Use old salt or take the hit

[jwilson]

I planned on building my tank a while ago and prematurely bought Marine Environment salt that has been sitting in the original packaging for about 4 years. At the time it was considered really good salt but now they are out of business and can't answer my question.

Assuming it's not a solid block is there anything that can go wrong/bad with salt or can I use this? If not in the DT, how about for curing my rocks. I was figuring at the least I could mix 50 gallons and see it tests, but there are so many things I just can't test for.

[kingevil]

i don't think there is a shelf life for the salt. might be a different story for any elements. mix up a batch and do some tests.

[shifty51008]

I would say just mix the container real well before using the salt so if anything settled it will get mixed again. (roll the bucket around) if your cal. alk. and mag levels are good I would use it.

[Agu]

It it hasn't hardened up it should be OK. Although salt doesn't have a shelf life even sealed salt can get rock hard.

I'd recommend using it for cycling the rock if basic parameters test within limits.

[HurricaneSystem]

Not being a downer or anything, but if you can't afford new salt, you are probably in the wrong hobby.

[kingevil]

Originally Posted by HurricaneSystem

Not being a downer or anything, but if you can't afford new salt, you are probably in the wrong hobby.

it may not be an issue of cost. maybe the op doesn't want to be wasteful.

[drparker]

If it's not a block I'd use it while cycling the tank. If we are talking about using it in my established reef, I'd play it safe and replace it.

[Merasti]

Originally Posted by HurricaneSystem

Not being a downer or anything, but if you can't afford new salt, you are probably in the wrong hobby.

It may be less about affordability and more about not being wasteful.

[jwilson]

Originally Posted by Merasti

It may be less about affordability and more about not being wasteful.

LOL - exactly. Considering I'm in it for about just under 4 grand already, I think I know what kind of hobby I'm getting into. I'd just rather not throw money out.

Thanks for the replies guys - including yours Hurricane.

Now, I just have to find the second box that has the little bottle of "other stuff" not in the salt and my refractometer.

[calk me Q]

use it as normal ¡*though its damped or even blocked£¬there is no element loss in that¡*that has been testified and spread in most chinese marine forume

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The thing that will potentially be low is alkalinity due to precipitation of calcium carbonate (don't bother measuring calcium as it can't drop if alk did not). If you make up the old salt and the alkalinity is OK, then the salt is fine to use.

[jwilson]

Thanks Randy

[Ron Reefman]

Don't you just love it when somebody who knows what they are talking about tells you what to do AND explains why it's the thing to do. Thanks Randy!