How long do you mix your salt?

[macraider]

While I don't have exact numbers in front of me, I've read on previous salt mixes directions that range anywhere from "mix until clear" through to "24-48 hours". Instant Ocean's Website says "...at least overnight."

What do you do?

-Chris

 

[JayM]

Your ORP will take a hit at a water change if you don't mix and aerate for at least 24 hours. It also takes a while for the chemistry to settle out, so it's hard to know if you need to supplement Ca, Alk, Mg, adjust SG, etc.

Unless it's an emergency, it's always >24hours for me.

 

[phaedraeos]

I haven't been doing this too long, so take it with a grain of salt . . .

I mix anywhere from 12-48 hours depending if I'm rushing or not. I mix in 5 gallon buckets with powerheads. I don't supplement with anything, since my tank is only 50g, only a few SPS stragglers with softies and LPS being the main inhabitants, and I do pretty regular weekly water changes. I rely on preventative maintenance more than anything. I just wait a day, test the salinity, and good to go.

 

[Aquadiva]

there's no "all of the above."

I try to go about 24 hrs... sometime I don't make it. Sometime it sits as long as a week. (heated and aerated). I try not to do that, either.

 

[macraider]

Is a power head enough for mixing and aeration, or do you use something else for aeration?

-Chris

 

[skyedolphan]

I use a MJ1200 in a 35 gallon barrel to mix.
I try to stay with over 24 hours unless there is an emergancy where water changes are necessary then it is until clear nad temp are where they need to be

 

[Richard]

I normally set up for water change the night before so between 12-14hrs.

 

[Mr.HaHa]

i usually prep my 30g of water about a week in advance of my water change.
however, i dont have the water continuously being stirred via a pump. typically i mix the salt and water for about an hour then let the water sit for a few days and then right before im ready to do a water change i mix it up again.

 

[RayD]

there's no "all of the above."

I try to go about 24 hrs... sometime I don't make it. Sometime it sits as long as a week. (heated and aerated). I try not to do that, either.

+1 ... 24 hrs is my norm but I've had barrels of ready SW sit for a month! LOL

 

[Cardiak]

10-20 minutes I dont do it often but I've never seen any negetive effects from adding the water after a short mix... it doesn't take more then 3-4 minutes for all the salt to disolve and I add a buffer before tossing it in.

 

[nichols]

I mix salt water in 2 - 33 gal brute barrels. I have an old style mj 1200 mod and a 50 watt heater in each barrel. I mix it up and let it run at least 24 hrs, but it's been as long as a few weeks. I always keep 33 gals of salt water mixed and 33 gals of RODI on hand.

 

[JavaJones]

I mix 20G in a 33 G trash can (reserved for the purpose) using a mag 3 pump over 24 hours. Usually the pump itself provides enough heat to bring it to temperature.

One day I want to explore setting up a large reservoir of fresh saltwater and doing automated daily 1% changes... that could change the routine significantly...

 

[Moe_K]

+1 ... 24 hrs is my norm but I've had barrels of ready SW sit for a month! LOL

Yup, me too.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

My SW is mixed continuously by small submerged Danner pumps in a 50 gallon polypro barrel. I dump the salt in and turn a valve so that the RODI fills the barrel and shuts off via a Kent Float Valve installed in the barrel. I voted 48+ because I typically dump the salt in the barrel and do a water change whenever it is convenient.

 

[Leroy]

+1 ... 24 hrs is my norm but I've had barrels of ready SW sit for a month! LOL

Same here, 55 gal barrel saltwater mixed with power head, heater and aerated on a timer 12 hrs circulated 12 hrs off. 44 gal Brute with RO water for top off. All for two 90 gallon SW reef tanks.

 

[SteveDola]

Usually I have my RO fill up my 55g drum half way and then throw a heater, mag 7, and salt atleast a day ahead. I did have it located in the basement before so all I did was pump it up stairs but now I have to lug it out and set it up infront of the tank.

 

[macraider]

... I dump the salt in and turn a valve so that the RODI fills the barrel and shuts off via ...

I just read this the other day, while doing my research on this subject...

According to Instant Ocean: "Always add the salt mix to the water, not the other way around. Adding water to the salt mix briefly creates a highly concentrated solution that can lead to precipitation of some ingredients."

I'm not sure how serious an issue the precipitation is but I thought I'd pass it along in case you hadn't seen this.

-Chris

 

[macraider]

To those lucky reefers who can mix for 48+ hours, clearly you don't have significant others in the house nagging you about "...all these buckets of water..." lying around and "when will you be done".

-Chris

 

[SteveDola]

oh I do but when you get married men develope a mute button that allows them to tune out nagging. Fortuneately for me, I was born with this characteristic

 

[trajik ink]

i was born with it too.....lol......when it kicks in it sounds like pmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......i have a 50 gallon drum filled with a heater,airstone and a couple of mag 3's making if like a whirlpool for a night.....so i would say 12 hrs.
the problem is i have to lug a couple of buckets up from the basement.......i tried a iwaki 30rlt i had laying around the other day and it went a lil' over half way up and that's it........but i think i got a trick up my sleeve....lol.