Clumping Old Salt Question

drcarr · 11/18/2010, 06:55 AM

hey guys,

can i use a 3/4 full bucket of salt that i received with the tank that i bought off of someone a year ago? the salt has been sitting around in the bucket for the past year and has hardened/clumped together pretty badly.

does the salt go bad? is there any "secret" to un-clumping it for use with water from my new RODI unit?

fyi, it's Instant Ocean salt. from reading on here it seems that IO is decent cheaper salt. any concerns?

thanks!

cakemanPA · 11/18/2010, 09:52 AM

I used a bucket that had clumped up on me without any issues. I ran a really wide drill bit through it at several points making sure not to go through the bag, and then I bashed it with a hammer. I took a bit for it to dissolve, but everything tested just fine.

mike_cmu04 · 11/18/2010, 09:55 AM

I used a bucket of reef crystals that clumped up really hard and had no problems.

drcarr · 11/18/2010, 10:47 AM

thanks for the response guys. sounds like it should be ok, maybe just take longer to dissolve while mixing.

this bucket is probably at least 1-2 years old as well. anyone know of any issues with salt sitting around for that long?

Palting · 11/18/2010, 12:08 PM

I'm no expert, and certainly can not argue with experience, but most of the readings I have had indicate that clumped synthetic salt has reacted not just with the moisture, but with itself creating varying chemical compounds that may have varying effects. Effects may vary from nothing at all, to disastrous. Just thought I'd share that. I wouldn't use it on my tank.

As far as storage time itself, so long as the container is sealed, there is no expiration date. Clumped, I don't know.

nikesb · 11/18/2010, 02:16 PM

mine just clumped up this morning too. it was one large clump. it wasnt like this just last week

Allmost · 11/18/2010, 02:30 PM

Clumped up salt has taken in moisture as others mentioned. this could effect alot of things I am guessing. like leaving baking soda out in open before use, it will take up co2 right ?

my last 3 salt buckets (BRAND new from TMPR) were clumped up and as others mentioned, all tests read fine and I used it anyways, but I see decline in coloring of SPS which I am blaming this for it. there are over 70 elements in salt water, we can only test like 10 at max so Im not sure how this has effected other elements. perhaps a chemist could help us out on the potential elements that can absorb moisture or co2 or ... .

nuccadoc · 11/18/2010, 02:39 PM

I just got a bag of Seachem's Reef Salt and it was also a clumped up. After breaking it up and making up 5 gallons my tests results were quite disturbing.

pH 8.3
Alk-<1
Cal 400
Mg 1100

With the comments above I have to agree that when the salt clumps there are chemical reactions taking place that affect the elements. I'm going to make up another batch this weekend. Be interesting to see what results I get.

Scott

Floowid · 11/18/2010, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuccadoc

I just got a bag of Seachem's Reef Salt and it was also a clumped up. After breaking it up and making up 5 gallons my tests results were quite disturbing.

pH 8.3
Alk-<1
Cal 400
Mg 1100

With the comments above I have to agree that when the salt clumps there are chemical reactions taking place that affect the elements. I'm going to make up another batch this weekend. Be interesting to see what results I get.

Scott

Wow that is disturbing. I have used salt with small clumps in it with no ill effects, but never had to jack hammer it.

drcarr · 11/18/2010, 05:23 PM

Wow! that is a far cry from what it is supposed to test (calc. 540, alk. 10, mag. 1450) from the sticky in the chemistry forum.

keep us posted on what the next batch tests out to...

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuccadoc

I just got a bag of Seachem's Reef Salt and it was also a clumped up. After breaking it up and making up 5 gallons my tests results were quite disturbing.

pH 8.3
Alk-<1
Cal 400
Mg 1100

With the comments above I have to agree that when the salt clumps there are chemical reactions taking place that affect the elements. I'm going to make up another batch this weekend. Be interesting to see what results I get.

Scott

The_Codfather · 11/18/2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuccadoc

I just got a bag of Seachem's Reef Salt and it was also a clumped up. After breaking it up and making up 5 gallons my tests results were quite disturbing.

pH 8.3
Alk-<1
Cal 400
Mg 1100

With the comments above I have to agree that when the salt clumps there are chemical reactions taking place that affect the elements. I'm going to make up another batch this weekend. Be interesting to see what results I get.

Scott

I had the same thing happened to me and i called seachem and they called back the next day saying they mix the salt to compensate for clumping so there should be no issues

nuccadoc · 11/18/2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Codfather

I had the same thing happened to me and i called seachem and they called back the next day saying they mix the salt to compensate for clumping so there should be no issues

I guess I don't follow your comment. What did they mean when they stated there should be no issues?

Scott

The_Codfather · 11/18/2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuccadoc

I guess I don't follow your comment. What did they mean when they stated there should be no issues?

Scott

Meaning no chemical reactions..

nuccadoc · 11/18/2010, 06:44 PM

OK, thanks.

Alunai · 11/18/2010, 06:47 PM

That's interesting... I've been using clumped IO salt for when I run out of salt water.

cakemanPA · 11/18/2010, 07:14 PM

There is no reaction from when I did my testing with clumped versus non-clumped. But to each their own. I think that sometimes we look for problems in this hobby where none exist

The_Codfather · 11/18/2010, 07:31 PM

If you really think about it if salt mix clumps from getting moist think about what adding water to it will do.. BTW im being sarcastic

RotaryGeek · 11/18/2010, 07:42 PM

I have used salt that has clumped before will no ill effects. But I also don't have alot of SPS in my tank, so if softies and lps aren't affected then i couldn't tell you if SPS are.

