reach the desired SG. Take note to how much salt you added over the recommended amount that way when you mix again for water changes you just need to add that amount and go.

so for example if you were to mix reef crystals in a 20 gallon Brute trash barrel, IO recommends 1/2 cup per gallon to reach 1.020SG so you add 10 full cups and you get 1.020 then add a 1/2 cup 1 at a time until you reach 1.026

Just to give you an idea I mix Reef Crystals in a 20G Brute to reach 1.025SG and add 12.5 cups to the water or 25 1/2 cups

 

[Stevenlatham01]

Based on that I will need 1.5 the recommended 33grams per litre on the introductions. So that works out at 50 grams per litre. I will try it and see how it goes.

I would prefer to get the calculation right to save time in the future.

I will use their recommended temp ATM of 77F and see how it mixes for me. It's only a small QT so it shouldn't take too long I hope.

 

[Stevenlatham01]

The best thing to do when trying to reach a specific SG is to add the recommended amount by the manufacturer and then using a refractometer slowly add salt until you reach the desired SG. Take note to how much salt you added over the recommended amount that way when you mix again for water changes you just need to add that amount and go.

so for example if you were to mix reef crystals in a 20 gallon Brute trash barrel, IO recommends 1/2 cup per gallon to reach 1.020SG so you add 10 full cups and you get 1.020 then add a 1/2 cup 1 at a time until you reach 1.026

Just to give you an idea I mix Reef Crystals in a 20G Brute to reach 1.025SG and add 12.5 cups to the water or 25 1/2 cups

Thanks, taking that into account I will keep checking the the salinity as I add each cup.

 

[hkgar]

I mix to a specific PPT (35) and not to an SG as PPT is not affected by temp.

Mix in a seperate container and not in the tank.

 

[SycoCell]

Don't over think it. I wake up, fill a 32g Brute with RO. By 10am it's full. Throw a heater in it then pour my reef crystals in. Continue to check it with a refractometer until desired SG. Then do my water change. Has worked for me each time.

 

[homer1475]

I don't even heat my water. The 10 gallons I change only changes the entire tanks temp by 1 degree.

I mix salt in my fish room in a 25G brute and leave it at room temp with 2 small powerheads to circulate it.

 

[ktownhero]

The best thing to do when trying to reach a specific SG is to add the recommended amount by the manufacturer and then using a refractometer slowly add salt until you reach the desired SG. Take note to how much salt you added over the recommended amount that way when you mix again for water changes you just need to add that amount and go.

so for example if you were to mix reef crystals in a 20 gallon Brute trash barrel, IO recommends 1/2 cup per gallon to reach 1.020SG so you add 10 full cups and you get 1.020 then add a 1/2 cup 1 at a time until you reach 1.026

Just to give you an idea I mix Reef Crystals in a 20G Brute to reach 1.025SG and add 12.5 cups to the water or 25 1/2 cups

All IO has always been 1/2 cup per gallon for 1.026. Reliably, every time. Both IO and RC. Your measurements are off.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[tjm9331]

Instructions from Instant Ocean, no where does it state that 1/2 cup should measure 1.026. Although it does say that 1.4lbs in 5 gallons should yield 1.021 and 1.4lbs equates to roughly 2.5 cups


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ktownhero]

Instructions from Instant Ocean, no where does it state that 1/2 cup should measure 1.026. Although it does say that 1.4lbs in 5 gallons should yield 1.021 and 1.4lbs equates to roughly 2.5 cups


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It doesn't say anything about what SG a 1/2 cup would be. But I'm telling you it's 1.026.

I've made thousands upon thousands of IO gallons over the last 20 years and 1/2 cup per gallon is 1.026. Same with RC. It's so reliable that I feel comfortable not even testing the water and using it (I don't generally do this but I have by accident). It's one of the reasons why I love IO. I hate the odd measurements of stuff like RSCP.



Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[tjm9331]

It doesn't say anything about what SG a 1/2 cup would be. But I'm telling you it's 1.026.

I've made thousands upon thousands of IO gallons over the last 20 years and 1/2 cup per gallon is 1.026. Same with RC. It's so reliable that I feel comfortable not even testing the water and using it (I don't generally do this but I have by accident). It's one of the reasons why I love IO. I hate the odd measurements of stuff like RSCP.



Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I don't want to argue about it, obviously we're getting different results using the same salt. All I know is that 1.4lbs of dry salt = 2.5 cups of dry salt which is 1/2 cup/gallon in 5 gallons of water which makes 1.021 SG

Either that or my refractometer is way off (which is a possibility) and my SG is higher than what my readings are which means my corals are in trouble. From what you're saying if 1/2 cup/gallon = 1.026 and I'm adding 26 1/2 cups to 20 gallons then my SG should be much higher than 1.026.

Or its possible I suppose that my 20 gallon Brute holds more than 20 gallons. I'll have to experiment with this to make sure I'm not adding more than I should.

 

[ktownhero]

I don't want to argue about it, obviously we're getting different results using the same salt. All I know is that 1.4lbs of dry salt = 2.5 cups of dry salt which is 1/2 cup/gallon in 5 gallons of water which makes 1.021 SG

Either that or my refractometer is way off (which is a possibility) and my SG is higher than what my readings are which means my corals are in trouble. From what you're saying if 1/2 cup/gallon = 1.026 and I'm adding 26 1/2 cups to 20 gallons then my SG should be much higher than 1.026.

Or its possible I suppose that my 20 gallon Brute holds more than 20 gallons. I'll have to experiment with this to make sure I'm not adding more than I should.

What I do is use a 1 gallon measuring bucket to fill a 5 gallon bucket. I then mark that spot on the bucket. Then I use that 5 gallon bucket to fill my brute to 25 gallons (I'm using a 32g one) and mark that spot. So I have exactly 25 gallons and exactly 12.5 cups of either IO or RC (or a mixture) always comes out to 1.026 for me.

Maybe try that out and make sure your refractometer reads calibration solution correctly and then let's see what your results are. Honestly, I've made so many gallons of IO this way... And I've never kept a tank under 1.026.