Does salt go bad?

Ranchhand02 · 09/01/2016, 01:51 PM

I have been out of the hobby for three years, but I am getting back in it. I have a half a bucket of reef crystals salt that has been sealed in a bucket for a couple years. Can I use this salt to set up the new tank and cycle it or should I just use all new salt? Thanks

mav3rick478 · 09/01/2016, 02:05 PM

I'm not sure, I believe after some time the potency of some of the elements will lower but if you're just using it to cycle a tank it shouldn't be a problem because one you do the initial water change with good new salt the levels should correct themselves theoretically.

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Ranchhand02 · 09/01/2016, 02:22 PM

That is what I was thinking, but I wanted some other opinions before I cycled the tank with it.

CarrieB · 09/01/2016, 03:02 PM

Check to see if it's hardened at all. If so, you will get precipitates.

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Greybeard · 09/01/2016, 04:01 PM

No... but it can get contaminated. Humidity in the air is enough to cause it to rock up.

I had a 10 year old bucket of IO, sealed, never been opened. I used it without issue in setting up and cycling my new tank. Out of it now, and I've switched to reef crystals, but there was no problem using the IO.

Sk8r · 09/01/2016, 04:14 PM

Long as it's still granular and loose.

Sapelo · 09/02/2016, 03:58 AM

Mix up a batch and test it....

ReefsandGeeks · 09/02/2016, 06:35 AM

I'd cycle with it. If you have enough to fill the whole tank, I might even use it if it was clumped up. You could do a 100% water change after the cycle is done with all new fresh salt. As said before, if it were all granular, it should be just fine.

09/01/2016, 01:51 PM	#1
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	Does salt go bad? I have been out of the hobby for three years, but I am getting back in it. I have a half a bucket of reef crystals salt that has been sealed in a bucket for a couple years. Can I use this salt to set up the new tank and cycle it or should I just use all new salt? Thanks

09/01/2016, 04:14 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Long as it's still granular and loose. __________________ 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%.

09/02/2016, 03:58 AM	#7
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	Mix up a batch and test it.... __________________ "When the last individual of a race of living beings breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again." William Beebe Current Tank Info: 300 gallon DD, sps, Radion G3 Pros, etc. Too many fish and not enough coral...

09/01/2016, 02:05 PM	#2
mav3rick478 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 888	I'm not sure, I believe after some time the potency of some of the elements will lower but if you're just using it to cycle a tank it shouldn't be a problem because one you do the initial water change with good new salt the levels should correct themselves theoretically. Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

09/01/2016, 02:22 PM	#3
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	That is what I was thinking, but I wanted some other opinions before I cycled the tank with it.

09/01/2016, 03:02 PM	#4
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Check to see if it's hardened at all. If so, you will get precipitates. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09/01/2016, 04:01 PM	#5
Greybeard Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Buffalo, MO Posts: 651	No... but it can get contaminated. Humidity in the air is enough to cause it to rock up. I had a 10 year old bucket of IO, sealed, never been opened. I used it without issue in setting up and cycling my new tank. Out of it now, and I've switched to reef crystals, but there was no problem using the IO.

09/02/2016, 06:35 AM	#8
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I'd cycle with it. If you have enough to fill the whole tank, I might even use it if it was clumped up. You could do a 100% water change after the cycle is done with all new fresh salt. As said before, if it were all granular, it should be just fine.