How much salt

BradMugs · 12/07/2010, 06:11 PM

I've got my new 90 gal set up. It's full of RODI and now I'm ready to add salt to get it ready. I realize I'll need about two bags of salt but how should I add it (it's been years since I've set up a new salt water tank). Can I just dump a bag in and let it go then measure to see where I need to go from there?

Is there a calculator that will help me better estimate how much salt to add based on the RI of what is in the tank? I'd rather sneak up on it quickly than to go over and have to try to delute - again a calculator would be helpful.

Thanks

Bloodritual · 12/07/2010, 06:21 PM

How much does the bag say? if it's a 50 lb bag. I'd put in just 1 bag first and let everything dissolve. And add probably 5 cups from the other bag and let it dissolve then go from there reducing the amount you are adding the closer you get to the desired salinity. Of course you measure salinity before you add more salt.

BradMugs · 12/07/2010, 06:25 PM

OK, that's one way - I was wondering if there was a calculator (I thought I saw one for this but maybe not) that would say to add X units of salt that would equal Y gallons mixed. The salt I'm using mixes 1 cup to a gallon of water. With the sump and other water holding goodies I'm not quite sure how much water I have so I though a calculator would help me guess better.

Thanks

newbie2hobby · 12/07/2010, 10:32 PM

hmm i am just starting to do a massive mixture too. 180 gal. so far i have used 1 whole bucket of reef crystals. still at like 1.014. maybe another half bucket to get to it right?

SuperNemo · 12/07/2010, 11:57 PM

well if you have a scale, i found that 5 gallons with 725 grams of instant ocean make almost a perfect 35ppt every time.

Bloodritual · 12/08/2010, 01:05 AM

Mine's about roughly 2.5 cups per 5 gal to get to 1.025 if that helps.

bekindtoyurbuds · 12/08/2010, 01:10 AM

usually a 1/2 cup per gallon will do, it will get you around the 1.025 mark (make sure to figure in how much rock is in the tank)

polyp02 · 12/08/2010, 01:18 AM

I usually just add and let it dissolve until I reach the salinity I want. Just like in cooking add a little at a time. Most mixes suggest a cup for every gallon to get a salinity of 1.023 but I make mine at 1.026 so I can't use their scale.

streak · 12/08/2010, 01:23 AM

What i would do is take out about 5 gallons and mix up about half bag at a time... super salinity with like 2 massive water jets like maxi 1200s in the 5g bucket or sumthing....
i would never mix in the tank itself... i tried it in a 20g and still had salt on the bottom for days...

ps if you got live rock in there it will be toast from the thermal and PH shock... from the salt reaction

streak · 12/08/2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradMugs

OK, that's one way - I was wondering if there was a calculator (I thought I saw one for this but maybe not) that would say to add X units of salt that would equal Y gallons mixed. The salt I'm using mixes 1 cup to a gallon of water. With the sump and other water holding goodies I'm not quite sure how much water I have so I though a calculator would help me guess better.

Thanks

Thats what the Refratometer is for... for testing salinity.. they give you an idea of what to mix on box,bucket,bag but for a true reading you need a good calabrated Refratometer to know for sure where you are..

I hate to even mention a hydrometer...

Also please never get into habit of mixing salt directly into the tank.. i know you done this before.. just a friendly reminder..

njudson · 12/08/2010, 07:54 AM

It depends which salt mix you are using. I use Reef Crystals and ~1/2 a cup per gallon of RODI works for me. As other have said let it mix up after slowly adding salt, then check with your refracto

shifty51008 · 12/08/2010, 08:50 AM

diffrent salt mixes use diffrent amounts of salt. the best way is to add some salt, test with a refractometer and so fourth till you get your desired level.

BradMugs · 12/08/2010, 08:30 PM

OK, I have a refractometer not a hydrometer. I think I need to re-word my question.

I have a 90 gal tank, plus everything that goes along with it full of water (yes I know not to mix in the tank but I'm trying to save a tank that is leaking so I filled the 90+ and and mixing there). Right now the salinity is not quite where I want it - I under guessed the amount of water and under shot the amount of salt to be on the safe side. There is NOTHING in the tank right now except power heads, heaters and water.

