Water change... please advise

[fish77]

I went to go do a want change on my 29 gallon biocube. I took out 5 gallons, scrubbed the inside glass..all the regular maintenance. Then I look at my clean water, which looks clear ( I stirred repeatedly of the course of 24 hours because I don't have a pump). I looked at the water in a clear container and their are"white specks" in the water.The salt I use is Instant ocean. This salt was hard then I crushed it up before adding to the bucket (could this be the problem). Don't really want to add this new water,but also I don't want to add the old water because I have not done a water change in a while (due to filter problems). Right now the fish are in the tank with a power head. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! and sorry for rambling

 

[fish77]

Bump don't know what to do

 

[Gill_bucket]

I would go ahead and add the water the specks will eventually dissolve. HOWEVER if the salt crystals land on your corals they won't like it so try to maybe net out the specks or poor the water in slowly so the specks stay on the bottom of the bucket and then just throw out the last inch or two of water containing the specks. Make sure to check your salinity before adding the water to the tank. Hope this helps

 

[gofor100]

I would probably put half the new water in a container, then half the old water... that should probably do the trick to dissolve any remaining salt particles and will allow you to complete your water-change (or you may have add too much salt and need to add some more freshwater to dissolve it).

In the future I would suggest mixing the saltwater at least 24 hours before the waterchange... then put either a powerhead or an airstone in their (preferably a powerhead) to keep the water moving and the salt suspended (which should be able to dissolve within 24 hours with this procedure).

Good Luck!

 

[fish77]

Thanks for the reply!

 

[clownfreak]

Another option would be to filter it with a coffee filter. It would be a long process but worth a shot if you'd like too.

 

[fish77]

Thanks for the reply! ended up just added the water.

 

[clownfreak]

Sounds ok, did the white specks dissolve or just settle to the bottom?

 

[schoch79]

Here's my guess. I forget what exactly it is called but from last I heard, when your salt gets hard and caked up from sitting around too long it's from moisture in the air and something in the salt having a chemical reaction. The white specks you see are the result of that reaction and are one of the minerals in your salt precipitated out. If I had to take a guess at what that is I'd say some kind of carbonate. Test your new water to see if carbonate or calcium seems really low. If it is indeed something precipitated out of the salt it is my understanding that the whole 'brick" of salt is now garbage. Don't take what I say as the final answer though because it has been a while since I have heard this and it may have in fact been bad information to start with. I hope someone else chimes in on this.

 

[twelvejewelz]

Its fine i use reef crystals and there is always a few of those "white specs". You really need to get a powerhead and use that to mix your water. Add water first then add the salt to the water.Are you mixing it by hand?!

 

[d3rryc]

You really need to get a powerhead and use that to mix your water. Add water first then add the salt to the water.Are you mixing it by hand?!

+1. A $15-$20 powerhead is worth its weight in gold in this situation. Since you're making up relatively small batches, you don't need anything too powerful. Just drop it in the mixing bucket and let it do its thing overnight.

 

[allsps40]

I have been using IO or RC for a while now (dont like either of them) and I have never had this problem. If you by it in the bags stop and start getting buckets, it is cheaper in the long run and the bucket seals the salt and keeps it fresh. I have opened bags of IO and found it to be wet, I never liked this and would never use wet looking salt in my tank. Also get a power head to mix the salt water for you. Cost is low in fact marinedepot.com has a great water mixing kit for $99.99 comes with MJ1200, gravel vac, small bucket of DD H2Ocean salt, a heater and a refractometer. A good deal I think.

 

[greech]

Definitely get a powerhead to mix salts. Just about any little pump will thoroughly mix 5 gallons of water. If those are undissolved salt crystals your salt has not thoroughly mixed (obviously) and when they finally do mix (in your tank), you may find your SG is not what you thought it should be. Also, salt crystals can burn your livestock. Lastly (and I am no chemist) but using hardened salts is not a good idea since whatever has precipated out through that process will not be going into your tank. Again no expert, just my thoughts.

 

[ir_danno22]

I use a MJ1200 to mix my salt in a covered 5g bucket. The MJ1200 heats up the water while it keeps it circulated so really no heater needed unless it gets really cold in the room.

 

[Toddrtrex]

First -- are you adding water to salt, or salt to water? Should be salt to water.

Second, you say that the salt was hard to begin with? Then what you are seeing are the part of the mix that will not mix up into water. Layman's way of explaining it (( mainly because I can't remember all the details )) -- the salt became hard because of moisture, and some elements were at too high of a concentration -- at that point they will not dissolve back. If this is a fish only, no big deal. Reef tank, might be an issue and I would test the Cal, Alk and Mag before using it.

 

[twelvejewelz]

I have been using IO or RC for a while now (dont like either of them) and I have never had this problem. If you by it in the bags stop and start getting buckets, it is cheaper in the long run and the bucket seals the salt and keeps it fresh. I have opened bags of IO and found it to be wet, I never liked this and would never use wet looking salt in my tank. Also get a power head to mix the salt water for you. Cost is low in fact marinedepot.com has a great water mixing kit for $99.99 comes with MJ1200, gravel vac, small bucket of DD H2Ocean salt, a heater and a refractometer. A good deal I think.

Im going to switch my salts soon anyway even though i like the Reef crystals i do alot of water changes on my nano sometimes 3 a week so i want a better salt with a lower alk since im dosing vodka the RC Alk is just to high at 11 but everything else is good. The water/moisture you are seeing is because salt is a desiccant and its just moisture absorbed from the air nothing harmful though.