How long can you store made up Saltwater?

The Saltman · 01/06/2008, 04:51 PM

Hi guys,

In a properly sealed container such as a brute garbage can that is sealed, how long can it be stored? On the same question, how long can you store RO/DI water?

Skipper · 01/06/2008, 04:57 PM

IMO, there is no limit to either.

DEXNC · 01/06/2008, 04:57 PM

I have kept mines up to two weeks in a brute trash can with a small power head for circulation, I guess the main thing is that there is movement of the water.

The Saltman · 01/06/2008, 05:11 PM

So as long as I have a powerhead for water movement, both should be alright for any period of time?

Skipper · 01/06/2008, 05:13 PM

IMO, they will both be fine even without a powerhead. Just make sure to mix up the saltwater with a powerhead before using it.

gary faulkner · 01/06/2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skipper
IMO, they will both be fine even without a powerhead. Just make sure to mix up the saltwater with a powerhead before using it.

X 2

AquaReeferMan · 01/06/2008, 06:51 PM

Ive kept mixed saltwater in a trashcan for over 2 weeks before. It wont go bad. Just make sure there is a lid over it so nothing gets in there.

stevelkaneval · 01/06/2008, 07:06 PM

salt water will store indefinatly. you dont need a power head. all you have to do is make sure its not exposed to any light. no light is the key. you can buy premade salt water from some fish stores and they are usually at least 4-6 monthes old before they hit the shelves (I work part time at a lfs) and they dont come with a powerhead, and you dont have to shake the water.

stevelkaneval · 01/06/2008, 07:07 PM

there is nothing live in the water so nothing rots ie no need for water movement.

Kaos · 01/06/2008, 07:08 PM

I never fully exhaust my SW. I have a 5gal. bucket (w/ a MJ1200 and Ebo 150w) full of SW for w/c's. Since I only do 1 gal. a w/c I never use all the pre-mixed SW. I've been doing this for almost a year now w/ no ill effects. I don't know that there is an experation time for pre-mixed Sw as long as it's circulated. I would think RO water would not go bad either as long as it's stored in a sealed container. But, that's JMO.

30reef · 01/06/2008, 07:22 PM

If all of the ratios are near NSW levels, synthetic sw can be stored indefinitely. It will only precipitate if ratios are screwy.
RO/DI is another matter though. Bacteria can grow in it if the container is not sterile. RO/DI does not have any chlorine or other chemicals to inhibit microorganism growth. I notice this in our dogs water dish, it gets gunky much faster when we fill it with RO vs tap water.

vanmo92 · 01/06/2008, 07:37 PM

I have kept both kinds for over 1 month with out any affects. I would not have a problem storing either for very long periods of time (as long as it is sealed and there in minimal light).

snorvich · 01/06/2008, 08:02 PM

I keep 220 gallons of extra saltwater which is pump circulated and heated to within one degree of tank water. I have two additional reservoirs of RO/DI water that are being gradually used constantly.

plummike · 01/06/2008, 08:12 PM

I keep an air stone in mine to keep the salt water oxygenated

stevedola · 01/08/2008, 11:21 AM

question

I keep my salt water heated with a pump to move water. The heater was unplugged by my motherinlaw and nver plugged back in. the water obviously dropped in temp.

Is it ok to bring it back to temp and use? that shouldnt make a difference right? I dont think so but want to double check.

rjrobert · 01/08/2008, 12:02 PM

I think you should be ok, If anything the drop in water temperature slowed the growth of anything that was in the container. But this is just my oppinion.

stevedola · 01/08/2008, 12:26 PM

well there was only fresh RODI H2O and IO salt with ESV Mag run by a quiet1 3000 and heater...no live organisms I introduced.

miston · 01/08/2008, 12:29 PM

Last night I mixed up 12 gallons of saltwater and put them into 1 gallon water containers. I put them into my walkin closet, so no light will get to them.

