how long does RO and mixed saltwater last in a separate container?

ultimate125 · 04/05/2008, 04:00 PM

how long can you keep RO and/or mixed saltwater in a separate container for water changes?

wiscsaltwater · 04/05/2008, 04:27 PM

if you leave a powerhead in it keeping it moving then it can last a while, month. I wouldnt go and mix 6 months worth of water changes though.

monicaswizzle · 04/05/2008, 04:36 PM

Hmmm... I have wondered the same thing. I usually mix up 40 gallons at a time and use 20 per water change. I don't leave a powerhead in the barrel, I just run it through a pump for a few hours before I use the last half, check the SG and add water if the SG is a little high (usually it isn't).

What is the point of leaving a powerhead running while the water "ages"?

wiscsaltwater · 04/05/2008, 04:39 PM

water gets stagnant if it sits

monicaswizzle · 04/05/2008, 04:43 PM

Can you clarify what you mean by stagnant? I run it through the pump before using it not only to remix anything that may have settled out, but also to add oxygen. What else is "going bad" if the water just sits? (If you know--stagnant may be a good "lay" summary, but I am curious what it means in this case.)

Thanks!

wiscsaltwater · 04/05/2008, 04:55 PM

Stagnant water can be dangerous for aquariums because it provides a better incubator (than running water) for many kinds of bacteria, and other parasites.

Anything in the area that can get in, mold spores, bacteria on your container.

wiscsaltwater · 04/05/2008, 04:57 PM

again you will probably be fine with 2 water changes worth but dont go mixing an entire bucket of salt in 4 or 5 garbage cans and leaving it sit in your basement.

rbursek · 04/05/2008, 05:06 PM

You do not need to leave a PH running, just cover the water, and RO/DI will pick up any ions in the air. so a PH will aid that, and raise it's TDS's. So no PH in either after mixing salt or just a pump to do it.

monicaswizzle · 04/05/2008, 09:49 PM

OK, thanks for the further info. I did have one batch that seemed fine when I mixed it up, but smelled a little off when I went to use the second half. I used the second batch on a tank that was empty while cycling. I figured it wasn't worth the risk of adding something funky to the display tank. I have a good lid for my barrel, but it is usually slightly ajar due to the cord for the pump that sits in the barrel. Based on Bob's comments I will probably take the time to remove the pump so that I can close the lid properly between water changes.

--RW

inthedeep2 · 04/05/2008, 10:11 PM

so if the RO water is in an air tight container it can sit without a PH in it. were talking maybe 2-3 weeks at the most? sorry to hijack...

memorysan · 04/06/2008, 06:37 AM

This is a good question...I was planning on having water in two different trashcans always standing by for top offs (freshwater) and water changes (saltwater). I was just going to refill them when they got low and never let them get empty. Will this be a problem?

RO/DI water takes time to make, so I wanted to constantly have some in reserve for top offs and water changes...especially if there became a reason for an emergency water change.

04/05/2008, 04:00 PM	#1
ultimate125 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sonora CA Posts: 309	how long does RO and mixed saltwater last in a separate container? how long can you keep RO and/or mixed saltwater in a separate container for water changes?

04/05/2008, 04:27 PM	#2
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	if you leave a powerhead in it keeping it moving then it can last a while, month. I wouldnt go and mix 6 months worth of water changes though. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

04/05/2008, 04:36 PM	#3
monicaswizzle Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clyde Posts: 296	Hmmm... I have wondered the same thing. I usually mix up 40 gallons at a time and use 20 per water change. I don't leave a powerhead in the barrel, I just run it through a pump for a few hours before I use the last half, check the SG and add water if the SG is a little high (usually it isn't). What is the point of leaving a powerhead running while the water "ages"? __________________ Ms. Swizzle (Rodney) --Not Born Yesterday Current Tank Info: fun!

04/05/2008, 04:39 PM	#4
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	water gets stagnant if it sits __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

04/05/2008, 04:43 PM	#5
monicaswizzle Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clyde Posts: 296	Can you clarify what you mean by stagnant? I run it through the pump before using it not only to remix anything that may have settled out, but also to add oxygen. What else is "going bad" if the water just sits? (If you know--stagnant may be a good "lay" summary, but I am curious what it means in this case.) Thanks! __________________ Ms. Swizzle (Rodney) --Not Born Yesterday Current Tank Info: fun!

04/05/2008, 04:55 PM	#6
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	Stagnant water can be dangerous for aquariums because it provides a better incubator (than running water) for many kinds of bacteria, and other parasites. Anything in the area that can get in, mold spores, bacteria on your container. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

04/05/2008, 04:57 PM	#7
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	again you will probably be fine with 2 water changes worth but dont go mixing an entire bucket of salt in 4 or 5 garbage cans and leaving it sit in your basement. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

04/05/2008, 05:06 PM	#8
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	You do not need to leave a PH running, just cover the water, and RO/DI will pick up any ions in the air. so a PH will aid that, and raise it's TDS's. So no PH in either after mixing salt or just a pump to do it.

04/05/2008, 09:49 PM	#9
monicaswizzle Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Clyde Posts: 296	OK, thanks for the further info. I did have one batch that seemed fine when I mixed it up, but smelled a little off when I went to use the second half. I used the second batch on a tank that was empty while cycling. I figured it wasn't worth the risk of adding something funky to the display tank. I have a good lid for my barrel, but it is usually slightly ajar due to the cord for the pump that sits in the barrel. Based on Bob's comments I will probably take the time to remove the pump so that I can close the lid properly between water changes. --RW __________________ Ms. Swizzle (Rodney) --Not Born Yesterday Current Tank Info: fun!

04/05/2008, 10:11 PM	#10
inthedeep2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 378	so if the RO water is in an air tight container it can sit without a PH in it. were talking maybe 2-3 weeks at the most? sorry to hijack...

04/06/2008, 06:37 AM	#11
memorysan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yokosuka, Japan Posts: 177	This is a good question...I was planning on having water in two different trashcans always standing by for top offs (freshwater) and water changes (saltwater). I was just going to refill them when they got low and never let them get empty. Will this be a problem? RO/DI water takes time to make, so I wanted to constantly have some in reserve for top offs and water changes...especially if there became a reason for an emergency water change.