Red Sea Salt leaving a very white coat?

LinkinReef

New member
I started using a new bucket of the red sea coral pro salt as a replacement from IO. After letting my 20g brute mix for almost 24 hours, I noticed a very milky look to the water. I did my water change and this is what was left within the brute. Is this normal for this salt? Instant Ocean never left anything like this or made a milky water look...

DSC02253.jpg
 
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Maybe an isolated issue?
Never have this problem, and been using it for almost a year now, it mix up within an hour crystal clear, love it...
 
I checked the water mix shortly after a couple of hours and it was very milky looking so i thought maybe it needed more time. After almost 24 it still had that look to it
 
I get this with several salts, but particularly with Red Sea pro. I'm assuming it's a combination of damp and the artificially high Ca and alk in the raw salt encouraging a lot of inbag precipitaiton.

The other situation might be that CO2 from the air dissolving into the new water is dropping it out. I know Red Sea recommend to mix it and use it
 
IME, it is normal even for IO.

I discuss it here:

What is that Precipitate in My Reef Aquarium?
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-07/rhf/index.htm

from it:

Solid Residues Remaining After Preparing Artificial Seawater
Most salt mixes leave behind a solid residue when dissolved, although the extent to which this occurs varies from brand to brand. I use Instant Ocean and rarely clean out the 44-gallon trashcan that I mix it in, so a significant residue builds up over time (Figure 1). In preparation for this article I removed some of this solid material, and found that it could be almost completely dissolved in hydrochloric acid with lots of bubbling. This demonstrates that these solids were probably calcium carbonate (CaCO3), perhaps also containing magnesium. Pure magnesium carbonate is undersaturated in seawater (which is detailed in later sections of this article) 1 and should dissolve in marine systems, so it isn't likely to be the precipitated material, although there may be significant magnesium in the calcium carbonate.

Based on the fact that the material exists as sheets that clearly did not arrive in the mix (as opposed to a fine powder which might have), I conclude that at least a significant fraction of this residue formed in the barrel. I cannot, however, rule out the possibility that some solid calcium or magnesium carbonate may have existed in the salt mix and was cemented together by additional precipitation of calcium carbonate during dissolution or storage.

When salt mixes are dissolved, there exist local regions where the salt concentration is very high. In those local regions, the calcium and alkalinity must also be very high. In fact, as seawater is concentrated by evaporation, there is a well-established series of minerals that precipitate as the salinity increases. In this series, calcium and magnesium carbonate are the first to precipitate, appearing at a specific gravity of about 1.140, which is about a 50% solution of salt in water.1 Such conditions may well exist on the bottom of a saltwater reservoir as the salt is dissolving.

With some mixes (but not the Instant Ocean that I use), the initial pH on dissolution may be very high (pH 8.5-9 +). As shown in detail later in this article, pH can play a dominant role in determining the rate of calcium carbonate precipitation, and such a high pH would make it more likely to precipitate.

It has been suggested by some aquarists that some salt mixes may contain anti-caking agents, such as clays. I do not know if this is true, but if it is, they may form part of the residue that is left behind after dissolution.

In order to minimize the formation of insoluble carbonate salts when mixing, the following suggestions may be helpful:

1. Add the salt to a full batch of water, rather than adding water slowly to a large batch of salt. The latter allows a greater time at much higher than natural seawater salinity, which may tend to precipitate calcium and magnesium salts.

2. Stir the mixture vigorously as it is being dissolved.

3. If using a mix with a high initial pH, aerate the mixture as well as stirring it. The aeration will reduce the pH.


Figure 1. The residue on the bottom of the plastic trash can that I use to mix Instant Ocean. I rarely clean it out. The solid is most likely calcium carbonate.


Figure_1.jpg
 
Hi Randy, what you are saying is correct, but that doesn't happens with most of the salts, I use Red Sea (not pro) and my water is always crystal clear, I can leave the water mixing for more than 2 days and the water is still crystal clear.


On the other hand, I tried with RSP (Pro) once and at 1.026 mixing for one day I got the same results, the whole bucket precipitated with calcium, the thing is Red Sea Pro comes with high values of calcium and it precipitates while is mixing, so it is normal on those kind of salts.
 
i find if i add the salt gradually to the water i dont end up with the residue. However if i pour full amount of red sea salt needed to make 60L all in one go then the water turns milky and never really comes back to clear. I still use the water and it clears up once in the tank.

Dave
 
Hi Randy, what you are saying is correct, but that doesn't happens with most of the salts, I use Red Sea (not pro) and my water is always crystal clear, I can leave the water mixing for more than 2 days and the water is still crystal clear.


On the other hand, I tried with RSP (Pro) once and at 1.026 mixing for one day I got the same results, the whole bucket precipitated with calcium, the thing is Red Sea Pro comes with high values of calcium and it precipitates while is mixing, so it is normal on those kind of salts.

It does happen with lots of salts, but perhaps not all or not all types of source water or mixing methods. What are you using for source water?
 
The Red Sea Coral Pro is apparently known for mixing up cloudy and leaving precipitate. It seems to not like mixing for an extended period of time.

This is the mixing instructions from the Red Sea sponsor forum:

1. Use RO water that is at a temperature of approximately 20OC/68OF".
2. Accurately weight the salt and measure the volume of water according to the salinity you wish to achieve.
3. Pour the salt gradually into the water. Do not pour water onto the salt.
4. Mix vigorously (without aeration) for approximately 0.5 - 2 hours, until all of the salt is dissolved and pH has stabilized to 8.2 "“ 8.4" - DO NOT mix for more than 4 hours.
5. When mixed, raise the temperature and add to the aquarium. (Not absolutely necessary for a small water change)
 
The Red Sea Coral Pro is apparently known for mixing up cloudy and leaving precipitate. It seems to not like mixing for an extended period of time.

This is the mixing instructions from the Red Sea sponsor forum:

1. Use RO water that is at a temperature of approximately 20OC/68OF".
2. Accurately weight the salt and measure the volume of water according to the salinity you wish to achieve.
3. Pour the salt gradually into the water. Do not pour water onto the salt.
4. Mix vigorously (without aeration) for approximately 0.5 - 2 hours, until all of the salt is dissolved and pH has stabilized to 8.2 "“ 8.4" - DO NOT mix for more than 4 hours.
5. When mixed, raise the temperature and add to the aquarium. (Not absolutely necessary for a small water change)

These "rules" are why I stick with their original, regular mix. I think it's insane that they ask these things of hobbyists in order for their salt to mix.
 
I'm trying to reason through not mixing for extended periods of time... that doesn't exactly make a lot of sense to me. Maybe someone can explain why? I would figure once it's mixed, it's just salt water moving around. It's going to be "mixing" once its fully dissolved and in my tank, too, as the powerhead jets it around. I seriously doubt that's causing any issues. I use RSCP and have milky saltwater at first. Goes away after a day or so of mixing. The water always tests absolutely fine for Ca/Alk/Mag, so as far as I'm concerned it's a complete non-issue and doesn't concern me.
 
Once the salt water is mixed and aerated thoroughly, which can take a few hours, more circulation isn't necessary as long as the salt mix has no organic additives. I stored saltwater for months with no stirring. Organics can be an issue because they can decay anaerobically, which can produce toxins.
 
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