New salt water not clearing up

rogergolf66 · 09/27/2007, 03:36 PM

I have mixed about 30 gallons of new saltwater for a water change in a brute trash can. I am using RODI water. I tested the water it is DST at 0. Well I put the salt in slowly about 12 hours ago. I have a pump at the bottom of the trash can moving the water around to mix the salt in. Well I have done many water changes before but this water is not clearing up. it is so cloudy I can't see the pump at the bottom. any idea why?

any sugjestions on what to do?

Roger

o by the way the salt is also new only about 2 weeks old. I have used this bag in my last water change with no problems. instant ocean.

JetCat USA · 09/27/2007, 03:51 PM

usually that occurs when the opened salt is allowed to absorb moisture and it causes clumping of the salt which congregates the mix rather then keeping it in a consistent distribution. if clumping is noted in the salt it's best to brake up the clumps and mix it throughly before scooping it out to make your water.

if you test the Alk of the water it's very likely high.

Percula9 · 09/27/2007, 04:18 PM

Did you add any buffer to the water while it was mixing? I suggest dummping the cloudy water out and making a new batch with a different salt. Don't put that cloudy water into your tank.

WaterKeeper · 09/27/2007, 04:22 PM

Perfectly normal. The salt mix manufactures try to pack in all the calcium they can. Sometimes they over do it and that is what you are seeing right now. It is only a very small amount that is lost so go ahead and use that water. Unless, as stated above, you made the mistake of adding additives to new salt mix. A very bad idea.

rogergolf66 · 09/27/2007, 04:27 PM

why can't I add additives. I always get the Alk and Cal to match my tank water before doing a water change.

Roger

WaterKeeper · 09/27/2007, 04:32 PM

Your SW mix should have a balanced formula. If you need to add something to a freshly made batch it is time to change brands.

Percula9 · 09/27/2007, 04:33 PM

If you added buffer and calcium to the make up water that is what clouded it. Add the buffer to the fresh water first and let it mix for 5 min. Then add the salt to mix until clear, then add the calcium to mix until clear.

JetCat USA · 09/27/2007, 05:27 PM

dumping CaCl in the freshly mixed water will Not cloud the water, i always buffer my Ca after i mix it.

rogergolf66 · 09/27/2007, 05:41 PM

Ok well I added

alk
cal
Mag

small amount of each. can I use the water or do I have to toss it. I have a good amount or water here I would hate to just toss it. can I deloot it with more water? I have room for about 15 gallons or so of room left in the barral so I can add that much water.

If when I put it into the tank I run it throught the filter sock will that help at all?

Roger

coast2coast7390 · 09/27/2007, 06:44 PM

it usually settles out after a while

Mavrk · 09/27/2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaterKeeper
Your SW mix should have a balanced formula. If you need to add something to a freshly made batch it is time to change brands.

If you need to raise alkalinity or calcium (etc), where do you add it? Directly to the tank?

BTW, I am switching to RC, so I hope not to have to deal with this.

rogergolf66 · 09/27/2007, 08:42 PM

RC reef central or Reef cristals?

I normally add it to my tank every day.

I added to the fresh salt water that was made into the bucket.

jpitts101 · 09/27/2007, 08:48 PM

I had a similiar experience, I made my water in a rubbermaid, added buffer and salt and it clouded for about a day and a half. now its perfectly clear. I havent tested the water should I now that everything cleared up? I know my SG is the same as my tank. I was skeptical about useing the water, im glad i've stubled across this thread.

rogergolf66 · 09/27/2007, 09:14 PM

Well I am going to leave the pump on tonight. I have added about 15 gallons of fresh water to what I already had to help it so it is not saturated. tomorrow I will match salinity again. Hope it clears up by the morning.

09/27/2007, 03:36 PM	#1
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	New salt water not clearing up I have mixed about 30 gallons of new saltwater for a water change in a brute trash can. I am using RODI water. I tested the water it is DST at 0. Well I put the salt in slowly about 12 hours ago. I have a pump at the bottom of the trash can moving the water around to mix the salt in. Well I have done many water changes before but this water is not clearing up. it is so cloudy I can't see the pump at the bottom. any idea why? any sugjestions on what to do? Roger o by the way the salt is also new only about 2 weeks old. I have used this bag in my last water change with no problems. instant ocean. __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

09/27/2007, 04:22 PM	#4
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Perfectly normal. The salt mix manufactures try to pack in all the calcium they can. Sometimes they over do it and that is what you are seeing right now. It is only a very small amount that is lost so go ahead and use that water. Unless, as stated above, you made the mistake of adding additives to new salt mix. A very bad idea. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

09/27/2007, 04:27 PM	#5
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	why can't I add additives. I always get the Alk and Cal to match my tank water before doing a water change. Roger __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

09/27/2007, 04:32 PM	#6
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Your SW mix should have a balanced formula. If you need to add something to a freshly made batch it is time to change brands. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

09/27/2007, 05:41 PM	#9
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	Ok well I added alk cal Mag small amount of each. can I use the water or do I have to toss it. I have a good amount or water here I would hate to just toss it. can I deloot it with more water? I have room for about 15 gallons or so of room left in the barral so I can add that much water. If when I put it into the tank I run it throught the filter sock will that help at all? Roger __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

09/27/2007, 03:51 PM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	usually that occurs when the opened salt is allowed to absorb moisture and it causes clumping of the salt which congregates the mix rather then keeping it in a consistent distribution. if clumping is noted in the salt it's best to brake up the clumps and mix it throughly before scooping it out to make your water. if you test the Alk of the water it's very likely high.

09/27/2007, 04:18 PM	#3
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Did you add any buffer to the water while it was mixing? I suggest dummping the cloudy water out and making a new batch with a different salt. Don't put that cloudy water into your tank.

09/27/2007, 04:33 PM	#7
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	If you added buffer and calcium to the make up water that is what clouded it. Add the buffer to the fresh water first and let it mix for 5 min. Then add the salt to mix until clear, then add the calcium to mix until clear.

09/27/2007, 05:27 PM	#8
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	dumping CaCl in the freshly mixed water will Not cloud the water, i always buffer my Ca after i mix it.

09/27/2007, 06:44 PM	#10
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	it usually settles out after a while

09/27/2007, 08:42 PM	#12
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	RC reef central or Reef cristals? I normally add it to my tank every day. I added to the fresh salt water that was made into the bucket. __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

09/27/2007, 08:48 PM	#13
jpitts101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ardmore Posts: 1,176	I had a similiar experience, I made my water in a rubbermaid, added buffer and salt and it clouded for about a day and a half. now its perfectly clear. I havent tested the water should I now that everything cleared up? I know my SG is the same as my tank. I was skeptical about useing the water, im glad i've stubled across this thread. __________________ J.D. Pitts when in doubt pull it out!!!! Current Tank Info: 180 sps dominant

09/27/2007, 09:14 PM	#14
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	Well I am going to leave the pump on tonight. I have added about 15 gallons of fresh water to what I already had to help it so it is not saturated. tomorrow I will match salinity again. Hope it clears up by the morning. __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.