Salt mixing tool

Bellaru · 07/11/2013, 05:48 PM

I have been using a paint mixer on a power drill to mix my salt water. The kind you find at hardware stores to mix grout or paint. My question is it has a little rust on the bottom but no paint or cement grout. Would the rust effect my water at all? If so can I spray paint it with someing to cover it up?

etphi · 07/11/2013, 05:51 PM

I'm not sure about the rust, but if you're looking at saving money, just purchase a cheap pump.

The pump I use for mixing salt is a cheap Petco brand. Only $15

greech · 07/11/2013, 06:03 PM

+1 to using a cheap pump or power head. Buy some tubing for it as well so you can pump the mixed water right into the tank.

d2mini · 07/11/2013, 06:21 PM

I used to mix that way all the time. My tall 50g container's opening was too small for a decent size mixing pump. Never had a problem.

disc1 · 07/11/2013, 06:28 PM

The best answer is no metals at all in your saltwater. In reality it depends on the metal. The cheap metal used to make those stirrers is probably not going to hurt you much with just the short contact time of mixing your saltwater. But keep in mind that salt does corrode most all metals and if there is any bad metal like zinc or copper in the particular alloy that the stirrer is made from then you are putting that into your tank.

If it were me, I wouldn't sweat it too much, but I'd definitely keep an eye out for a plastic version of the same tool or something similar.

PaulieReef · 07/11/2013, 06:39 PM

Just get a cheap pump.. stick it on the side of your bucket boom let it mix for a couple of hours, check the salinity. Once its at the point you need, let it sit for the day and its ready by tomorrow! As said above, avoid all things metal.

Metal Man 1221 · 07/12/2013, 12:08 AM

Pumps make it nice and easy. I use an 18g rubbermade with a mag 7.

Just add salt and let it mix, no bending over, or back breaking involved.

fishmate · 07/12/2013, 05:58 PM

definitely get a pump, i run a flexible hose from a 55 gal barrell in my garage to my tank when I need to add water to my tank

much easier than anything else as said above

Brwestern · 07/12/2013, 09:14 PM

Bretts05jeep · 07/13/2013, 07:04 AM

I stir the water in my 44 gallon brute with a long piece of PVC. It only takes a few seconds for the salt to dissolve.

Gary Majchrzak · 07/13/2013, 07:07 AM

no pic of a wooden spoon yet?

To the OP: plop a maxijet powerhead in. Maybe upgrade to a Brute and Magdrive pump. Keep your drill away from saltwater it will ruin the drill.

Oh yeah... almost forgot.. rust is no good for new saltwater. Neither is spray paint.

lionfish300 · 07/13/2013, 08:13 PM

powerhead/pump run for 24 hours

Sonyardo · 07/13/2013, 09:38 PM

I use cheapo powerheads to mix saltwater.

Dexters Reef · 07/13/2013, 10:43 PM

I measure the correct amount of salt into a 4g bucket, and add in a koralia evo 1400 for 5 minutes. 350x turnover does the trick with no effort from me . For larger water changes I use the same pump in a 30g rubbermaid bin, I just run it for 15min and move the power head every 5 minutes

Denbf58 · 07/14/2013, 06:30 AM

i use mini jet 404 in 5g bucket let mix over night also helps oxygenate water

jimlin · 07/14/2013, 07:58 AM

you can probably coat it with rubber coating and use it to mix your water.

Bellaru · 07/15/2013, 07:28 AM

Thanks everyone. Much food for thought. I have a cheap harbor freight pump I use to put the water in the display I'll just start using that for mixing. I just liked the drill because it took about 1 minute to mix the water. Super fast. I'm probably gonna pick up Brwestern's suggestion too.

07/11/2013, 05:48 PM	#1
Bellaru Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Carolina Posts: 53	Salt mixing tool I have been using a paint mixer on a power drill to mix my salt water. The kind you find at hardware stores to mix grout or paint. My question is it has a little rust on the bottom but no paint or cement grout. Would the rust effect my water at all? If so can I spray paint it with someing to cover it up? __________________ 55gl with 20gl sump/fuge 9 months old 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Neon Dotty Back, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, lawn mower blenny Fox face, Snails , Hermits and tons of pods, corals

07/11/2013, 06:03 PM	#3
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	+1 to using a cheap pump or power head. Buy some tubing for it as well so you can pump the mixed water right into the tank. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