Sk8r · 11/18/2010, 10:25 PM

Clumped salt has lost its buffering capacity and may cause alkalinity/stability problems in your alk/cal/magnesium relationship. Don't use it in a reef, particularly.

Salt mixes vary in purpose. Oceanic, for instance, is a good reef salt, with a higher calcium level.

11/18/2010, 06:55 AM	#1
drcarr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 105	Clumping Old Salt Question hey guys, can i use a 3/4 full bucket of salt that i received with the tank that i bought off of someone a year ago? the salt has been sitting around in the bucket for the past year and has hardened/clumped together pretty badly. does the salt go bad? is there any "secret" to un-clumping it for use with water from my new RODI unit? fyi, it's Instant Ocean salt. from reading on here it seems that IO is decent cheaper salt. any concerns? thanks!

11/18/2010, 09:55 AM	#3
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	I used a bucket of reef crystals that clumped up really hard and had no problems. __________________ 92 Gallon corner tank, 2-radion gen 2 led lights, 2 mp40's Current Tank Info: 92 Gallon Corner Tank

11/18/2010, 12:08 PM	#5
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I'm no expert, and certainly can not argue with experience, but most of the readings I have had indicate that clumped synthetic salt has reacted not just with the moisture, but with itself creating varying chemical compounds that may have varying effects. Effects may vary from nothing at all, to disastrous. Just thought I'd share that. I wouldn't use it on my tank. As far as storage time itself, so long as the container is sealed, there is no expiration date. Clumped, I don't know. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

11/18/2010, 02:16 PM	#6
nikesb Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 241	mine just clumped up this morning too. it was one large clump. it wasnt like this just last week __________________ Ryan

11/18/2010, 02:39 PM	#8
nuccadoc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 482	I just got a bag of Seachem's Reef Salt and it was also a clumped up. After breaking it up and making up 5 gallons my tests results were quite disturbing. pH 8.3 Alk-<1 Cal 400 Mg 1100 With the comments above I have to agree that when the salt clumps there are chemical reactions taking place that affect the elements. I'm going to make up another batch this weekend. Be interesting to see what results I get. Scott __________________ Scott Current tank info: 34 gal Solana and a 400 gal FOWLR with 4-250 watt MH's, Aquamedic Turboflotor 5000, Korralin sulphur denitrator, 4-Koralia 7's. 120 gal LED sps reef in the works. Currently raising true Perc's.

11/18/2010, 09:52 AM	#2
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	I used a bucket that had clumped up on me without any issues. I ran a really wide drill bit through it at several points making sure not to go through the bag, and then I bashed it with a hammer. I took a bit for it to dissolve, but everything tested just fine.

11/18/2010, 10:47 AM	#4
drcarr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 105	thanks for the response guys. sounds like it should be ok, maybe just take longer to dissolve while mixing. this bucket is probably at least 1-2 years old as well. anyone know of any issues with salt sitting around for that long?

11/18/2010, 02:30 PM	#7
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	Clumped up salt has taken in moisture as others mentioned. this could effect alot of things I am guessing. like leaving baking soda out in open before use, it will take up co2 right ? my last 3 salt buckets (BRAND new from TMPR) were clumped up and as others mentioned, all tests read fine and I used it anyways, but I see decline in coloring of SPS which I am blaming this for it. there are over 70 elements in salt water, we can only test like 10 at max so Im not sure how this has effected other elements. perhaps a chemist could help us out on the potential elements that can absorb moisture or co2 or ... .

11/18/2010, 06:44 PM	#14
nuccadoc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 482	OK, thanks. __________________ Scott Current tank info: 34 gal Solana and a 400 gal FOWLR with 4-250 watt MH's, Aquamedic Turboflotor 5000, Korralin sulphur denitrator, 4-Koralia 7's. 120 gal LED sps reef in the works. Currently raising true Perc's.

11/18/2010, 06:47 PM	#15
Alunai Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 174	That's interesting... I've been using clumped IO salt for when I run out of salt water.

11/18/2010, 07:14 PM	#16
cakemanPA Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hummelstown, PA Posts: 2,353	There is no reaction from when I did my testing with clumped versus non-clumped. But to each their own. I think that sometimes we look for problems in this hobby where none exist

11/18/2010, 07:31 PM	#17
The_Codfather Have frag will travel Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tuckerton, NJ Posts: 541	If you really think about it if salt mix clumps from getting moist think about what adding water to it will do.. BTW im being sarcastic

11/18/2010, 07:42 PM	#18
RotaryGeek Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central Texas Posts: 713	I have used salt that has clumped before will no ill effects. But I also don't have alot of SPS in my tank, so if softies and lps aren't affected then i couldn't tell you if SPS are.

11/18/2010, 10:25 PM	#19
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Clumped salt has lost its buffering capacity and may cause alkalinity/stability problems in your alk/cal/magnesium relationship. Don't use it in a reef, particularly. Salt mixes vary in purpose. Oceanic, for instance, is a good reef salt, with a higher calcium level. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Water Heater and Salt Question for Noob	tengquen	New to the Hobby	7	01/02/2010 04:23 PM
Hey yo, new 2 salt, salt question	NewJerseyMan	Reef Discussion	32	05/31/2007 07:57 PM
Salt Question..	myakkareef	The Reef Chemistry Forum	22	04/01/2006 06:49 AM