First time mixing salt

[Fgtank]

Hi all, I am a newbie,just finished my build. 120gal dt with 75gal sump/refug. I am going to mix my first batch of salt, io reef crystals. How do you know how much to add to water, do you have to calculate a certain amount of salt to water? And how long do you mix it for. I have an ro/di and brute can. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Dmorty217]

1.5lbs per 5.2gallons (1.026 SG) or 1.022 per 5 gallons. I would let the salt mix in the water with a power head for a hr to be sure all salt has dissolved. I would invest in a refractometer and not use a hydrometer since they will all vary and aren't nearly as accurate

[trinity1012]

cool now the jurney begins
a bag mixes 50 gallons,a bucket i belive is 150/160 gallons,
i just dump salt in a few qrts at a time in a trashcan with a powerhead till it becomes clear.you kinda know by eye with time under you belt.make each can full the salanity you would like you tank to be. hope this helps

[trinity1012]

oops you beat me to it!!

[Fgtank]

Cool! Thanks guys, I do have a Refractometer.

[downbeach]

Good article here:

http://successfulreefkeeping.com/lea...ing-saltwater/

[SushiGirl]

My IO Reef Crystals it was half a cup per gallon. The little scoop was half a cup. That made it 1.025.

[dRockReefer]

I never just follow the bag instructions. I always use less than instructed and add a little bit more at a time until I get to 1.025.

I found that it varies sometimes when just adding the "set amount."

[dread4life]

Is there salt designed for coral and another for fish is it al the same?

[trinity1012]

the only salt i use is IO salt,never used reef crystals.i know brightwell has a salt for fish and a salt for reef not sure about IO

[ifrizk]

I have a 265 that is full of corals and all I do is take one bag that comes in a 200 gallon box of IO which one bag = 50 gallons so I took a 55 gallon tank put a float valve at 50 gallons. My RO/DI system is hook strait to it so it fills it up and shut its it off every time I use it. Then when I do a water change all I have to do is put one bag in the night before. The 55 gallon has two circulating pumps and a heater. I check it the next day then pump it into my tank and then all done. As my 55 gallon fills right back up to 50 gallons and is ready for my next water change and bag of salt.

Hope this helps

By the way I do not use io reef crystals.

[nanolover80]

I do the bucket thing with a power head and a heater, add salt per directions on the bucket or box of salt .. they usually come with a scoop and its measured scoop. Then after i add the salt i use the pwer head to get it all stirred up and let it run for .. say 24 hrs like that. Make sure you get the new saltwater up to the same temp as your tank. Just add and you're all done .. hope this helps.

[disc1]

Nix the heater and it will mix slower but clearer and leave less gunk at the bottom.

[Fgtank]

Thanks so much for all the help everyone!