Mixing Saltwater

[crouch36]

I'm just curious what some of you are using to mix your salt water. I have a 32 g Brute and was advised to have a fairly high flow rate for a minimum of 48 hours prior to use. Would a maxi 1200 be enough for this? (I have one for my ATO, but it seemed a little underpowered to mix large quantities of water) Would a mag 5 + be worth the increase in cost?

Also, I saw a deal for a used mag 12, used 5 years and supposedly serviced/cleaned regularly, for $60... thought this was a little pricey, but wanted to hear other opinions. Thanks!

 

[tymon]

I do the same thing with a brute and i let sit for about 5 days with a high current. I use a Powerhead as long as you can see movement ripples at the top of the water it is enough current. i also use Prime

 

[muttley000]

In my Brute I have a 100 watt heater and a Maxijet 600.

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

Absolutely pick up the mag 12. You can do a waterchange in probably 2 seconds as it will pump the new water very fast. It will also act as a heater and you won't need to add a heater and worry about it melting your rubbermaid. 24hrs is plenty for the salt mix to thoroughly mix up. If your in a pinch you can wait a few hours and be good to go.

 

[muttley000]

Good point on melting the rubbermaid, my heater is inside a PVC pipe just in case!

 

[jose521]

How long can you let saltwater sit befor it goes bad

 

[talibmohamid]

I didn't know it could go to the bad.....but I very new to the hobby

 

[IndexKey]

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but what if you're filling up a nanocube 28 for the first time? it seems rather difficult to have to fill a 5 gallon bucket, then mix salt, then poor it in, then repeat until it's full. Can I fill the tank with RO/DI then mix the salt? There wouldn't be any live rock/live sand in it.

John

 

[crouch36]

Hey thanks for the responses. After thinking a bit more about it, I'm thinking the mag12 is definitely the way to go, as it gives you a lot more versatility (and not needing a secondary heater is definitely a plus, which I hadn't thought about).

As far as filling your nano IndexKey, keep in mind I may not be the best person to answer this, but (I believe) so long as you have NO livestock in the tank (No LR, no LS, nothing)... then I don't see a problem mixing your initial salt with RO/DI water in your tank, provided you aerate it sufficiently before adding anything. But for future saltwater additions, you should mix the water prior to adding it to your DT.

 

[muttley000]

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but what if you're filling up a nanocube 28 for the first time? it seems rather difficult to have to fill a 5 gallon bucket, then mix salt, then poor it in, then repeat until it's full. Can I fill the tank with RO/DI then mix the salt? There wouldn't be any live rock/live sand in it.

John

For the first time this is fine

 

[IndexKey]

Alright, does the tank have to be absolutely empty? I'd like to do my aquascaping with dryrock and sand before adding the water then mixing. Will salt crystals hurt the power heads in the tank?

John

 

[Red_Blenny]

I have a koralia 750 + heater or if I'm lazy, a ekip 350 (heater + powerhead all-in-one) in my 20gal barrel

How long can you let saltwater sit befor it goes bad

I read somewhere that as long there's no light and you have a powerhead to keep it moving, it'll last a good awhile. That's what my LFS does for their saltwater storage tanks... Although I noticed my fishes seem happier if I give them freshly mixed salt instead of 3 days old water...

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but what if you're filling up a nanocube 28 for the first time? it seems rather difficult to have to fill a 5 gallon bucket, then mix salt, then poor it in, then repeat until it's full. Can I fill the tank with RO/DI then mix the salt? There wouldn't be any live rock/live sand in it.

I would recommend that you mix the water in a different bucket and put the rocks + sand separately. It's easier to aquascape the tank without the water than doing it underwater.

 

[IndexKey]

I have a koralia 750 + heater or if I'm lazy, a ekip 350 (heater + powerhead all-in-one) in my 20gal barrel



I read somewhere that as long there's no light and you have a powerhead to keep it moving, it'll last a good awhile. That's what my LFS does for their saltwater storage tanks... Although I noticed my fishes seem happier if I give them freshly mixed salt instead of 3 days old water...



I would recommend that you mix the water in a different bucket and put the rocks + sand separately. It's easier to aquascape the tank without the water than doing it underwater.

I intend to cycle with baserock, and I want to scape with dry rock first, then add sand, then water, then mix the salt in. is that alright?

John

 

[duncantse]

..........

 

[zigzag1]

For my 44g brute I use a Korilia 4 pump and a MJ 1200 for mixing and pumping, respectively. I run both while mixing, MJ at bottom and K4 about half way up. I also have to use a heater in the winter months. During the warmer seasons, the pumps tend to heat the water close enough for quick use. In the winter, my RO/DI water is cold enough that I need to heat it up before mixing and adding to the tank. I've never had an issue with the heater melting the container, but my water is moving rapidly while mixing. And, I typically only mix my water a few hours before a water change. I have had less mixing issues (films, sediments, less maintenance of mixing container and mixing pumps, etc) and happier inhabitants with shorter mixing times. JMTC & GL!

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I just use an air pump with a diffuser on the bottom of a 30 gallon vat and let it mix overnite.
Water heater not needed on the water vat in it's location.