Raising Salinity?

[SHLove16]

Well, today I went to my LFS to pick up some saltwater. I have got already mixed saltwater from them many times and it's always good. But this time, I got home and checked the salinity and it was like 29 PPT, which is like 1.022 or 1.023. Now, I use this water for water changes which I do once a week (probably about 1.5 gallons) for my 12G NC. I was thinking, since the salinity is low, if I leave the container with the water open for a day or so frequently monitering it, will water evaporate eventually raising the salinity? Or does the salinty always stay the same no matter how much evaporates?
Thanks.

 

[lpsluver]

Water evaporates leaving the salt. So yes, the salinity will rise over time.

 

[SHLove16]

Alright...I am assuming that would be the best thing to do? I have it in a 5 gallon gasoline (red) container. With the tops off how long should it take for enough water to evaporate to raise the salinty from 1.022 to like 1.025? I don't think I should do a water change with that large difference?

 

[afelder]

How long it takes depends on your evap rate. Test every day and when the salinity is 1.026 you can start adding fw again. That should allow you to get to 1.025 after fw topoff

 

[Toddrtrex]

Do you have any salt at home? Would be a lot quicker to just add some salt until you get it to where you want.

To evap quickly enough you would need to leave it uncovered, not sure how your household is, but I would be worried about something getting in it -- aerosol or what not. (( not a huge deal if you live alone ))

 

[SHLove16]

No, I don't have any salt at home. I might check petsmart tomarrow though and see if they have any small portions of salt available. I don't know how anything could get into it, right now it's open. Man, I don't know what to do, lol. I guess I could drive back to the LFS but it's like 45 minutes away so that's like a 2 hour trip....blah

 

[Toddrtrex]

To be honest, this is what I would do -- leave it covered, and run to petsmart tomorrow and get some salt and perhaps some water conditioner --- just to keep on hand, you never know what can happen, for some reason you may have to do an emergency water change and don't have time to run to your LFS to get the pre-mixed saltwater --- add enough salt to the current water you have to raise it to the level you want.

 

[SHLove16]

Alright, thanks Toddrtex.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Glad to help. I've been doing this long enough to know that when bad things happen, they happen at night when everything is closed. Best to have salt laying around, just in case.

 

[SHLove16]

Yes, and I have never mixed salt before, so I am assuming that the instructions will be on the pouch/bucket/whatever so I know how much to add or what not. Also what do you use to mix it up, and how long do you have to mix it up before you can get a good idea of the new salinity?
*Sorry for all the ignorant questions, haha.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Better to ask than to screw something up.

This is what I do, you might have to adjust since your tank is smaller and wouldn't be doing as large of a WC.

I use an old 5 gal bucket ( that is what I buy my salt in ) I put 5 gallons of water into the bucket.
Pour two cups of salt into it ( by cups I mean those plastic 9 oz. Solo cups )
Plug in a powerhead and heater
Let mix for about 30 minutes -- check the salinity level adjust if need be ( but after doing this numerous times I am usually right now )
Cover, and let sit overnight.
The next evening when I am about to do my WC I double check the level ( at least I say that I do. )

I am guessing that you will be using a smaller container, so you will use less salt. I recommend using less then you think you will need, simply because it is easier to add salt.

 

[afelder]

Give it until the water is clear. But if you only have a nano the evap should get you there in a day or so.

 

[SHLove16]

Hm....is it too risky to let the powerhead run an hour or so, then let it sit for an hour and check it again? I don't have a lid for my bucket to mix it in, lol. I guess I could place like...plastic wrap over the top or something? I don't plan on doing this from now on, just for a change or two. Next time I am going to make sure they get the 1.026 mark....

 

[afelder]

A couple hours should be ok for mixing water.

 

[doc2981]

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You really should go to walmart and buy a 5gallon water container too and not use a gas can.

 

[SHLove16]

Doc,

The gas container is perfectly suitable for keeping the water...I bought it just for this purpose, it has never had anything else in it. It is the bright red plastic container with the tight sealed screw top. I was actually recommended to buy it from my LFS because of the tube you can flip around and pour nicely. I don't see what advantage the bucket would have over this (besides the mixing salt, I just honestly never planned on it). I may end up getting one tomarrow anyway though.