mixing saltwater

[tonybologna000]

I have been buying premixed saltwater at my LFS but I've experimented lately with mixing my own. My problem is that I can never seem to mix in eough salt. It usually gets up to a specific gravity of about 1.021 and no more salt will dissolve. I've been using a powerhead and submersible heater in the container twith the water as well as using a large plastic spoon to vigorously mix by hand. I have the temperature of the water pretty high (around 90-100 degrees). I can't understand what I'm doing wrong. Anybody have some advice for me? Thanks!

 

[Reeses]

What kind of salt are you using?

Would you like to know how I do it? I use an electric drill and a paint stirrer from home depot. I can mix up a perfectly oxygenated completely dissolved bucket of artificial seawater in about 3 minutes.

 

[woogy]

why do you have the temperature of the water so high??? The temperature should match whatever you keep the tank temperature at. I just use a 5gallon bucket, mj powerhead and heater. I dump the salt in about every 1/2 hour and measure with a refractometer until I get the desired salinity and then I let it sit for 24hrs before adding to the tank.

What type of salt are you using? I use oceanic and dissolves quite nicely.

Get a refractometer too if you don't have one .

 

[Krazy]

I have a rubbermaid tub...

I mix 15-20gallons up at once, I have a 350watt heater in there with a powerhead 802 and a maxijet 1200, I'm gonna start using my spare mag 9.5 soon...

Works Awesome

I just pump it into 5 gallon buckets when its ready...

 

[mr_o98]

I use 5 gallon buckets, MJ powerhead and a heater. I let the water mix for 24 hours before adding it to my display tank. If you don't already have one, I would invest in a refractometer to measure salinity. They are more accurate than a hydrometer.

Since you seen to have problems with mixing, I would start mixing 2-3 days before you plan on doing a water change. Add your initial salt, usually 1/2 cup per gallon, and let it mix overnight. If the salinity is low the next day, add more salt and let it mix overnight. That should help with your problem.

 

[mr_o98]

Temp. on the water you are mixing should match the temp. on your main tank.

 

[Kpyto]

I'll echo mr_o98 - I mix the water atleast 24 hours ahead of time in a bucket. I usually do two 4 gallon buckets with a small powerhead and a heater in each. The heater should be set to match the temp in your tank.

I would also recommend a refractometer. Look on e-bay or some on line stores (marine depot, etc.), and you can pick one up pretty reasonably. Infanantly better than a hydrometer. Also, take your salinity reading after the 24 hour period. Salinity levels will change fromt the time that you put the salt into the water adn at the end of the 24 hours.

 

[mr_o98]

www.toofishy.com sells refractometers for about $38. This a LFS in my area and the price is reasonable. They are also a RC sponsor. Like Kpyto, try E-bay as well.

 

[Lpabsolute]

I fill a 5g bucket full of RO/DI. Place a small powerhead in the bottom of the bucket. Then mix in a little bit of salt at a time. Keep checking until it's where you want it. Never had a prob.

 

[drummereef]

Re: mixing saltwater

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9759007#post9759007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tonybologna000
I have been buying premixed saltwater at my LFS but I've experimented lately with mixing my own. My problem is that I can never seem to mix in eough salt. It usually gets up to a specific gravity of about 1.021 and no more salt will dissolve. I've been using a powerhead and submersible heater in the container twith the water as well as using a large plastic spoon to vigorously mix by hand. I have the temperature of the water pretty high (around 90-100 degrees). I can't understand what I'm doing wrong. Anybody have some advice for me? Thanks!

What saltmix are you using, and are you mixing in any other additives to it?