Do you keep SW mixed and ready?...how much?

[55350man]

MellowReefer posted about storing FW....and someone mentioned emergency water being kept. It got me thinking. I should probably keep more SW on hand for emergencies. Do you? How much?

[Sn8kbyt]

I keep 20g on hand heated and circulating at all times for my tank.

[milesmiles902]

There are many salt brands that contain organic material. I don't think it is good to keep mixed salt longer than a week.

[Reefmedic79]

I've got 2 44G brutes, one for fresh the other for saltwater on hand most of the time.

[Sn8kbyt]

Originally Posted by milesmiles902

There are many salt brands that contain organic material. I don't think it is good to keep mixed salt longer than a week.

Maybe...but how is that any different than your tank that you keep X amount of gallons in? If it is at the right temp, salinity, and under constant circulation in a proper container I see it as better off considering there is no waste being added to it and nothing to consume its element minerals.

[milesmiles902]

Quote:
Originally Posted by milesmiles902 View Post
There are many salt brands that contain organic material. I don't think it is good to keep mixed salt longer than a week.
Maybe...but how is that any different than your tank that you keep X amount of gallons in? If it is at the right temp, salinity, and under constant circulation in a proper container I see it as better off considering there is no waste being added to it and nothing to consume its element minerals.

Well, we do water changes in our aquarium regularly. That is how it is different than an aquarium.

Secondly, I really think the salt mix would have to be sealed. There would be too much exchange with the atmosphere for it not to change even the slightest amount. I feel a week tops, for pre-mixed salt with organic matter in it.

[thegrun]

Actually very few of the salts have appreciable amounts of organics in them. I regularly make a month’s worth of saltwater at a time and then use it for weekly water changes. The last salt mix stored for 4 weeks shows no signs of issues in my tank after a month. Way back in the day we used to collect our water offshore and always stored it for at least 6 weeks to allow any parasites to die off (at least that was our rational) and I'm sure that water did have organics in it.

[ca1ore]

Originally Posted by milesmiles902

There are many salt brands that contain organic material.

I find that debatable!

I generally keep 40 gals on hand mixed (tho not heated). Do biweekly water changes, so water is 14 days old max.

[jda]

44 gallons in a brute. I mostly use IO, but Tropic Marin, Oceanic and Salinity have all been fine for me.

[squishifishi]

Hehe, I keep 2 gallons on hand, which is enough for a 100% water change, not that I ever plan on doing that. My 2 gallons lasts me a month of water changes and stuff and I refill at the end of the month

[gone fishin]

I keep two 44 gallon brutes with salt all mixed up. I alternate them. I have had the tank and sump overflow in the past and having some water already made up helped save the day. Snails can get in some strange places and cause some strange unforeseen problems.

[mr.maroonsalty]

I have two ten gallon reservoirs in my stand: one for top, the other wc's. I clean on a mon-fri-wend-mon... Schedule so I make up water as soon as the reservoir refills. In the past when I kept water a long time the sides of the container developed a slippery coating. I don't want to imagine any reason to keep more than a normal water change on hand, but if it helps you sleep at night then go for more.

[jerpa]

I keep 32 gallons of saltwater on hand along with 32 gallons of RODI.

[rogersb]

At my old house I kept 32 gallons mixed up but in the last year and a half at the new house I stopped keeping it mixed and just keep fresh water on hand. I read somewhere that fresh water can sit but salt water needs to be kept moving which means pumps constantly and electricity.

[rayr18]

I keep 35 g in brute on wheels..refill it when it goes to 75 percent or so.

[Reef Raf]

I keep RODI water but not mixed with salt. I do small enough water changes, about 5 gallons a week, that I can just add the salt to my sumps filter and let water wash through it to mix it. I have measured salinity for a couple hours the first few months I did it. It is a small enough amount of salt that it does not effect the greater water body at all.

[55350man]

Originally Posted by mr.maroonsalty

I have two ten gallon reservoirs in my stand: one for top, the other wc's. I clean on a mon-fri-wend-mon... Schedule so I make up water as soon as the reservoir refills. In the past when I kept water a long time the sides of the container developed a slippery coating. I don't want to imagine any reason to keep more than a normal water change on hand, but if it helps you sleep at night then go for more.

"Not wanting to imagine" is exactly what got me thinking . I read a post referring to "emergency water". What if your tank itself completely fails (assuming you're around of course)? What if something contaminates it and you need to get everything out quick? I'm not saying to have a tanks worth on hand, but enough to submerge all livestock seems like a good idea. I have had a tank crack in the middle of the night (luckily it was while cycling so no loss of life), spraying water all over.....wife crying cause our stuff is getting ruined....there is nothing I could do at a certain point with so much water shooting everywhere and cracks getting bigger lol.

Seems like most of you do keep SW on hand. Of course circulation looks like one of the big issues. Seems running a PH in the supply constantly is a must...also a heater depending on environment. Now that I have lots of life in the tank I dont want to risk it I guess

[55350man]

Originally Posted by Reef Raf

I keep RODI water but not mixed with salt. I do small enough water changes, about 5 gallons a week, that I can just add the salt to my sumps filter and let water wash through it to mix it. I have measured salinity for a couple hours the first few months I did it. It is a small enough amount of salt that it does not effect the greater water body at all.

Interesting method....I guess with the correct set up that could work....

[slief]

I keep 100 gallons on hand of salt water as well as 100 gallons of RODI on hand at any time. They are used for my ATO, automated water changes and emergencies. Fortunately, there hasn't really been any emergencies.

[55350man]

Oh, and I forgot to mention in the original post...

Try to give tank size as well, so we have the ratio. The "on hand" numbers mean a lot less without tank size

[d2mini]

I mix of 55g at a time and it lasts me almost 2 weeks. I do around a 4g automated water change every day.
I mix it for a couple hours and then it sits. Some salt companies specifically state that their salt will precipitate if continually mixed.

I also keep 55g of freshwater so it's ready for when i need to mix more saltwater or if I need freshwater for my fw tanks. No mixing.

And then there is my 44g brute container that i fill up once every couple weeks or so for my ATO. Once i mix in my Kalk mix it just sits.

[55350man]

Originally Posted by slief

I keep 100 gallons on hand of salt water as well as 100 gallons of RODI on hand at any time. They are used for my ATO, automated water changes and emergencies. Fortunately, there hasn't really been any emergencies.

I saw pics of your set up in the other post I was referring too. What I would give for a system like that . Very nice!

[slief]

Originally Posted by 55350man

I saw pics of your set up in the other post I was referring too. What I would give for a system like that . Very nice!

Thank you very much!

[aandfsoccr04]

Originally Posted by jerpa

I keep 32 gallons of saltwater on hand along with 32 gallons of RODI.

me too.

[MellowReefer]

Guess I'm living on the edge compared to some - I only keep 20 gallons for a 125. I do weekly water changes of about 12 gallons. So I never use all the water, and each time I use it I just run the new rodi into the old water, I never really thought if it's bad that some water is "old". I used to try to clean the brown scum but I guess I've given up on that lately, since it just comes back the next week anyway.