One thing I noticed is that my Rubbermaid container is leaching something into the water. My RO/DI comes out zero PPM. When I filled it up it tested zero PPM again. However I was sort of lazy with mixing it up. After day one the RO/DI tested 1 PPM, a day later 2 PPM, then almost 3 and 4 PPM. I even covered it to make sure nothing was getting in.

SO I dumped that water and filled it up again and put the salt in right then.

Since I only have a 12 gallon I can change 2 gallons a week for the next six weeks QUICK as a snake!

rjrobert · 01/08/2008, 02:18 PM

It's common and you should expect to have leaching of a container into the RO/DI. My Rubbermaid seams to leach about 14TDS in a week. If that bothers you then you can get special lab and or some food liquid holding containers to reduce the leaching.

30reef · 01/09/2008, 11:45 AM

Yeah, get the white containers made from HDPE (high density polyethylene). They are food grade and inert. I think white 5g buckets from HD are HDPE, and you can get the lids also. They stack well too.

jbarone · 01/09/2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rjrobert
It's common and you should expect to have leaching of a container into the RO/DI. My Rubbermaid seams to leach about 14TDS in a week. If that bothers you then you can get special lab and or some food liquid holding containers to reduce the leaching.

Interesting? What type of rubbermaid are you using? My brute leaches nothing in to my RO/DI ever. Has the container ever been used for something other than water storage?

rjrobert · 01/09/2008, 01:20 PM

jbarone, I'm also using brutes. Never been used for anything but salt water. They get washed everytime their used to rinse out any salt from the previous batch. I have heard and read many times where the leaching will occur. Sounds like you got a special batch

Who knows maybe Lowes used mine to hold something before they sold em... You just never know.

01/06/2008, 04:51 PM	#1
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	How long can you store made up Saltwater? Hi guys, In a properly sealed container such as a brute garbage can that is sealed, how long can it be stored? On the same question, how long can you store RO/DI water?

01/06/2008, 04:57 PM	#2
Skipper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 18,271	IMO, there is no limit to either. __________________ Skip Attix Former Editor of Reefkeeping Magazine

01/06/2008, 05:13 PM	#5
Skipper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 18,271	IMO, they will both be fine even without a powerhead. Just make sure to mix up the saltwater with a powerhead before using it. __________________ Skip Attix Former Editor of Reefkeeping Magazine

01/06/2008, 06:51 PM	#7
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Ive kept mixed saltwater in a trashcan for over 2 weeks before. It wont go bad. Just make sure there is a lid over it so nothing gets in there. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

01/06/2008, 07:06 PM	#8
stevelkaneval Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: oshkosh wisconsin Posts: 633	salt water will store indefinatly. you dont need a power head. all you have to do is make sure its not exposed to any light. no light is the key. you can buy premade salt water from some fish stores and they are usually at least 4-6 monthes old before they hit the shelves (I work part time at a lfs) and they dont come with a powerhead, and you dont have to shake the water. __________________ "I live too serve you lord Megatron." "Were is the cube?" "The humans have taken it." "You fail me yet again Star Scream, get them." Current Tank Info: 20 long,korilia 1,and small ph,aquaclear70 moded fuge,coralife pc's,aqualight flouresent,seaclone skimmer,35lbs lr,green mushrooms and red and blue,and dragon eye zoas,assorted hermit crabs,nassarius snails,turbo snail,

01/06/2008, 04:57 PM	#3
DEXNC Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greensboro, N.C Posts: 220	I have kept mines up to two weeks in a brute trash can with a small power head for circulation, I guess the main thing is that there is movement of the water.

01/06/2008, 05:11 PM	#4
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	So as long as I have a powerhead for water movement, both should be alright for any period of time?

