So I think I messed up

[Irishman360]

Trying to start up my QT tank with RO/DI water and salt mix. I have a 20gal tank set up in my bedroom. What I did first was put the RO/DI water in the 5 gal buckets, carried them to my room and filled the tank with RO/DI water. I have a 30 gallon rated power head and a heater in the tank before I put the water in. I then added 7 1/2 cups of water to the tank, not knowing I should of mixed it in the 5 gallon buckets before hand. Water is not cloudy but the bottom of my tank is now covered in salt and the water is still cold so I didn't let it heat up before adding the salt as well as just adding a little at a time. From what I read is that I have to let the water heat up to help dissovle the salt. Is my power head to small to mix the water? I also have a pump for some bubbles as well, would adding that help mix the salt better? And what should I do for the salt that is at the bottom of the tank? Use a wooden spoon or wooden paint stick and stir occasionally? My salt is the Red Sea Coral Pro.

 

[heathlindner25]

so its just a tank filled with water and salt that's not dissolving at the bottom? can just go in there with a wooden spoon or something similar and stir it up?

 

[ericarenee]

your power head should be fine. If you can aim it at the bottom to stir up what has settled.. But yea mixing it in the buckets i think is easier. But since no fish or nothing in there its fine. It will disolve and mix up

 

[Irishman360]

Thanks for the quick replies. And yes it is a bare tank. I will turn the power head down and stir it occasionally. Hopefully it will dissolve by the weekend so I can start my first fish QT

 

[Sk8r]

Takes 8-24 hours for reef salt (which is many chemicals) to dissolve even in warm water. You're ok.

 

[Irishman360]

Thanks sk8r

 

[thegrun]

With high alkalinity/calcium salts like Red Sea Pro you really should mix it in cold water, or you will get a fair amount of calcium precipitate. The cold water impedes the chemical reaction, so you did good! The salt should dissolve quickly and a wooden spoon to stir up what falls to the bottom will work well. For future water changes you want to mix the saltwater cold, then heat it to tank temperature before adding it.

 

[heathlindner25]

With high alkalinity/calcium salts like Red Sea Pro you really should mix it in cold water, or you will get a fair amount of calcium precipitate. The cold water impedes the chemical reaction, so you did good! The salt should dissolve quickly and a wooden spoon to stir up what falls to the bottom will work well. For future water changes you want to mix the saltwater cold, then heat it to tank temperature before adding it.

sounds like good advice

 

[Harse Designs]

your fine it will dissolve in 24hr with pump and temp

 

[Irishman360]

Thanks for the solid advice everyone!

 

[tmz]

Most of it will dissolve as you dilute it. Some of it formed insoluble precipitants like calcium carbonate or bicarbonate which won't. It may be fine for a qt tank for fish only but the chemical properties of the salt have been altered and some insoluble precipitants will remain in the tank. The value of the precipitated elements is lost .

 

[Irishman360]

Most of it will dissolve as you dilute it. Some of it formed insoluble precipitants like calcium carbonate or bicarbonate which won't. It may be fine for a qt tank for fish only but the chemical properties of the salt have been altered and some insoluble precipitants will remain in the tank. The value of the precipitated elements is lost .

That makes sense. Next time I buy salt I will just make sure its regular salt with no additives so its not essentially going to waste with it just being used in the QT tank.

 

[CStrickland]

That makes sense. Next time I buy salt I will just make sure its regular salt with no additives so its not essentially going to waste with it just being used in the QT tank.

That'll still have the additives in it, the fancy ones just have a little more. The idea is if you add salt to water it is spread out enough, but if you add water to salt it's too concentrated so there isn't "room" for the calcium and alk. But if it is the Red Sea brand, they recommend you use it within 4 hours of mixing.