Dissolve Time Reef Crystals .. HELP!

Ldesp · 04/04/2010, 03:45 AM

So its water change day. Changing about 20g on my 180g ...

Started mixing the water 2 days ago...
Today before changing the water I went to test the sailinity on the new batch and it was zero. oops

guess I forgot to add the salt as I was in rush when I was preparing it...

Anyhow I had already started to drain out some water from my tank about 5-10g before I realized my mistake.

So I just added the correct amount of "Reef Crystals" to my new batch of water and it is mixing up now. My question is how quickly I can add it to the tank. I normally let it mix for 2 days before adding it to give it time to totally dissolve.

At the moment the tank is just sitting with the drain and return pumps skimmer everything are all shut down. I do have some flow in the tank as my 2vortechs mp40ws were still below the water line so I turned those on low speed so that everything is not just sitting still...

So in short what is the minimum amount of time I should let my new batch of approx 20g water reefcrstals mix up before I can add it to my 180g? I would like to get it back in the tank and everything fired back up ASAP.

Thanks.

dwd5813 · 04/04/2010, 04:26 AM

i'd at least give it a couple hours. as long as you have flow everything will be okay for a while.

edit: i found this: http://web.archive.org/web/200112172...io/default.asp
it's instructions for rapidly mixing artificial saltwater. basically it seems that the best way to get it done fast is to have a huge amount of flow in the mixing container.

Ldesp · 04/04/2010, 04:52 AM

ok good my mixing station has pretty good flow .. its a glass aquarium that i can see through and i cant see any salt anymore from the sides ... the water seems pretty clear as well.. its been almost 2 hrs now .. i think ill let it mix another 1hr or so then finnish the change.

dwd5813 · 04/04/2010, 05:04 AM

make sure you test the salinity, obviously. i'd probably also check the ph.

Ldesp · 04/04/2010, 05:16 AM

yeap ill test .. the water has been cycling for 2.5 days just without salt so should be fine.

Lightsluvr · 04/04/2010, 05:56 AM

IME, a couple of hours with good mixing flow is adequate. Two days is probably overkill... you'll start to see sediment on your mixing container. I usually mix mine overnight, then check the SG - add a little more salt or RO/DI until I get 1.026 final.

By the way, it's a good idea to test ALK, CA and MG before you put new saltwater in your display. Not often, but occasionally you will get weird results which you should be aware of. Once you add the water, you can't get it back. Do you buffer your new saltwater?

Here's my water management system - simple but effective:

Good luck!

LL

04/04/2010, 03:45 AM	#1
Ldesp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 268	Dissolve Time Reef Crystals .. HELP! So its water change day. Changing about 20g on my 180g ... Started mixing the water 2 days ago... Today before changing the water I went to test the sailinity on the new batch and it was zero. oops guess I forgot to add the salt as I was in rush when I was preparing it... Anyhow I had already started to drain out some water from my tank about 5-10g before I realized my mistake. So I just added the correct amount of "Reef Crystals" to my new batch of water and it is mixing up now. My question is how quickly I can add it to the tank. I normally let it mix for 2 days before adding it to give it time to totally dissolve. At the moment the tank is just sitting with the drain and return pumps skimmer everything are all shut down. I do have some flow in the tank as my 2vortechs mp40ws were still below the water line so I turned those on low speed so that everything is not just sitting still... So in short what is the minimum amount of time I should let my new batch of approx 20g water reefcrstals mix up before I can add it to my 180g? I would like to get it back in the tank and everything fired back up ASAP. Thanks.

04/04/2010, 04:26 AM	#2
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	i'd at least give it a couple hours. as long as you have flow everything will be okay for a while. edit: i found this: http://web.archive.org/web/200112172...io/default.asp it's instructions for rapidly mixing artificial saltwater. basically it seems that the best way to get it done fast is to have a huge amount of flow in the mixing container. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm Last edited by dwd5813; 04/04/2010 at 04:37 AM.

04/04/2010, 05:04 AM	#4
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	make sure you test the salinity, obviously. i'd probably also check the ph. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

04/04/2010, 05:56 AM	#6
Lightsluvr Tangaroa to 500 gallons Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,855	IME, a couple of hours with good mixing flow is adequate. Two days is probably overkill... you'll start to see sediment on your mixing container. I usually mix mine overnight, then check the SG - add a little more salt or RO/DI until I get 1.026 final. By the way, it's a good idea to test ALK, CA and MG before you put new saltwater in your display. Not often, but occasionally you will get weird results which you should be aware of. Once you add the water, you can't get it back. Do you buffer your new saltwater? Here's my water management system - simple but effective: Good luck! LL __________________ Click on my username and select "Lightsluvr's Home Page" for a recap of our build thread - AGE Hybrid Tank in a 500G system with dedicated fish room. (Takes a few minutes for photos to load) Leave a note if you stop by... Current Tank Info: 350G AGE Hybrid reef tank. 500G+ total water volume. Three sumps for filtration. Barracuda Gold return and Hammerhead Gold closed loop pumps. DIY T5 light system on rails. MP40W x3 to supplement closed loop. 130G Water management system.

04/04/2010, 04:52 AM	#3
Ldesp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 268	ok good my mixing station has pretty good flow .. its a glass aquarium that i can see through and i cant see any salt anymore from the sides ... the water seems pretty clear as well.. its been almost 2 hrs now .. i think ill let it mix another 1hr or so then finnish the change.

04/04/2010, 05:16 AM	#5
Ldesp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 268	yeap ill test .. the water has been cycling for 2.5 days just without salt so should be fine.