Milky instant ocean water

Mounda · 05/12/2010, 07:58 AM

Hey guys I'm having issues with my Instant ocean sea salt, I added water to the container then added the salt one full cup at a time. I measured salinity after each cup to avoid saturating the water. Some where along the line the instant ocean stopped dissolving properly and there were some white spots that were suspended in the water column but when I turned off the mixing powerhead (Eheim 1262) they would settle a bit and the water would be become clearer. I left the powerhead on overnight to dissolve the rest of the salt but when I woke up there was indeed less salt suspended but the water was really turbid.

I have the small 26 gallon boxes, I checked the bag for any air opening but I couldn't find any however the lower half of the box was solid but I thought that was the effect of being crammed in the box. I have 3 other boxes from the same supplier in the same condition.

I'm not sure what is going on but the water looks ugly, I thought maybe the dark container contributed to the milkiness (I could not see the powerhead in the 50" deep container.

How do I salvage the water ? Will filter floss help solve the problem ?

Thanks

DustinB · 05/12/2010, 08:21 AM

How long between mixing did you wait before testing salinity and adding more? Did you have any air connection hooked up to the powerhead? Have you tested the salinity now?

I always wait 15 min before testing salinity and adding more salt. Never had a problem with it. I'm guessing with over 300 posts this probably isn't your first time doing this either. Pretty strange.

IslandCrow · 05/12/2010, 08:23 AM

How much salt did you add to what quantity of water. Checking the salinity as you go isn't necessarily the best method, as the salt needs a good amount of time to truly dissolve before you can get an accurate reading. It's best to just go with the recommended amount, let it mix for at least a couple hours and adjust the salinity as required then. For Instant Ocean (and most other brands), that recommended amount is 1/2 cup per gallon of water. Have you checked the salinity recently to see if you simply added too much salt?

As far as the salt itself, moisture will often cause it to harden, but if there weren't any openings in the bag, that really shouldn't have happened. I know salt isn't cheap, but if you can't figure out what's going on, I personally would not use the salt, and I would return it if possible.

Mounda · 05/12/2010, 08:45 AM

I first started out with 10 gallons of water and I added the recommended amount of salt. I added one cup at a time then waited for a few minutes between each cup. I gave the salt about 5 minutes after each cup to measure the salinity. I did not let the salinity go over 1.020 at any time during mixing the salt.

There was no air introduced via an air stone, just the powerhead and the water movement. I left the first night with the powerhead on and it became more milky, the next day I added more water and added more salt until I got 1.023 I then left the powerhead on another night in the salt mixing container and today the water is still milky as seen in the photo above and the SG is consistent at 1.023. The total amount of salt added is enough to make 26 Gallons, I have around 20 Gallons of salt water.

I'm sure there aren't any openings in any of the bags.

I local reefer had an issue similar to this and he contacted the company and he got a reply that said the milkiness is due to Calcium carbonate. I want to remove the turbidity from the water, any ideas ?

Sugar Magnolia · 05/12/2010, 08:53 AM

What are you testing your salinity with? Hydrometer or refractometer?

Mounda · 05/12/2010, 08:54 AM

Refractometer

Mounda · 05/12/2010, 10:34 AM

In an effort to salvage the IO water I went with my gut instinct and ran the water through filter floss, the water is aesthetically good to go. Just needs to be tested for Ca and alkalinity.

tahoe61 · 05/12/2010, 10:47 AM

Much better

tahoe61 · 05/12/2010, 11:00 AM

Check your pm

Gin_Tseng · 05/12/2010, 08:35 PM

What was the temperature of the water? I have noticed that having a heater and bringing the water up to 80F helps the water mix clearer and faster.

Percula9 · 05/12/2010, 10:07 PM

Did you use R/O water or tap?

billdogg · 05/13/2010, 06:07 AM

And that is why EVERY batch of water I make is filtered using a System I diatom filter. Regardless of the brand salt, it gets a few hours. Try it - you'll be amazed.

JM.02

JRR · 05/13/2010, 06:39 AM

Did you check the Alkalinity? I have heard of two people this past year have the same problem. Did you use RO water?

Duff Man · 05/13/2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gin_Tseng

What was the temperature of the water? I have noticed that having a heater and bringing the water up to 80F helps the water mix clearer and faster.

+1

I mixed some Reef Crystals a couple months back in cold water and had the same issue. Since this occured, I used heated water with the same bucket and it mixed clear each time.