01/06/2008, 07:07 PM	#9
stevelkaneval Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: oshkosh wisconsin Posts: 633	there is nothing live in the water so nothing rots ie no need for water movement. __________________ "I live too serve you lord Megatron." "Were is the cube?" "The humans have taken it." "You fail me yet again Star Scream, get them." Current Tank Info: 20 long,korilia 1,and small ph,aquaclear70 moded fuge,coralife pc's,aqualight flouresent,seaclone skimmer,35lbs lr,green mushrooms and red and blue,and dragon eye zoas,assorted hermit crabs,nassarius snails,turbo snail,

01/06/2008, 07:08 PM	#10
Kaos "Lurker" Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,131	I never fully exhaust my SW. I have a 5gal. bucket (w/ a MJ1200 and Ebo 150w) full of SW for w/c's. Since I only do 1 gal. a w/c I never use all the pre-mixed SW. I've been doing this for almost a year now w/ no ill effects. I don't know that there is an experation time for pre-mixed Sw as long as it's circulated. I would think RO water would not go bad either as long as it's stored in a sealed container. But, that's JMO. __________________ Ordinary people are the ones scared to be themselves.

01/06/2008, 07:22 PM	#11
30reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,401	If all of the ratios are near NSW levels, synthetic sw can be stored indefinitely. It will only precipitate if ratios are screwy. RO/DI is another matter though. Bacteria can grow in it if the container is not sterile. RO/DI does not have any chlorine or other chemicals to inhibit microorganism growth. I notice this in our dogs water dish, it gets gunky much faster when we fill it with RO vs tap water.

01/06/2008, 07:37 PM	#12
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	I have kept both kinds for over 1 month with out any affects. I would not have a problem storing either for very long periods of time (as long as it is sealed and there in minimal light). __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

01/06/2008, 08:02 PM	#13
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I keep 220 gallons of extra saltwater which is pump circulated and heated to within one degree of tank water. I have two additional reservoirs of RO/DI water that are being gradually used constantly. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

01/06/2008, 08:12 PM	#14
plummike Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: near Pittsburgh Posts: 271	I keep an air stone in mine to keep the salt water oxygenated

01/08/2008, 11:21 AM	#15
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	question I keep my salt water heated with a pump to move water. The heater was unplugged by my motherinlaw and nver plugged back in. the water obviously dropped in temp. Is it ok to bring it back to temp and use? that shouldnt make a difference right? I dont think so but want to double check. __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon...

01/08/2008, 12:02 PM	#16
rjrobert Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Greece, NY Posts: 873	I think you should be ok, If anything the drop in water temperature slowed the growth of anything that was in the container. But this is just my oppinion.

01/08/2008, 12:26 PM	#17
stevedola Master of my domain Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 3,466	well there was only fresh RODI H2O and IO salt with ESV Mag run by a quiet1 3000 and heater...no live organisms I introduced. __________________ Cool Club Current Tank Info: coming soon...

01/08/2008, 12:29 PM	#18
miston Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mississippi Posts: 116	Last night I mixed up 12 gallons of saltwater and put them into 1 gallon water containers. I put them into my walkin closet, so no light will get to them. One thing I noticed is that my Rubbermaid container is leaching something into the water. My RO/DI comes out zero PPM. When I filled it up it tested zero PPM again. However I was sort of lazy with mixing it up. After day one the RO/DI tested 1 PPM, a day later 2 PPM, then almost 3 and 4 PPM. I even covered it to make sure nothing was getting in. SO I dumped that water and filled it up again and put the salt in right then. Since I only have a 12 gallon I can change 2 gallons a week for the next six weeks QUICK as a snake!

01/08/2008, 02:18 PM	#19
rjrobert Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Greece, NY Posts: 873	It's common and you should expect to have leaching of a container into the RO/DI. My Rubbermaid seams to leach about 14TDS in a week. If that bothers you then you can get special lab and or some food liquid holding containers to reduce the leaching.

01/09/2008, 11:45 AM	#20
30reef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,401	Yeah, get the white containers made from HDPE (high density polyethylene). They are food grade and inert. I think white 5g buckets from HD are HDPE, and you can get the lids also. They stack well too.

01/09/2008, 01:20 PM	#22
rjrobert Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Greece, NY Posts: 873	jbarone, I'm also using brutes. Never been used for anything but salt water. They get washed everytime their used to rinse out any salt from the previous batch. I have heard and read many times where the leaching will occur. Sounds like you got a special batch Who knows maybe Lowes used mine to hold something before they sold em... You just never know.