Salt consistency strategy

Since I am basically starting over, I am trying to decide on salt. I have been using IO and/or Oceanic. I have read a lot of the threads and reports and like someone else said, it's enough to make you want to quit! I don't think I'm going to ask about the best salt, that item seems to be an open invitation to mayhem! ;D What I am wondering is consistency. If you have a 50 gal bucket of mix, it seems that you might get inconsistent results making small batches out of it (settling, so forth). But the bigger buckets are more econmical. What do you think about mixing an entire 50 gal bucket of salt into say 5 gallons of water. Then when you need a small batch, just mix the mix 1 part mix, 9 parts water and viola! 10 units of correct mix. Will the mix keep?, will it precipitate out such a concentration? Has anyone tried it?

Mike

 

I tried it, as recommended by the manufacture....5 gallon bucket, 25 gallon bag of salt. I had about 3/4 inches of white sludge at the bottom. It would not remix. So, I humbly, do not recommend that method. sorry

Anyone else try this with success?

 

I am not sure if you can do that. You might get to a supersaturated solution. Water can only hold so much salt and other trace elements. Eventually it will reach a point where you have too much salt/trace elements and it (salt/trace elements) will begin to precipitate out. I have no idea what level that happens at with salt water, but it is something to consider before giving this a shot.

 

BL - it looks like we were replying at the same time. I think you have shown that you will get a super saturated solution.

That being said, I am sure you could experiment and find the saturation point, but I am not sure it is worth the effort

 

Yes, this will work but you need an airtight lid. Evaporation of the slurry can cause the calcium carbonate to fall out of the solution. This is called the slurry method.

http://web.archive.org/web/20011217234403/www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1997/sep/bio/default.asp

Why does it matter if you end adding undissolved CaCO3? Here's why.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/july2002/chem.htm

 

I had mine in a spackle type bucket with the lid on...isn't that airtight?

Do you do this? I am curious if I did something wrong...

 

I have been buying 150 or 200 gallon buckets of salt mix and mixing small batches. Is this not the correct way to make the saltwater? I havent had any problems that I know of from this. I guess I need to read the instructions more clearly. Can someone else please verify that I have been doing this wrong? I just find it hard to beleive with as much as I have read and now have prolly 20+ books that I have never read this.

Jay

 

HMMM...that's pretty airtight.

I don't do it. You might want to send a PM to Craig Manoukian because he does. However, I know that he uses hot water and that might be the difference.

 

Jay,

You aren't doing anything wrong. Most people do it that way. Some people have had occassional buckets of salt with substantially variable chemistry between the top of the bucket and the bottom. There are a number of threads on RC regarding this.

If anyone is worried about this, I would just keep old buckets, add half of the salt in the new bucket to the old bucket, and shake both buckets well.

 

Theres a good idea. I will do that. Thanks for clearing that up.

Jay