How to make salt water?

Kaitlyn Vogel · 03/11/2012, 02:08 PM

I just installed a RO/DI filtration system after adding the salt to our storage tank and gettingthe proper salintiy and temperature how many hours should I wait beofre using the new saltwater for a water change ? We currently have a circulation pump and therometer in a close loop system that helps agitate the water while blending the salt with RO water.
Thank you
Kaitlyn

seapug · 03/11/2012, 02:11 PM

Ideally you want to wait as long as possible, but a good salt mix is usually fine after mixing for about 30 minutes with a power head. If the Ph is in the normal range it should be fine.

Lorenz725 · 03/11/2012, 02:17 PM

I like to wait at least 24 hours but that is just me. like seapug said 30 min should be good if you get the temp right and all the salt broken down.

Sk8r · 03/11/2012, 02:30 PM

A 5 gallon bucket and a Maxijet 1200 should do nicely in a few hours. Note: THE WATER SHOULD BE COMPLETELY CLEAR before use. The usual measure is 1/2 cup salt per gallon of water, to reach 1.024, which is an appropriate salinity for corals.

Kaitlyn Vogel · 03/11/2012, 02:30 PM

Thank you everyone I will take yor advice.

genxson · 03/11/2012, 04:15 PM

I also use a 5 gallon bucket and a running a pump over night with a heater and then measure the salinity in the morning. if the water is super clear then i add the water to the tank.

MarkGP · 03/11/2012, 06:29 PM

I usually wait 24 hours. I mix up 30 gals at a time. I keep a pump running in the barrel and a heater. Double check the salinity before using and adjust accordingly.

lxeroxl · 03/11/2012, 11:47 PM

I also wait 24 hours, using a power head to stir it and a heater to keep it at the right temperature.

goldenservices3 · 03/12/2012, 04:12 AM

I have always just waited until I can see the bottom of my container.

bnumair · 03/12/2012, 06:57 AM

i usually fill my 50 gal barrel with rodi water then add 1/2 cup per gal to it. barrel has external pump (reeflo dart 2600 gph) on it that mixes the water and salt. heater/chiller to keep newly made saltwater at 78 and i do wait 24 hrs before use.

zigzag1 · 03/12/2012, 12:47 PM

I'm with sk8r on this one. IME, an hour or two of mixing is fine, especially if just a 10-20 percent water change. If it was a whole tank of water (100% new) then 24 hours may be a good idea. Also, be sure to add the salt to the water, and not the water to the salt - to avoid overshooting the salinity and preciptating the calcium/alkalinty components during the mixing process. JMTC & GL!

shaginwagon13 · 03/12/2012, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapug

Ideally you want to wait as long as possible, but a good salt mix is usually fine after mixing for about 30 minutes with a power head. If the Ph is in the normal range it should be fine.

+1

But I usually mix a fresh batch right after a water change so its been ready for about a week. That's more of a precaution just in case I need to make an emergency water change I have the water on hand.

fishin · 03/12/2012, 01:28 PM

I have read quite a bit on this. I have come to the belief that a week is ideal for all chemical reactions to occur. I always mix a new batch up when I do a water change. I keep the volume of my QT tank on hand just in case I need an emergency QT tank. I just drain the main into the QT and refill the main with new.

shaginwagon13 · 03/12/2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishin

I have read quite a bit on this. I have come to the belief that a week is ideal for all chemical reactions to occur. I always mix a new batch up when I do a water change. I keep the volume of my QT tank on hand just in case I need an emergency QT tank. I just drain the main into the QT and refill the main with new.

You can, if needed, change water after only 30 minutes to an hour as long as the water is clear and all the salt has dissolved. Most people try to wait 24 hours but if you need to do a water change and can't wait the 24 hours there will be no harm in doing so.

Fizz71 · 03/12/2012, 02:13 PM

Clear and up to temperature is all I look for.

seapug · 03/12/2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

+1

But I usually mix a fresh batch right after a water change so its been ready for about a week. That's more of a precaution just in case I need to make an emergency water change I have the water on hand.

+1 +1. I have a 30 gallon barrel and usually only do 15-20 gal. water changes at a time. There's always leftover and I add a couple gallons each day so I always have some ready and waiting. Much easier than rushing to make 20 gallons the day of or day before a water change.

03/11/2012, 02:08 PM	#1
Kaitlyn Vogel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9	How to make salt water? I just installed a RO/DI filtration system after adding the salt to our storage tank and gettingthe proper salintiy and temperature how many hours should I wait beofre using the new saltwater for a water change ? We currently have a circulation pump and therometer in a close loop system that helps agitate the water while blending the salt with RO water. Thank you Kaitlyn

03/11/2012, 02:11 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Ideally you want to wait as long as possible, but a good salt mix is usually fine after mixing for about 30 minutes with a power head. If the Ph is in the normal range it should be fine. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/11/2012, 02:17 PM	#3
Lorenz725 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 942	I like to wait at least 24 hours but that is just me. like seapug said 30 min should be good if you get the temp right and all the salt broken down. __________________ Current tank info: 150 gallon RR 6 foot mixed reef, 3 250 W radium, 100 gallon Rubbermaid basement sump. Octopus 300 pro skimmer, 29 gallon fuge with dragons breath, cheato, and mangroves. 5.5 gallon AIO mixed reef, 2 18 w T5HO, built in fuge with cheato and dragons breath.

03/11/2012, 02:30 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A 5 gallon bucket and a Maxijet 1200 should do nicely in a few hours. Note: THE WATER SHOULD BE COMPLETELY CLEAR before use. The usual measure is 1/2 cup salt per gallon of water, to reach 1.024, which is an appropriate salinity for corals. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/12/2012, 06:57 AM	#10
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	i usually fill my 50 gal barrel with rodi water then add 1/2 cup per gal to it. barrel has external pump (reeflo dart 2600 gph) on it that mixes the water and salt. heater/chiller to keep newly made saltwater at 78 and i do wait 24 hrs before use. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

03/11/2012, 04:15 PM	#6
genxson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San jose Posts: 91	I also use a 5 gallon bucket and a running a pump over night with a heater and then measure the salinity in the morning. if the water is super clear then i add the water to the tank.

03/11/2012, 06:29 PM	#7
MarkGP Why do I do this? Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bristol, RI Posts: 1,015	I usually wait 24 hours. I mix up 30 gals at a time. I keep a pump running in the barrel and a heater. Double check the salinity before using and adjust accordingly.

03/11/2012, 11:47 PM	#8
lxeroxl Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Orlando Florida Posts: 70	I also wait 24 hours, using a power head to stir it and a heater to keep it at the right temperature.

03/12/2012, 04:12 AM	#9
goldenservices3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: OH Posts: 65	I have always just waited until I can see the bottom of my container.

03/12/2012, 12:47 PM	#11
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	I'm with sk8r on this one. IME, an hour or two of mixing is fine, especially if just a 10-20 percent water change. If it was a whole tank of water (100% new) then 24 hours may be a good idea. Also, be sure to add the salt to the water, and not the water to the salt - to avoid overshooting the salinity and preciptating the calcium/alkalinty components during the mixing process. JMTC & GL! __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

03/12/2012, 01:28 PM	#13
fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 2	water I have read quite a bit on this. I have come to the belief that a week is ideal for all chemical reactions to occur. I always mix a new batch up when I do a water change. I keep the volume of my QT tank on hand just in case I need an emergency QT tank. I just drain the main into the QT and refill the main with new.

03/12/2012, 02:13 PM	#15
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Clear and up to temperature is all I look for.