Saltwater Storage

Thought I'd post this after having done some research via Google, etc. and find no definitive answer.

This assumes that container is a Brute trashcan and that specific gravity will be retested to guard against increased concentration from evaporation loss:

• Can artificial saltwater be stored?
• For how long?
• Does the container need to be "airtight" or simply covered to keep debris out?
• Can it be keep stagnant and at room temperature (understanding that it will be brought to tank temperature and "stirred" with pump or whatever prior to pwc)?

Those are the questions that came to mind....

 

Here is my experience.

Without a Powerhead the water starts to smell after about a week and a half. With a power head it keeps closer to 3 weeks. After it starts smelling I don't use it.

When the lid has been closed tight it seemed to keep a little longer. I have never experimented temperature.

I keep a 45 gallon brute with saltwater always in it. I use it for my daily water change that changes about 1.5 gallons a day. I keep it stirred at all times and have still had problems with it starting to smell before I use it up (started mixing less each time and cleaning with vinegar in between batches)

 

That's curious. I'm in day 14. There's no odor. The mag 7 I have in the Brute has been mostly turned off but I've had in on 2 or 3 times for a few hours at a time. For about the first week, however, it ran 24/7. But since then they've mostly been off.

The ambient temps here have varied 66 to 78. The heater was on for awhile, but I've turned it off.

I guess I'm about to find out what the shelf life is in my environment. ;D

 

• Can artificial saltwater be stored?

Yes

• For how long?

Basically indefinitely if there are no organics. Some salts such as Reefcrystals and Red Sea have various vitamins and such. Others such as instant ocean do not. The ones that do will break down and feed bacteria. Whether or not this is bad or not I couldn't say, but it's safe to say that the salt will not be the same when used as when mixed.

• Does the container need to be "airtight" or simply covered to keep debris out?

Better, again any organic contamination can feed bacteria.

• Can it be keep stagnant and at room temperature (understanding that it will be brought to tank temperature and "stirred" with pump or whatever prior to pwc)?

Sure, dosn't need to be stirred if not organic. If significant bacteria is colonizing it you could get hydrogen sulfide or other byproducts, for example, if it goes anaerobic. So, it may be better to stir probably.

 

Okay, so in that I'm using IO Reef Crystals I'd best have airtight cover and probably stir. And, use sooner than later. If it goes "bad" then could smell like rotten eggs or something foul.

But, if no off smell and otherwise has been covered (15-days now), I can most likely still use it for a PWC?