Salt Storage Question

[kill4u]

All,

I purchased 4 boxes of Instant Ocean Reef Crystals when I was planning to set up my 180G tank for SW.... Each box contains 4 sealed bags of salt....

I was delayed in setting the tank up so my salt consumption has been much lower than anticipated.... The salt has been stored in my basement sitting on a concrete floor...... As I am open these boxes I am noticing that the bags of salt are hard..... There does not seem to be any moisture in the bags..... I have been breaking the salt up into small chunks (size of a quarter) and using it.....

My question: is it safe to use this salt or should I throw it out????

Thanks... Brian

 

[thegrun]

It is safe to use but there is a good chance your alkalinity and calcium levels are going to be lower than normal as the calcium carbonate that forms when salt clumps will not dissolve when you add water. It should be fine to start a tank with but test since you may need to add calcium and alkalinity if you are keeping any stony corals.

 

[kill4u]

Thanks....

That explains why my Alkalinity is running 7...

 

[Marinenthusiast]

I had the same problem a few months ago. When i researched it, the general consenus was not to use it because it would change parameters and wouldnt mix as well. I used up mine for bins of live rock.

 

[Jscwerve]

Months ago, also same thing with some IO salt I had. 5 gallon bucket SOLID. Against advice I used it to set up my tank and get the cycle going anyways.

Ill effects: nothing major except for the calcium level being low (250). It was fine for setting up and cycling, but once the cycle was over I had to supplement calcium to bring the level up and then everything has been fine with water changes.

The solid block I had left over after initial fill I simply trashed.