Mixing saltwater

[Soluent1]

I have been buying saltwater from a store. I just bought a RODI unit and am mixing my first batch. In a 20 gal brute garbage can. I let it mix with an outdoor pump rated for six feet for two hours. I tested the water and it was perfect. I pumped it into a few 10 gal tanks. Fortunately, I retested the water. It was way more salty than I wanted. I adjusted the salinity and proceeded. My question is: how do i mix saltwater? Obviously I am doing something wrong..length of time mixing maybe? If there is someone who mixes in a garbage can like I want to do, could you please give me your method? Would I be better off using five gallon buckets? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Am using Aquavitro.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

Hi

This really is not to complicated.
- purchase a salt mix from a company offering good products for aquariums (not just Na,Cl)
- take whatever amount of RO water you like to want to mix
- use 39..40 Gramm of the salt mix per Liter you use and mix for about 15+ minutes using any pump
- check the waters salinity .... it will be ~ 35 psu which is fine. (In case not most likely either the amount of water you used is not Correct or the weigh you are using has a problem )

The saltwater then should be ready for your tank




Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

 

[downbeach]

http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/reef-tank-101/salinity-mixing-saltwater/

 

[JodiM]

I just fill up my 5 gallon jug, add my salt and roll it around on the floor. So simple half the time I think I am doing it wrong, but so far it has been working like a charm.

As for ratio, the salt I use calls for 1/2 cup per gallon, I usually have to add maybe a tablespoon more at the end because it sticks to the side of my funnel and what not.

 

[1sttimer]

Doesn't temp affect the sg?

 

[downbeach]

Doesn't temp affect the sg?

It may affect the device you're using to measure it with, i.e. floating hydrometer, but not the SG itself. Most devices today will compensate for temp. i.e. ATC refractometers.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

It may affect the device you're using to measure it with, i.e. floating hydrometer, but not the SG itself. Most devices today will compensate for temp. i.e. ATC refractometers.

Yes, temperature of the water directly affects your measurements if using spindles (I think the best tools as being affordable and very accurate), pointer instruments and also conductivity sensors!

It does NOT affect the display of your refrac if you use one. For refraks don't read the SG scale, but the one showing "psu " or " o/oo" where both show the salinity, independent from the water temperature at measurement


Gesendet von iPhone mit Tapatalk

 

[Smoke Inator]

i started with 5g jugs from the LFS, then got RODI for the house.
My normal routine is to mix up 5 or 10g using reef crystals and i put a small hydor pump into it...i let it run for 48 hours and double check salinity.
I forget the exact measurement but its close to 2.25 cups 5g.

 

[CarrieB]

What are you using to measure the salinity? Seems like you might just have a measurement problem.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[disc1]

It may affect the device you're using to measure it with, i.e. floating hydrometer, but not the SG itself. Most devices today will compensate for temp. i.e. ATC refractometers.

Temperature DOES affect the Specific Gravity. It does not affect the actual salinity that you were using the SG as a surrogate measure for.

You were absolutely right, but a little ambiguous in terminology there. But you've got the point that the temp affects the measurement but not the actual amount of salt in the water.

 

[devimik]

I always follow the instructions in my salt mix - I mix in a 20g Brute with a powerhead in it. Always add salt to the room temp RODI water, mix and then heat to desired temp.

 

[Soluent1]

I mixed according to directions. One half cup to one gallon. I guess it does not go into solution very easily. It also heats up as it is dissolving. I guess I need to give it more time. Two hours is not enough apparently.

Carrie, I am using an ATC refractometer. And, yes, I did check it with RODI water when I bought itand I adjusted it. I do not think it is the problem. But it is a good thought. I will recheck it.

Devimik, maybe I will try a powerhead next time.

Downbeach, I will research the link right now.

 

[Soluent1]

And, BTW, thanks everyone for the suggestions.

 

[MuShu]

Most people wait around 24 hours for the salt to fully dissolve before using it.

 

[gone fishin]

Carrie, I am using an ATC refractometer. And, yes, I did check it with RODI water when I bought itand I adjusted it. I do not think it is the problem. But it is a good thought. I will recheck it.

I would suggest calibrating the refractometer with a 35ppt solution instead of using RO/DI water.

 

[Cymonous]

I would suggest calibrating the refractometer with a 35ppt solution instead of using RO/DI water.

+1 on this.

Also, make sure to clean off the refractometer after each test, rinse out the dropper with ro or tap. When I test, I do a couple sucks and squirts with the dropper of the saltwater so I know the sample is not diluted at all.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I would suggest calibrating the refractometer with a 35ppt solution instead of using RO/DI water.

^this.I just take a temperature reading from my RO/DI water I'm using for mixing saltwater and if it's within 5 degrees of my tank temp, I measure out my salt and dump it in all at once while stirring it with a large plastic spoon till I don't see any undissolved salt at the bottom of the can. I let it circulate overnight and then use.

 

[downbeach]

You're right I should have used the word salinity, since the SG(relative density) would fluctuate with temperature. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Spiffy]

I use a 5 gallon bucket, match the salinity to the tank, and add the water. After about an hour, I check the salinity of the DT, and add salt to the filter sock if it is needed, which I very seldom have to do. Also, if you're going to add salt to your tank using the filter sock, make sure the sock is wet before you add the salt.