Salt water storage

[Roachant]

Hi all me again,
I was just wondering, how long can you store freshly mixed salt water? I realize that salt is a preservative but marine tank water has different compounds in it.
Can it go "bad" ?

 

[Nina51]

i've been curious about this, too. will be watching for the right answer.

 

[dkeller_nc]

"Bad" is a relative term. So long as the ASW started at the right salinity and reasonable room temperature, and that's maintained, it will support life even if used several months down the road.

But that's not quite the same thing as saying "optimal" - artificial seawater can and does go through a complex series of physical chemical changes that can alter the calcium, alkalinity, magnesium and trace element composition of the mixture.

But for the reasonably well-equipped reef tank hobbyist with test kits and the chemicals necessary to keep the major consumed elements stable, those changes to ASW as it stays in the saltwater mixing vat are really rather trivial. If, however, we're talking about a hobbyist that depends on the right element mix in ASW to maintain conditions in his/her tank by water changes alone, ASW should be mixed and used within about 48 hours.

 

[Dapg8gt]

Fwiw brand depending I usually have my water stored for a few weeks before it's used up.

I've had issues with certain salts either dropping alk/cal after sitting around or actually going stagnant/stinky if not mixed constantly.

 

[downbeach]

Good article here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php#15

 

[Paul B]

You can keep seawater forever. It does not go bad, it just evaporates.
I have kept it in storage for years with no problems. I even collect NSW and store it over the winter.
As long as it is not heated very high, or let to much evaporate. It has been in the ocean for a few years, and it still works.

 

[Diana A]

You can keep seawater forever. It does not go bad, it just evaporates.
I have kept it in storage for years with no problems. I even collect NSW and store it over the winter.
As long as it is not heated very high, or let to much evaporate. It has been in the ocean for a few years, and it still works.

I know this is an old thread....

I purchased from my LFS (6) 5-gallon water containers. When storing water in them, do I leave the cap on tightly or do I need to place an air-stone in each container? I want to use my 40g with NSW as a test. Just need to know how long and how to store the NSW.

Thank you!