Salinity & Mixing Salt

[AQTCJAK]

Here is my question as anyone that has read my meet & greet thread I have been in this hobby for 20+ Years & I also own a saltwater only shop.

I have bought real sea water both in the far past (was the only opinion then) & recent past. Salinity Measurements & the procedures for mixing salt has always fascinated me. I have heard many different ways on how people do this. So I would like your comments & your procedures even Vicki's because the first time & every time I have seen her do this I am just amazed.

This is my procedure & my readings

I mix 40 gallons @ a time with RO/DI water that the readings are @ .001 ppm to the high after filtering 3000+ gallons of 99 ppm. I use approximately 22.5cups of Instant Ocean salt to obtain a mixture of 1.025. I mix it in a 44 Gallon trash can with a high volume pump approx 2800GPH. The solution mixes for approx 24+ hours unless I have an emergency where I need the water now. After the 24 Hour period my levels read

Specific Gravity 1.025 or 35ppm
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 0
PO4 - 0
pH - 8.2 - 8.4

I do not test for Calcium or Magnesium or anything else for one reason only, I sell water to people that have FO tanks & there really is no need to add the extra nutrients for them.

[Dentoid]

I make 15 gallons at a time using 15 gallons of RO/DI water with a TDS reading of 0ppm and add 7.5-8 cups of Oceanic salt in a 20 gallon trash can with a MJ 1200 and a heater. I have done Alk readings on both Oceanic and Tropic Marin Pro and heve found Oceanic to be better for my tank in that regard. The other reading are just like yours. I always adjust the salinity to match my tank and the other readings are all zero.

[bluespotjawfish]

I also mix about 40 gallons @ a time with RO/DI water. I use however much salt it takes to give me a specific gravity of 1.025. I usually use IO, but have also used Oceanic, IO/Oceanic mixed, Tropic Marin Pro, and recently Reef Crystals in my quest to find a salt that will keep my pH higher. I mix it in a 45 Gallon Brute trash can, usually mix it by hand until dissolved and then continue to mix it with a Mag 5 pump (sometimes I add a second pump). The solution usually mixes 1-5 days. Sometimes there may be some water leftover from the last WC so I just add RO/DI to give me a total of about 40 gallons and follow the same process. The can also has a heater. I also keep RO/DI in my 35 gallon brute for topoff or emergency use. In emergency I will mix in my 35 gallon. Monthly both containers are emptied, cleaned, and dried. Before use, my readings are:

Specific Gravity 1.025
NH3 - 0
NO2 - 0
NO3 - 0
PO4 - 0
pH - 7.8 - 7.9

Most of the time I test the alk, calc, and magnesium and adjust it as necessary about a day before the WC.

[Techno-Vicki]

Ok, Jack is making me tell the truth....Before we met, I used to mix IO with tap water (now don't worry, it is on a well) in 5 gal buckets. I start with very hot to mix the salt and then went to cold. Yes, he is looking over my sholder rolling over laughing Ok, I would let it sit for an hour and do a water change. I know it was not a very scientific way to mix, but Jack can tell you, my tanks still looked good. My specific gravity was 1.025.

I don't do the water changes now.....he does.

[bluespotjawfish]

Oh, Vicki, I got you beat...I used to mix up the SW in my sump using tap water. As soon as it cleared up, the pump was turned on! However, I would never use hot water from the tap, that would be bad (hehe)!

Worked for 8 years - even for my Bluespots~!

[prow]

i have become a testing fool on my fresh mixed water. i test every batch. i use reef crystals for my salt mix. i do 13-14%(20gals just works out this way) water changes ever 15days.

i do use a old 20gal glass tank. i found no matter how well i rinse the 20gal after the change it leaves a residual of nasties behind. so now i do changes as follows.

wash out the 20gal mixing tank with vinagar. then cover the top and let it set with the vinagar for about a hour. after i put RO/DI water with TDS of 0-3 and NH3/NH4 0.0(yeah i check this because the source water contains some and i want to make sure my RO membrane is rejecting it. then mix the salt and put a heater and a MJ in the tank. let is go for about 4-5hours. then test and add whatever i need, usually just Mg. let it mix over night. here is what i have been getting avg for the last 4 tests.(all the rest have been close to these)

temp-80
salinity-35ppt
ph-8.14
Mg-1203
Ca-418
Alk-4.33
NO3-0.0
NO2-0.0
phos-0.0
silicate-0.0
-i also just started testing boron, have my reasons. but i have not tested my newly mixed water for it yet. maybe why the alk is so high. could be mostly carbonate and bicarbonate or boron, will have to see about that though. will be checking on that next change.

as soon as i make the room i will setting up a storage tank like bluespotjawfish.

[CATALYST]

I use Oceanic and mix it 5 gals at a time. I use 5 level cups with my handy dandy measuring cup the I mix it with a power drill until the drill gets warm...about a minute. About an hour later I mix it again. Sometimes I use it right away and sometimes I let it set overnight but not any longer or it separates. I tried using a heater and a powerhead...didn't work for me and it would precipitate. (I think that's the right word). SP is just under 1.026.

[sasquatch]

interesting! I put 5 gals ro/di in a bucket and turn on heater and ph, then add salt till specific g is reached, I change a quart of water a day on my 140 gal total volume about 10%, I do this because Im both lazy and a pigpen lol

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

interesting! I put 5 gals ro/di in a bucket and turn on heater and ph, then add salt till specific g is reached, I change a quart of water a day on my 140 gal total volume about 10%, I do this because Im both lazy and a pigpen lol

That explains why you have no nitrates!

[kathywithbirds]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sasquatch
interesting! I put 5 gals ro/di in a bucket and turn on heater and ph, then add salt till specific g is reached, I change a quart of water a day on my 140 gal total volume about 10%, I do this because Im both lazy and a pigpen lol

That explains why you have no nitrates!

Oh, I may have to start that!!!

I mix 2 gallons at a time in my Red Fish Bucket, let it sit for a while (half a day generally) then test for ph, and sg. That's a once a week water change. Lately I've been doing 4 gallons. Was using IO, got Reef Crystals by mistake and actually like it better.

Right now I've bought gallons and gallons of distilled from the store b/c I can't figure out why my RO/DI isn't working. I have a few weeks' worth of water changes in my tank with crappy tap water!!!

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by CATALYST

I use Oceanic and mix it 5 gals at a time. I use 5 level cups with my handy dandy measuring cup the I mix it with a power drill until the drill gets warm...about a minute. About an hour later I mix it again. Sometimes I use it right away and sometimes I let it set overnight but not any longer or it separates. I tried using a heater and a powerhead...didn't work for me and it would precipitate. (I think that's the right word). SP is just under 1.026.

5 cups/5 gallons? Is this right? The instructions are 1/2 cup/gallon, so that would be 2.5 cups/5 gallons.

[Dentoid]

Originally Posted by kathywithbirds

Right now I've bought gallons and gallons of distilled from the store b/c I can't figure out why my RO/DI isn't working. I have a few weeks' worth of water changes in my tank with crappy tap water!!!

Kathy, I don't know if this is the problem, but I remember setting up my RO/DI and the instructions said to throw away the first 10 gallons of water. Apparently the membrane has some kind of processing residue that must be flushed out. Also, I believe the membrane takes some time, a week or so, to become fully hydrated. Perhaps the TDS is reading that? Just a thought.

[CATALYST]

Originally Posted by Dentoid

5 cups/5 gallons? Is this right? The instructions are 1/2 cup/gallon, so that would be 2.5 cups/5 gallons.

It's a 1/2 cup cup.