Mixing Salt In Water

I am completely new to this as I have stated elsewhere. I am wondering how do I mix my salt in the water. Please give me a detailed explanation on how you guys do it. I will be getting a my RO/DI in about 5 days, and want to be informed how to do it right so I can get the right salinity without wasting any salt.

 

I use two big trash cans one for RO and one for salt. I only mix what I plan to use plus a little extra in case I spill. For me normally 10 gal WC (so12 gallons). I drop my heater in and 2 small excess powerheads and turn them on. I take my RO out dump it in the bucket, and add my six cups of reef crystals (1/2 cup per gal as per directions). If I have time I perfer to add three cups wait a while then three more. Just seems to disolve better and not sit at the bottom. I'll go after a couple hours swirls it around with a piece of PVC and move my powerheads jsut to give it some varied flow so there isnt residue build up in dead spots. Usuallt the next morning I'll repeat before work. check the salinity add either RO or more salt, then off to work. At night I recheck salinity, check temp and if all is good do my water change. I use two 5 gallon buckets. One I will will with old water and leave sit while I fill the good bucket and add it in. I do this cause one I slipped and spilled my bucket of fresh so adding in the old no major dips in levels. once the fresh is on, dump the old bucket and repeat, out with old, in with new, dump out old. I then give it about an hour and check my salinity and depending test water if needed.

 

If I'm reading this correctly, you're not getting the full potential of the WC.
For instance, removing 10g, then replacing w/ new SW will do more than
putting 5 g in, then taking 5 more out, etc.

It's probalby very slight however, and your technique will work, just not the same waste removal slightly.
And, maybe I read/understood your post wrong.

 

I just fill however many 5 gallon buckets I need depending on my water change with RO. Then I measure a half cup of salt to each gallon of RO. I run my salinity at 1.26 so I add a little extra. I stir it up for about 10 minutes then put my heater in the bucket. I use coral pro salt and it dissolves instantly, no waiting a day before a water change. Once its up to temp I check the salinity and make sure ph is stable. I'm doing my water changes within 2 hours of mixing my first bucket. Coral pro salt makes it so easy. It doesn't require airation and dissolves very quickly. I used reef crystals prior and what a difference. Its a little pricey but well worth it.

 

I also use within about an hour or less of making it.
I try and get the temp close also, but even 20% of about 130g total volume isn't going to change the overall temp much. I do put my heater in for a bit though.

I also use a Mag3 to pump my SW back to my sump (or DT), no lifting anymore.

 

1. Filled my tank with RO/DI water.
2. Put the right amount of salt.
3. Turned powerheads and return pump to get more water mixing and movement.
4. Made sure salinity was good.

 

I add my RO/DI to the Rubbermaid can or bucket along with an old Mag pump to circulate then slowly add the required amount of salt, this is key to keep the salt from flashing, precipitating out or settling to the bottom. When you add the salt fast it reacts with the water in what is called an endothermic reaction and does not dissolve as readily. Add it slowly and check the salinity or specific gravity as you go. The measurements on the bucket or bag are ballpark close only so you will need to fine tune the amounts every time to get the proper salinity.

I mix for no more than an hour in most cases or until the pH, salinity and temperature approximate the display then perform a 10 to 20% water change, first removing the entire 10-20% from the display or sump before replacing with new. If the tank is dirty I remove by vacuuming the rocks, back and sides. I have a fully functioning DSB so do not disturb the sand but if yours is bare bottom or a shallow sand bed you can and should vacuum the bottom too.

I use Oceanic salt myself.

 

Close but no I get full use of the water change as my old and new are taken and inserted out of different chamber with the pumps off so there is no water turn over or exchange. I should've clarified that.

 

Once I move into the new house I want to set up a nice system like that, I'm over the 5 gallon buckets! Lol. I'm also gonna have sumps for every tank, its a lot more work being sumpless.

 

That does seem the way to go in this hobby...