Mixing salt.

[CrazyNovice]

When I mix my salt (reef crystals) I never seem to be able to get it to mix 100% into the water and there's a bunch just sitting in the bottom. Is this a tendency of reef crystals or is there a good way to mix that I'm unaware of? I left a 425 gph power head in a 5 gallon bucket(post stirring vigorously as the instructions state) with the salt and it didn't mix up all the way after a long time. I feel like I'm wasting salt to get it to the right sg. Any tips?

 

[thegrun]

Use something like a paddle to stir up the salt at the bottom. Once you get it into the water table it should dissolve.

 

[Brieninsac]

It also helps to dissolve if your water is up to temp.

 

[thegrun]

It also helps to dissolve if your water is up to temp.

You may have issues of calcium precipitation mixing Reef Crystals in warm water due to it's high alkalinity and calcium content. I think you would be better off mixing it cold even though it takes longer to dissolve or your calcium and alkalinity levels will be lower.

 

[gone fishin]

I agree with thegrun. I use reef crystals and have a pump in my mix barrel recirculating the water. About an hour after I add the salt I will stir up the little bit on the bottom. I do not start warming up the water until it is dissolved.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I use Reef Crystals and agree with both thegrun and Tony!

 

[A.Astore]

I put my power head so that it pushes the water towards the bottom. It seems to keep most of the stuff moving. Agree with the others though, works better when not as warm.

 

[ryeguyy84]

I take my hand and swish the water around the bottom until it's all dissolved.

 

[CrazyNovice]

Thanks for the input! I was mixing it a just below temp. I'll try mixing up my next batch cold and then throwing a heater in later.

 

[mvallee_ma]

same as others I have to reach in and stir up the bottom of my mixing container when I used reef crystals, I thought you wanted to mix reef crystals at tank temp. I use Red Sea CP now and that is supposed to be mixed at room temp and then brought up to temp.