07/11/2013, 06:21 PM	#4
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	I used to mix that way all the time. My tall 50g container's opening was too small for a decent size mixing pump. Never had a problem. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

07/11/2013, 06:28 PM	#5
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	The best answer is no metals at all in your saltwater. In reality it depends on the metal. The cheap metal used to make those stirrers is probably not going to hurt you much with just the short contact time of mixing your saltwater. But keep in mind that salt does corrode most all metals and if there is any bad metal like zinc or copper in the particular alloy that the stirrer is made from then you are putting that into your tank. If it were me, I wouldn't sweat it too much, but I'd definitely keep an eye out for a plastic version of the same tool or something similar. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

07/12/2013, 12:08 AM	#7
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	Pumps make it nice and easy. I use an 18g rubbermade with a mag 7. Just add salt and let it mix, no bending over, or back breaking involved. __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

07/11/2013, 05:51 PM	#2
etphi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 37	I'm not sure about the rust, but if you're looking at saving money, just purchase a cheap pump. The pump I use for mixing salt is a cheap Petco brand. Only $15

07/11/2013, 06:39 PM	#6
PaulieReef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 291	Just get a cheap pump.. stick it on the side of your bucket boom let it mix for a couple of hours, check the salinity. Once its at the point you need, let it sit for the day and its ready by tomorrow! As said above, avoid all things metal.

07/12/2013, 05:58 PM	#8
fishmate Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 144	definitely get a pump, i run a flexible hose from a 55 gal barrell in my garage to my tank when I need to add water to my tank much easier than anything else as said above __________________ How do I change this?

07/12/2013, 09:14 PM	#9
Brwestern Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Celebration, Fl Posts: 600	__________________ 112g rimless 45x24\| pacific sun metis led \| SRO 2000int skimmer \| 2x mp40 \| 2 brs media reactors, gfo + carbon \| eheim 1262 \| Reef Keeper lite w/ NET

07/13/2013, 07:04 AM	#10
Bretts05jeep Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: McHenry, IL Posts: 510	I stir the water in my 44 gallon brute with a long piece of PVC. It only takes a few seconds for the salt to dissolve.

07/13/2013, 07:07 AM	#11
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	no pic of a wooden spoon yet? To the OP: plop a maxijet powerhead in. Maybe upgrade to a Brute and Magdrive pump. Keep your drill away from saltwater it will ruin the drill. Oh yeah... almost forgot.. rust is no good for new saltwater. Neither is spray paint. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

07/13/2013, 08:13 PM	#12
lionfish300 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 795	powerhead/pump run for 24 hours

07/13/2013, 09:38 PM	#13
Sonyardo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: OC California Posts: 522	I use cheapo powerheads to mix saltwater.

07/13/2013, 10:43 PM	#14
Dexters Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 730	I measure the correct amount of salt into a 4g bucket, and add in a koralia evo 1400 for 5 minutes. 350x turnover does the trick with no effort from me . For larger water changes I use the same pump in a 30g rubbermaid bin, I just run it for 15min and move the power head every 5 minutes __________________ 75G RR, Trigger Systems Ruby 30S sump, 2x250 MH and 4x54W T5HO, Octopus Diablo XS160, 4" DSB, 2 x MP40wES, 85 lbs LR, 2 x BRS Dosing Pumps, Finnex 300w titanium heater, Surf2 Algae Turf Scrubber

07/14/2013, 06:30 AM	#15
Denbf58 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: selden N.Y. Posts: 885	i use mini jet 404 in 5g bucket let mix over night also helps oxygenate water __________________ Life is good Current Tank Info: 75gal reef ready koralia 3, 30g sump, 4b 48" t5s lighting, 29g reef with breeding pair clowns 55g reef 55g freshwater

07/14/2013, 07:58 AM	#16
jimlin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 110	you can probably coat it with rubber coating and use it to mix your water.

07/15/2013, 07:28 AM	#17
Bellaru Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Carolina Posts: 53	Thanks everyone. Much food for thought. I have a cheap harbor freight pump I use to put the water in the display I'll just start using that for mixing. I just liked the drill because it took about 1 minute to mix the water. Super fast. I'm probably gonna pick up Brwestern's suggestion too. __________________ 55gl with 20gl sump/fuge 9 months old 2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 Neon Dotty Back, 2 Cleaner Shrimp, lawn mower blenny Fox face, Snails , Hermits and tons of pods, corals