After a 10 year hiatus from the reef, I'm back into it for about 5 months. I still have some cycling to do on the live rock and am feeding the crabs and snails all of the algae they could want. Just a few small fish to add some life to it. My biggest concern is the water that I make up for water changes. The saltwater test kit and hydrometer seems right on target. I make up about 20 gals of water in a grey brute trash can with my R/O filtered water and use neutralizer, essential elements, and an air stone to help age the water for a week prior to change out. Previously, I bought water, but economics don't permit that, anymore. I have an algae that seems to be growing along the water line in the brute and there seems to be some undissolved salts in the bottom. So:
1. How long should I let water "age" in the brute?
2. Anyone have a past with salts coming out of solution?
3. What is the scum or debris along the water line?
1. How long should I let water "age" in the brute?
2. Anyone have a past with salts coming out of solution?
3. What is the scum or debris along the water line?