Mixing salt

noob reefer

noob reefer

New member
Quick question about mixing salt..so I've switched from the cheap LFS brand salt mix to red sea coral pro salt and first time doing water change with new salt I thought I'd see a difference in clarity of water but I didn't.. My steps for mixing are for a 5 gallon water change on my 30gal tank...I use 5 gallon bucket add ro water add my pump then added salt...the instructions for rscp salt said its better in colder water so I didn't add the heater..and it said only mix 2-4 hours so I mixed it for close to 3 hrs checked the SG and it was matched to my tank. But I noticed that the water wasn't completely clear so I heated water to match my tank levels and still wasnt crystal clear.. Is this a proplem ? Is it suppose to be crystal clear in the bucket or am I wrong? My other salt use to clear up over a few weeks in the tank but everywhere I read that rscp salt dissolved very quick. Any suggestions or comments to help or give me more insight on mixing salt. I don't use ro/di water I use just distilled ro water.
 
noob reefer said:
Quick question about mixing salt..so I've switched from the cheap LFS brand salt mix to red sea coral pro salt and first time doing water change with new salt I thought I'd see a difference in clarity of water but I didn't.. My steps for mixing are for a 5 gallon water change on my 30gal tank...I use 5 gallon bucket add ro water add my pump then added salt...the instructions for rscp salt said its better in colder water so I didn't add the heater..and it said only mix 2-4 hours so I mixed it for close to 3 hrs checked the SG and it was matched to my tank. But I noticed that the water wasn't completely clear so I heated water to match my tank levels and still wasnt crystal clear.. Is this a proplem ? Is it suppose to be crystal clear in the bucket or am I wrong? My other salt use to clear up over a few weeks in the tank but everywhere I read that rscp salt dissolved very quick. Any suggestions or comments to help or give me more insight on mixing salt. I don't use ro/di water I use just distilled ro water.
Click to expand...

Water should mix for 24 hrs before doing a water change. You used distilled water? You said distilled RO water?? Check the DKH of the water your using.
 
I've used rscp salt for over a year now. There are many posts on the forum about it and I do believe it one salt that is able to use within a few hours. But nice strong mixing pump, nice cool water and pour the salt in slowly. Also make sure you mix the salt in the bucket because it will become layered during shipping.
 
What is precipitation? Trying to figure out if that's what's happing or if the salts just not dissolved. It looks like the salts not dissolved but its mixed for longer then the 2 hr recommended time.
 
I watched that video b4 doing water change..IMA wait and see because its only been a few hrs since I did my water change..I'm thinking I did mix to long it was close to 3 hrs ..I started it and went to my sons football practice and then came home and did the change so it might a been to long hope it'll calm down by morning. How do you mix yours spikey?
 
I'm one of several reefers here that switched from RSCP to another brand because I could not get that salt to mix clear, whatever I tried.

I mix to 35 ppt, testing with a digital refractometer. My water would start to go cloudy about 20ppt with a strong pump in the bucket for circulation. Same results from three different buckets whatever mixing proceedure I used. It clears up after a day or so in the tank - you can use the water, but why deal with cloudy water every time you do a water change?

I swapped to Reef Cystals by Aquarium Systems - that mixes clear every time using the same mixing station. That salt has similar elevated levels as RSCP.

Some here have no issues with the salt, others, myself included, could never get it to "work" so I swapped and have never looked back.

-droog
 
noob reefer said:
I watched that video b4 doing water change..IMA wait and see because its only been a few hrs since I did my water change..I'm thinking I did mix to long it was close to 3 hrs ..I started it and went to my sons football practice and then came home and did the change so it might a been to long hope it'll calm down by morning. How do you mix yours spikey?
Click to expand...

all i do is use a 5 gallon bucket with RO/DI water. Put a pump inside the bucket and add the salt needed and wait until it clears up. I then check the water with my refractometer and add more salt until is 1.026 salinity.

I have a 20gallon nano so a 5 gallon bucket is all i need.
 
What is precipitation?

In some slat mixes with high alkainity and calcium the calcium and alkainity bind together to form calcium carbonate basically fine particles of coral sand. This can cloud the water and weaken the useful alkainity and calcium content.The Red Sea Coral Pro salt has some unique mixing instructions presumably to avoid that but many reopt some diffculty with it.
I don't know what "cheap lfs salt " you were referencing in your post but many have success with low priced brands like Instant Ocean and Coralife, including me.Sometimes you get what you pay for;sometimes you just pay more.
 
Cheap LFS brand was top fin from pets mart. Thanks for all the suggestions I'll try again next 5 gallon water change I think I just mixed it 2 long besides here I've also seen ppl say it takes just minutes apose to the 2 hr instructions on their website
 
IMO you will do better buying a brute garbage can and having thirty gals mixed up. Keep a power head in the brute for circulation . I would change 1% of the water daily rather then a big water change. It's very easy that way and very effective
 
I'm using Kent Reef Salt Mix its mixed in my 75G tank. I stopped using plastics and my water seems to be much better. 10-15 . percent water change works best for me.
 
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uncleL said:
I'm using Kent Reef Salt Mix its mixed in my 75G tank. I stopped using plastics and my water seems to be much better. 10-15 . percent water change works best for me.
Click to expand...

It's not the salt mix rather the ro/di water.. A very reactive substance

Brute brand garbage containers stand up the best to ro/ di water
 
I mix Red Sea for three hours.
Usually 100 gallons at a time. Anything more and it goes cloudy, although it will clear up after an hour if you turn the pump off again.

I change 5 gallons a day.
 
@noob:
I had the same problem with rscp not mixing clear. Some batches weren't that bad but still cloudy. It cleared up fairly quickly in the tank (75g) and never had any adverse affect. I switched to reef crystals about 9 months ago and things are fine. Mixes clear, levels are good, and it's LESS expensive. With rscp, make sure you have a strong pump and add the salt slowly.
 
i know its not RSCP, but i use Salinity by Aquavitro and it takes a long time to clear up, i usually let if go over night. Btw are you mixing up the salt when you purchase it? I used to not till i read some interesting articles on line and now i usually tip it over and mix up every once in a while to keep everything nice and uniform. I have seen an improvement in the cloudiness when i mix it vs when i don't, it just might be me tho.
 
wom001 said:
i know its not RSCP, but i use Salinity by Aquavitro and it takes a long time to clear up, i usually let if go over night. Btw are you mixing up the salt when you purchase it? I used to not till i read some interesting articles on line and now i usually tip it over and mix up every once in a while to keep everything nice and uniform. I have seen an improvement in the cloudiness when i mix it vs when i don't, it just might be me tho.
Click to expand...

If you switch over to the 200gal boxes it eliminates have to do that. The box contains 4 bags which you can shake up before you use it. I go through 1000 gal of salt a month and I've never had to do that however.
 
I didn't think aquavitro salinity came in boxes with the 225 gallon bucket available. I mainly do it because my lfs has these things sitting for what seems like months. Iv been looking into the 55 gallon barrel they sell to save a little money on the $$ premium price salinity charges but then I couldn't mix it when it came in. :D
 
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