So, is there a calculator out there that will tell me I need to add X amount of salt to raise lets say 130 gal of water up 0.014 - I'm sitting at 1.009. I need to use 1/2 cup of salt per gal to mix to 1.023.

streak · 12/09/2010, 01:38 PM

Well 1.023 SG is prettly low as well.. shoot for more like 1.025 so when you get evaporation it could go up to 1.026-027.. I would still do the same thing drain off 5 gallons of water mix up 5 gallons with 7-8 cups of salt.. and let it mix with pumps and put back in circulate check with refractometer.. keep doing this till your reading is 1.024-1025 you cannot take out what you put in.. with out changing out water for fresh ro/di.. Time to get out the mad scientist gloves..

mdlewis11 · 12/09/2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradMugs

So, is there a calculator out there that will tell me I need to add X amount of salt to raise lets say 130 gal of water up 0.014 - I'm sitting at 1.009. I need to use 1/2 cup of salt per gal to mix to 1.023.

You can figure our the ratio for your salt mix since you already have taken a salinity reading. Since it is 1.009 right now add a reasonable, measured, amount of salt and take a new reading.

If after adding 1 cup of salt, the salinity is increased by 0.01, you will have your calculator.

sslak · 12/09/2010, 02:23 PM

As others have said, just add salt. Check with refracto.

Add more salt, check again.

Keep adding a little at a time until you get where you need to be. Better to be low on salinity than high. If you overshoot then you need to drain some saltwater out and add RO/DI to dilute it...which is a waste of money.

Frogmanx82 · 12/09/2010, 05:44 PM

I think the relationship between salt and salinity is pretty linear so if .5 cups raises you by 0.025 then you only need to raise by 0.016. So .5 x 16/25 is .32 cups per gallon to get to 0.025 starting from 0.009.

BradMugs · 12/11/2010, 05:06 PM

Thanks everyone - I finally gave up on a program and did the ratio thing using my base as 90 gal. I added that much salt and got very close so now I've been added a cup or so about twice a day and go it pretty stable.

It was simpler to go back to the guess and add than find a program to do it for you.

Now to get it seeded and start moving forward.

12/07/2010, 06:11 PM	#1
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	How much salt I've got my new 90 gal set up. It's full of RODI and now I'm ready to add salt to get it ready. I realize I'll need about two bags of salt but how should I add it (it's been years since I've set up a new salt water tank). Can I just dump a bag in and let it go then measure to see where I need to go from there? Is there a calculator that will help me better estimate how much salt to add based on the RI of what is in the tank? I'd rather sneak up on it quickly than to go over and have to try to delute - again a calculator would be helpful. Thanks

12/08/2010, 01:23 AM	#9
streak Reef Madness! Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perryville, Missouri Posts: 616	What i would do is take out about 5 gallons and mix up about half bag at a time... super salinity with like 2 massive water jets like maxi 1200s in the 5g bucket or sumthing.... i would never mix in the tank itself... i tried it in a 20g and still had salt on the bottom for days... ps if you got live rock in there it will be toast from the thermal and PH shock... from the salt reaction __________________ The Shoe String Budget Reef Aquarium. Possible?? Compared to 7 55 breeding Discus days well we see and try! :P Current Tank Info: 10g nano with 2 clowns 1 Royal Gorama 1 RBTA! Last edited by streak; 12/08/2010 at 01:30 AM.

12/08/2010, 07:54 AM	#11
njudson Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 610	It depends which salt mix you are using. I use Reef Crystals and ~1/2 a cup per gallon of RODI works for me. As other have said let it mix up after slowly adding salt, then check with your refracto __________________ Barebottom Nano Radion Pro Icecap 1k Gyre Icecap K1 Nano Skimmer Ocellaris pair / Potter's Angel / BTAs, Zoas and Montis Current Tank Info: IM Nuvo Fusion Lagoon 25

12/08/2010, 08:50 AM	#12
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	diffrent salt mixes use diffrent amounts of salt. the best way is to add some salt, test with a refractometer and so fourth till you get your desired level. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

12/09/2010, 01:38 PM	#14
streak Reef Madness! Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perryville, Missouri Posts: 616	Well 1.023 SG is prettly low as well.. shoot for more like 1.025 so when you get evaporation it could go up to 1.026-027.. I would still do the same thing drain off 5 gallons of water mix up 5 gallons with 7-8 cups of salt.. and let it mix with pumps and put back in circulate check with refractometer.. keep doing this till your reading is 1.024-1025 you cannot take out what you put in.. with out changing out water for fresh ro/di.. Time to get out the mad scientist gloves.. __________________ The Shoe String Budget Reef Aquarium. Possible?? Compared to 7 55 breeding Discus days well we see and try! :P Current Tank Info: 10g nano with 2 clowns 1 Royal Gorama 1 RBTA!

