Precipitate in Mixing Barrel?

[j.falk]

Hey guys - Is it normal to have precipitate in the bottom of your saltwater mixing barrel?

I dumped out my Brute garbage can yesterday and in the bottom was what looked like caked on calcium / mineral deposit. The deposit was easily removed and I rinsed out the barrel to reuse, but I'm wondering what is causing the precipitate?

I'm using a 20 gallon garbage can, a 75w submersible heater for temp, a Penguin 550 power head for mixing and IO Reef Crystals for salt. I fill the barrel with RODI water, then I plug in the heater and power head and then slowly add the salt to the water in half cup measurements and then wait 24 hours before using.

Am I doing something wrong that would cause the calcium to separate and precipitate to the bottom? Should I let the water heat up to temp before adding the salt? Could it be the submersible heater lying on it's side at the bottom of the barrel that is causing it...or maybe the combined heat of the heater and power head sitting in the bottom of the barrel? Maybe a bad batch of salt?

 

[outssider]

RC does mix up with a tad of residue, I don't think it's calcium though. Have you tested the newly mixed water for calcium to see if it's low ? RC should mix up 450+ on calcium. I would mix it as cold as possible and bring the temperature up prior to use.

 

[mcgyvr]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

 

[HaKs310]

Also use RC and have the same residue, it's normal. I just make sure to scrub the Brute container really well before making the next batch of saltwater.

 

[jason2459]

No need to use the heater while mixing. Higher temperature will promote more precipitation.

RC has organics in it and known to produce a brown residue with no known ill effects.

 

[Uncle99]

The main reason I moved to a salt which mixed clean.
I hate cleaning buckets.
Did cost a bit more though.
Trade off

 

[j.falk]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.php

Thank you once again. That answered my question perfectly.

In the BRS video where they compare mixing and storing various brands of salts their IO RC segment didn't show any of the tan colored precipitation sitting in the bottom of their mixing aquarium so I thought I might've been doing something wrong.