Saltwater Mixing Problems

[Uncle99]

On Thursday, I make 35 litres of RODI. (25L I need to make SW and 10 I need for ATO bucket) At this point I measure TDS of the RODI and it will be 0.
On Friday, I move 25 litres to my mixing bucket, put in my salt, and mix with powerhead for 24 hours.
On Saturday, I use all 25L for my 10% weekly water change, the other 10L goes to ATO bucket.
After use, both buckets are rinsed and towel dried.

I follow this process, week after week, for 2 years now and I am seeing the benefits. Zero algae, stunning corals both in colour and growth, more than ever before in my 25 years as a reef keeper.
We have a moderate mixed reef with about 60 corals in a 70g. Each and every one extends and looks very healthy, have not lost anything in 2 years so far.

Personally, I would toss RODI water that is not 0 TDS, but that's just my way. I have found even the slightest TDS reading over time builds in my system and assists algae growth.

For me, it was the only way I could keep algae from growing, as I really have little use for CUC.
Gone is the GHA and slime removers, gone is the scrubbing, just clean the glass, the filters, the skim container, and the water change. It takes about an hour, once a week, then I do not touch it until the following week.

I know many think this is a waste of time, but I am convinced the process works for me, simply just the opinion of one reefer.

 

[ajoe]

"it's an anti caking agent added to the salt and is completely harmless"

 

[Uncle99]

"it's an anti caking agent added to the salt and is completely harmless"

Anything registering TDS is not going in my DT.
Feel free to put it in yours.

 

[daninflipflops]

i think people in this thread are a bit confused. TDS is just total dissolved solids...as long as you RO/DI water coming out of your unit is around 0 you are fine. dont measure it once its in your brute can. yeah, your TDS are going to increase since its dissolving any remaining dried up salt from your last mixing. zero problems guys.

 

[daninflipflops]

Like I said, if you don't rinse out your mixing station over time your TDS will increase and that is counter productive. Mixing only what I need means the mix is clean, over time, precipitation will occur, and your numbers will drop as the elements precipitate out.

I am not a scientist but I can measure TDS and see over time, the scum film on the inside of the bucket......why would I want this in my DT.....brown stuff.....not in my DT....

I can't speak for other salts but mine will mix up clean and clear in about 2 hours.

I used to mix up 50g before I found out that TDS was increasing every week.

TDS numbers were as follows and before mix:
Day 1-7......0
Day 8-14......6
Day 15-21......9
Day 30......14

This is why I changed to only mixing up the amount required before changes.
It is virtually no more work, than mixing up a months worth, but the RESULT, deifinately sold me......ZERO algae.....ZERO cyno.....and no CUC....and the ranges go in on PAR....

seems like a lot of unnecessary work. you are basically cleaning your container of left over salt mix...to then...add more salt mix. thats all the TDS results are showing, you have a teeny tiny amount of salt residue in the container...why is that a bad thing. you tested you water before it went in and its zero.

 

[Uncle99]

Yup, confused, me too!
All I am doing is ensuring that PRIOR to mix the RODI is in fact 0. I noted that after a week the TDS had risen to 6, so I don't wait a week to use it. I rather use 0 TDS.

I rinse my buckets after use, as over time, a film is noticed on the sides of both buckets when not rinsed. In the case of the RODI bucket, if not rinsed, when I make new RODI water, it's never zero, it runs about 6-8, immediately after making, when at the same time I make a small cupful and its zero. How can this be. I surmise that whatever the film is increases the TDS. Is that important, to me yes, but that's just a personal thing.

I of course do not test the mix bucket as I know I started with 0, but I do use the mix within 24 hours, no need in letting it sit in a bucket.

Of course in the end, none of this may matter to anyone, reef keeping is a personal thing with a thousand ways to succeed, and a thousand ways to fail.

Just an old timers view of water making.

Cheers!