12/07/2010, 06:21 PM	#2
Bloodritual Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 82	How much does the bag say? if it's a 50 lb bag. I'd put in just 1 bag first and let everything dissolve. And add probably 5 cups from the other bag and let it dissolve then go from there reducing the amount you are adding the closer you get to the desired salinity. Of course you measure salinity before you add more salt.

12/07/2010, 06:25 PM	#3
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	OK, that's one way - I was wondering if there was a calculator (I thought I saw one for this but maybe not) that would say to add X units of salt that would equal Y gallons mixed. The salt I'm using mixes 1 cup to a gallon of water. With the sump and other water holding goodies I'm not quite sure how much water I have so I though a calculator would help me guess better. Thanks

12/07/2010, 10:32 PM	#4
newbie2hobby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 41	hmm i am just starting to do a massive mixture too. 180 gal. so far i have used 1 whole bucket of reef crystals. still at like 1.014. maybe another half bucket to get to it right?

12/07/2010, 11:57 PM	#5
SuperNemo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 524	well if you have a scale, i found that 5 gallons with 725 grams of instant ocean make almost a perfect 35ppt every time.

12/08/2010, 01:05 AM	#6
Bloodritual Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 82	Mine's about roughly 2.5 cups per 5 gal to get to 1.025 if that helps.

12/08/2010, 01:10 AM	#7
bekindtoyurbuds Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Riverside Ca Posts: 374	usually a 1/2 cup per gallon will do, it will get you around the 1.025 mark (make sure to figure in how much rock is in the tank)

12/08/2010, 01:18 AM	#8
polyp02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Salinas, CA(93905) Posts: 165	I usually just add and let it dissolve until I reach the salinity I want. Just like in cooking add a little at a time. Most mixes suggest a cup for every gallon to get a salinity of 1.023 but I make mine at 1.026 so I can't use their scale.

12/08/2010, 08:30 PM	#13
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	OK, I have a refractometer not a hydrometer. I think I need to re-word my question. I have a 90 gal tank, plus everything that goes along with it full of water (yes I know not to mix in the tank but I'm trying to save a tank that is leaking so I filled the 90+ and and mixing there). Right now the salinity is not quite where I want it - I under guessed the amount of water and under shot the amount of salt to be on the safe side. There is NOTHING in the tank right now except power heads, heaters and water. So, is there a calculator out there that will tell me I need to add X amount of salt to raise lets say 130 gal of water up 0.014 - I'm sitting at 1.009. I need to use 1/2 cup of salt per gal to mix to 1.023.

12/09/2010, 02:23 PM	#16
sslak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,705	As others have said, just add salt. Check with refracto. Add more salt, check again. Keep adding a little at a time until you get where you need to be. Better to be low on salinity than high. If you overshoot then you need to drain some saltwater out and add RO/DI to dilute it...which is a waste of money. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 58 Oceanic/20g Sump/250w XM 20k/2x39w T5 True Actinic 03/2010 Reef Octopus NW Cone Skimmer

12/09/2010, 05:44 PM	#17
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	I think the relationship between salt and salinity is pretty linear so if .5 cups raises you by 0.025 then you only need to raise by 0.016. So .5 x 16/25 is .32 cups per gallon to get to 0.025 starting from 0.009. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

12/11/2010, 05:06 PM	#18
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Thanks everyone - I finally gave up on a program and did the ratio thing using my base as 90 gal. I added that much salt and got very close so now I've been added a cup or so about twice a day and go it pretty stable. It was simpler to go back to the guess and add than find a program to do it for you. Now to get it seeded and start moving forward.

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