Salt Mix Noob Question

[GilRoman74]

Due to continued issues with my LFS pre-mix salt water I've made the plunge to make my own.

I purchased a bucket of the D-D H2Ocean salt.

I assume like most salts, it's in an air tight bag inside the bucket.

How do i go about rolling/mixing the salt? Do I remove the salt from the bag and dump it into the bucket then roll? I'm trying to get my head around the concept of rolling the bucket with new salt.

I will be making batches of 10 gallons/week and it's the 6.6Kg bucket.

Thanks for your time.

G.

[fishgate]

What is the "rolling" all about? I dump 4 gallons of RO/DI in a 5 gallon bucket, add 2 cups of salt and put in a powerhead and walk away. The next day it is ready to use.

[den75]

Originally Posted by fishgate

What is the "rolling" all about? I dump 4 gallons of RO/DI in a 5 gallon bucket, add 2 cups of salt and put in a powerhead and walk away. The next day it is ready to use.

+1
No need for physical labor here rolling buckets around

[kv2wr1]

Do you mean to mix the salt in the bucket in dry form as such to get any ingredients from settling on the bottom of the bag to be mixed in evenly throught the salt mix? If so this is what I do. I open the bag and dump it back into the bucket. I put the lid on tightly and will roll the buck on its side a few times and also flip it end over end a few times carefully. Not sure if this is needed, but then I know that if something has settled to the bottom of the salt mix, it shouldn't be anymore.

[Dubya_R_X]

High quality salt mixes are a uniform product. Not rolling the bucket will not have any detrimental effects

[GilRoman74]

Originally Posted by kv2wr1

Do you mean to mix the salt in the bucket in dry form as such to get any ingredients from settling on the bottom of the bag to be mixed in evenly throught the salt mix? If so this is what I do. I open the bag and dump it back into the bucket. I put the lid on tightly and will roll the buck on its side a few times and also flip it end over end a few times carefully. Not sure if this is needed, but then I know that if something has settled to the bottom of the salt mix, it shouldn't be anymore.

Yes this is what I mean

Originally Posted by Dubya_R_X

High quality salt mixes are a uniform product. Not rolling the bucket will not have any detrimental effects

Good to know.

[Chris27]

Originally Posted by Dubya_R_X

High quality salt mixes are a uniform product. Not rolling the bucket will not have any detrimental effects

I'm not sure I'm with you on this one....there have been countless experiences with every salt mix out there that would make one believe each grain in the bucket is not the same.

The best attempt at repeatability and uniformity is to use an entire batch of salt in one mixing. Small batches are possible, but be sure to test each batch and make any adjustments prior to putting it in your tank.

[fishgate]

Originally Posted by kv2wr1

Do you mean to mix the salt in the bucket in dry form as such to get any ingredients from settling on the bottom of the bag to be mixed in evenly throught the salt mix? If so this is what I do. I open the bag and dump it back into the bucket. I put the lid on tightly and will roll the buck on its side a few times and also flip it end over end a few times carefully. Not sure if this is needed, but then I know that if something has settled to the bottom of the salt mix, it shouldn't be anymore.

How would it settle? It is a solid. While I agree some minimal settling occurs, I don't think any meaningful settling will occur once in your possession. And as someone else pointed out, higher quality mixes (IO) come mixed and uniform from the maker. I also thought that all of the grains were the same. Are you saying it is more like yard fertilizer where there are many different pellets in the mix?

[keepLearning]

Does any one have a problem where the pump or the power head that is used to mix the salt just stop working due to the calcium build up? I mix salt 1 or twice a month because I do not have buckets to hold the salt water. My pump is not in the water or wet all the time. After 8 months the pump just stop working completely because the thing cannot turn any more. I use CLR to remove the calcium and the pump works again. I just want to throw this thing out there so it might help someone else :-)

[firebirdude]

There is no "settling" in salt mixes.

[Tickle]

I just go out and buy the cheapest pump I can find and set the bucket in front of the sunlight, when I get home from work POOF saltwater.

As far as the mix goes it should say on the bucket, I use IORC and its 1/2c per gallon.

also I use a 10 gallon tote to keep my salt in cause then I have a bucket to use to mix it, otherwise it would take me one year to burn through a 5 gallon bucket and then I would have to wait to use my awesome new bucket for other things lol

[shifty51008]

Originally Posted by firebirdude

There is no "settling" in salt mixes.

Keep telling yoursrlf that then dont complain when your salt mix has a high reading of alk or cal. Because the salt settled. And yes it does settle just like if you put small grain sand on top of large grain sand, what happens is the smaller grain ends up on the bottom

[firebirdude]

lol ok man. Have fun rolling your bucket around before every water change.

[Patricklong]

Originally Posted by firebirdude

lol ok man. Have fun rolling your bucket around before every water change.

I dont know why this is a big shock to people. There are numerous reports of high end salt mixes settling....a simple search on this site shows that....Just sayin.