05/12/2010, 07:58 AM	#1
Mounda Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 452	Milky instant ocean water Hey guys I'm having issues with my Instant ocean sea salt, I added water to the container then added the salt one full cup at a time. I measured salinity after each cup to avoid saturating the water. Some where along the line the instant ocean stopped dissolving properly and there were some white spots that were suspended in the water column but when I turned off the mixing powerhead (Eheim 1262) they would settle a bit and the water would be become clearer. I left the powerhead on overnight to dissolve the rest of the salt but when I woke up there was indeed less salt suspended but the water was really turbid. I have the small 26 gallon boxes, I checked the bag for any air opening but I couldn't find any however the lower half of the box was solid but I thought that was the effect of being crammed in the box. I have 3 other boxes from the same supplier in the same condition. I'm not sure what is going on but the water looks ugly, I thought maybe the dark container contributed to the milkiness (I could not see the powerhead in the 50" deep container. How do I salvage the water ? Will filter floss help solve the problem ? Thanks

05/12/2010, 08:23 AM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	How much salt did you add to what quantity of water. Checking the salinity as you go isn't necessarily the best method, as the salt needs a good amount of time to truly dissolve before you can get an accurate reading. It's best to just go with the recommended amount, let it mix for at least a couple hours and adjust the salinity as required then. For Instant Ocean (and most other brands), that recommended amount is 1/2 cup per gallon of water. Have you checked the salinity recently to see if you simply added too much salt? As far as the salt itself, moisture will often cause it to harden, but if there weren't any openings in the bag, that really shouldn't have happened. I know salt isn't cheap, but if you can't figure out what's going on, I personally would not use the salt, and I would return it if possible. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

05/12/2010, 08:53 AM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	What are you testing your salinity with? Hydrometer or refractometer? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/12/2010, 10:47 AM	#8
tahoe61 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: On the state line Posts: 730	Much better __________________ JBJ 28 gal HQI, CPK fuge, Tunze 9002 and West Coast 1/15 chiller. Neil Y. is the man. Current Tank Info: Nano

05/12/2010, 11:00 AM	#9
tahoe61 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: On the state line Posts: 730	Check your pm __________________ JBJ 28 gal HQI, CPK fuge, Tunze 9002 and West Coast 1/15 chiller. Neil Y. is the man. Current Tank Info: Nano

05/12/2010, 08:21 AM	#2
DustinB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,532	How long between mixing did you wait before testing salinity and adding more? Did you have any air connection hooked up to the powerhead? Have you tested the salinity now? I always wait 15 min before testing salinity and adding more salt. Never had a problem with it. I'm guessing with over 300 posts this probably isn't your first time doing this either. Pretty strange.

05/12/2010, 08:45 AM	#4
Mounda Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 452	I first started out with 10 gallons of water and I added the recommended amount of salt. I added one cup at a time then waited for a few minutes between each cup. I gave the salt about 5 minutes after each cup to measure the salinity. I did not let the salinity go over 1.020 at any time during mixing the salt. There was no air introduced via an air stone, just the powerhead and the water movement. I left the first night with the powerhead on and it became more milky, the next day I added more water and added more salt until I got 1.023 I then left the powerhead on another night in the salt mixing container and today the water is still milky as seen in the photo above and the SG is consistent at 1.023. The total amount of salt added is enough to make 26 Gallons, I have around 20 Gallons of salt water. I'm sure there aren't any openings in any of the bags. I local reefer had an issue similar to this and he contacted the company and he got a reply that said the milkiness is due to Calcium carbonate. I want to remove the turbidity from the water, any ideas ?

05/12/2010, 08:54 AM	#6
Mounda Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 452	Refractometer

05/12/2010, 10:34 AM	#7
Mounda Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 452	In an effort to salvage the IO water I went with my gut instinct and ran the water through filter floss, the water is aesthetically good to go. Just needs to be tested for Ca and alkalinity.

05/12/2010, 08:35 PM	#10
Gin_Tseng Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 52	What was the temperature of the water? I have noticed that having a heater and bringing the water up to 80F helps the water mix clearer and faster.

05/12/2010, 10:07 PM	#11
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	Did you use R/O water or tap?

05/13/2010, 06:07 AM	#12
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	And that is why EVERY batch of water I make is filtered using a System I diatom filter. Regardless of the brand salt, it gets a few hours. Try it - you'll be amazed. JM.02 __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

05/13/2010, 06:39 AM	#13
JRR Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 166	Did you check the Alkalinity? I have heard of two people this past year have the same problem. Did you use RO water?

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