What to use for water change mix?

JamesFitch · 02-05-2007, 09:31 PM

I have canceled out the salt and distilled water as a suspect for my high ammonia in the new saltwater mix for my water change. I am assuming that it must be the rubbermaid tote that I purchased new for the water change mixes.

What do you use to mix the water and salt for water changes?

Witfull · 02-05-2007, 09:48 PM

rubbermaid "brute" 50gal garbage can. what you can do to have peace of mind is take a small scaping of the plastic and soak in RO water for a day. then test. plastics arent known for ammonia or trates,,,,they are famous for PO4.

JamesFitch · 02-05-2007, 10:02 PM

Well normally i would agree i have a mix sitting in the rubermaid container its temped at 78 i tested (was going to put it in my tank yesturday) but it read 0.50 for ammonia so i left it sit there i did a test today and it read 1.0 for ammonia i used two dif types of ammonia test kits. it appears to be gaining more ammonia if this is correct than the only logic is the plastic was made with a product that has ammonia i also tested the distilled h20 that read zero in a glass i mixed salt and water and let it sit with a air stone 24 hours and that tested zero. i also tested tap water becouse thats what i used to rince out the tote it tested just a bit higher than zero we beleive.

JamesFitch · 02-05-2007, 10:06 PM

ok iam st up my lab expeirement is the rubermaid guilty for ammonia! will report results in 24 hours thanks witfull

billyr98 · 02-05-2007, 10:26 PM

very interesting... which kind of tote was this?

JamesFitch · 02-05-2007, 10:34 PM

It's a 18 gallon rubbermaid roughneck tote that I keep the top on while the salt and water is mixing so that my dog and cat do not use it as a drinking fountian

sasquatch · 02-05-2007, 11:42 PM

James, I suspect that somewhere along the life of this poor rubbermaid it has come in contact with ammonia, either at the plant or more likely from the cleaners at the store where you bought it. Steve

boozeman · 02-06-2007, 12:05 PM

cats routinely spray objects with urine to 'mark' their territory...maybe your cat is spraying your mixing container?

JamesFitch · 02-06-2007, 07:05 PM

No i hope not she is a female well here are the results i took i chunk out of the lid's handle (not a possible place for my cat to hit)

JamesFitch · 02-06-2007, 07:08 PM

it tested at .50 for ammonia so iam going to get a 20 gallon aquarium for my mix while ill look for something else and when i find something cheaper and ammonia free ill use that and set the 20 for my sump (just dont tell my wife) LOL

02-05-2007, 09:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
JamesFitch Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	What to use for water change mix? I have canceled out the salt and distilled water as a suspect for my high ammonia in the new saltwater mix for my water change. I am assuming that it must be the rubbermaid tote that I purchased new for the water change mixes. What do you use to mix the water and salt for water changes?

02-05-2007, 10:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
JamesFitch Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? Well normally i would agree i have a mix sitting in the rubermaid container its temped at 78 i tested (was going to put it in my tank yesturday) but it read 0.50 for ammonia so i left it sit there i did a test today and it read 1.0 for ammonia i used two dif types of ammonia test kits. it appears to be gaining more ammonia if this is correct than the only logic is the plastic was made with a product that has ammonia i also tested the distilled h20 that read zero in a glass i mixed salt and water and let it sit with a air stone 24 hours and that tested zero. i also tested tap water becouse thats what i used to rince out the tote it tested just a bit higher than zero we beleive.

02-05-2007, 10:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
JamesFitch Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? ok iam st up my lab expeirement is the rubermaid guilty for ammonia! will report results in 24 hours thanks witfull

02-05-2007, 10:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,400 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? very interesting... which kind of tote was this? __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

02-05-2007, 10:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
JamesFitch Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? It's a 18 gallon rubbermaid roughneck tote that I keep the top on while the salt and water is mixing so that my dog and cat do not use it as a drinking fountian

02-05-2007, 11:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? James, I suspect that somewhere along the life of this poor rubbermaid it has come in contact with ammonia, either at the plant or more likely from the cleaners at the store where you bought it. Steve __________________ castawayreefers.com

02-06-2007, 12:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? cats routinely spray objects with urine to 'mark' their territory...maybe your cat is spraying your mixing container? __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

02-06-2007, 07:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
JamesFitch Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? No i hope not she is a female well here are the results i took i chunk out of the lid's handle (not a possible place for my cat to hit)

02-06-2007, 07:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
JamesFitch Star Polyps Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: What to use for water change mix? it tested at .50 for ammonia so iam going to get a 20 gallon aquarium for my mix while ill look for something else and when i find something cheaper and ammonia free ill use that and set the 20 for my sump (just dont tell my wife) LOL

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