How long does saltwater need to mix?

groovemcfly · 01/04/2009, 11:58 AM

Just started making my own sw instead of buying it. How long does it need to mix before using it? The guy at the lfs said to go ahead and dump it all in. Also, how long should I wait before testing the salinity to make adjustments or does it change instantly? Thanks

Vision06 · 01/04/2009, 12:01 PM

I usually wait until all of the salt disspates into the water.

DevilBoy · 01/04/2009, 12:03 PM

i do mine minium of 24 hours.

Michael · 01/04/2009, 12:08 PM

i mix mine up usually on a thursday evening, i mix in the salt with the water cold, until its approx 1.025, then i put a powerhead in it and a heater and run it overnight, the next day i check the sg when the water is at the proper temperature and adjust accordingly, i then leave it running with the powerhead and heater and do the water change on a sunday morning

FirstContact · 01/04/2009, 12:11 PM

General rule of thumb is 24 hrs.

OTCHU · 01/04/2009, 02:09 PM

Usually I am waiting about 24H ... I do put a pump and heater during all this time

crazykrammm · 01/04/2009, 02:41 PM

i go with 5 hrs

OTCHU · 01/04/2009, 02:51 PM

5 hours ! you don't have problems with your coral ? I remember to do that and I killed some Xenia. The salt can burn them when it's not 100% diluate

cwbhawk · 01/04/2009, 03:22 PM

I always let mine sit with a powerhead and heater overnight, and that seems to be working for me

OTCHU · 01/04/2009, 03:26 PM

yep ! that the way !

redhotwheel98 · 01/04/2009, 03:35 PM

wow i only let mine mix for a couple of hours

OTCHU · 01/04/2009, 04:12 PM

mmmm you should wait more redhot

mbell09 · 01/04/2009, 05:52 PM

24-48 hrs with heater and powerhead

xJake · 01/04/2009, 06:25 PM

Freshly mixed saltwater has a very high initial pH and can sometimes contain residual levels of ammonia. Subsequently, it is extremely caustic and has the ability to burn the organisms in your tank.

Here is a quote from Randy Holmes-Farley regarding this particular subject:

"The overnight stirring will also help with aeration, which can be useful for some mixes that start with a high pH and need to pull in CO2 from the air to reach normal pH. After aeration, the pH is determined only by the alkalinity and the ambient carbon dioxide level in the air. It is not an attribute of the salt mix. More details on pH will be covered in a future article. Aeration also pulls in oxygen, if the starting freshwater was deficient in oxygen."

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php#15

01/04/2009, 12:01 PM	#2
Vision06 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: $Bronx, NY$ Posts: 50	I usually wait until all of the salt disspates into the water. __________________ Three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

01/04/2009, 12:08 PM	#4
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	i mix mine up usually on a thursday evening, i mix in the salt with the water cold, until its approx 1.025, then i put a powerhead in it and a heater and run it overnight, the next day i check the sg when the water is at the proper temperature and adjust accordingly, i then leave it running with the powerhead and heater and do the water change on a sunday morning __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

01/04/2009, 03:22 PM	#9
cwbhawk Junior at Iowa State Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa Posts: 148	I always let mine sit with a powerhead and heater overnight, and that seems to be working for me __________________ I am a nice shark, not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image I must first change myself. Fish are friends not food. Current Tank Info: 20 gallon tank that I move back and forth from school with me!

01/04/2009, 05:52 PM	#13
mbell09 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: rochester ny Posts: 339	24-48 hrs with heater and powerhead __________________ ask a quetion be dumb for five min. ask no questions be dumb for life Current Tank Info: standard 55 gal tank

01/04/2009, 11:58 AM	#1
groovemcfly Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 225	How long does saltwater need to mix? Just started making my own sw instead of buying it. How long does it need to mix before using it? The guy at the lfs said to go ahead and dump it all in. Also, how long should I wait before testing the salinity to make adjustments or does it change instantly? Thanks

01/04/2009, 12:03 PM	#3
DevilBoy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wooster, Ohio Posts: 1,724	i do mine minium of 24 hours.

01/04/2009, 12:11 PM	#5
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	General rule of thumb is 24 hrs.

01/04/2009, 02:09 PM	#6
OTCHU Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New columbia, PA Posts: 137	Usually I am waiting about 24H ... I do put a pump and heater during all this time

01/04/2009, 02:41 PM	#7
crazykrammm Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: southington,connecticut Posts: 1,260	i go with 5 hrs

01/04/2009, 02:51 PM	#8
OTCHU Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New columbia, PA Posts: 137	5 hours ! you don't have problems with your coral ? I remember to do that and I killed some Xenia. The salt can burn them when it's not 100% diluate

01/04/2009, 03:26 PM	#10
OTCHU Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New columbia, PA Posts: 137	yep ! that the way !

01/04/2009, 03:35 PM	#11
redhotwheel98 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: missouri Posts: 23	wow i only let mine mix for a couple of hours

01/04/2009, 04:12 PM	#12
OTCHU Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New columbia, PA Posts: 137	mmmm you should wait more redhot

01/04/2009, 06:25 PM	#14
xJake Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,385	Freshly mixed saltwater has a very high initial pH and can sometimes contain residual levels of ammonia. Subsequently, it is extremely caustic and has the ability to burn the organisms in your tank. Here is a quote from Randy Holmes-Farley regarding this particular subject: "The overnight stirring will also help with aeration, which can be useful for some mixes that start with a high pH and need to pull in CO2 from the air to reach normal pH. After aeration, the pH is determined only by the alkalinity and the ambient carbon dioxide level in the air. It is not an attribute of the salt mix. More details on pH will be covered in a future article. Aeration also pulls in oxygen, if the starting freshwater was deficient in oxygen." http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php#15