Salt not Mixing

[Freind]

Hi,

I am using instant ocean sea salt from years. On my current purchase the first bag salt is not mixing completly. I thought I may be doing something wrong. The 2nd bag is doing the same thing.

So my question is, that after I let the salt sit on the bucket floor and if the salinity is fine, can I use it with out the salt at the floor.

Thank you

[ROB2005]

what are you using to mix it? Powerhead, spoon, etc?

[Freind]

Originally Posted by ROB2005

what are you using to mix it? Powerhead, spoon, etc?

Spoons

Just kidding

I am using Powerhead

[lapin]

Once I had a bad batch of RC. Was lumpy out of the boxes and did not mix well. Floating debris, cloudy and stuff in the bottom of the mixing tank. It took 3 days for it to clear. I used it with no ill effects. I called the supplier and was able to exchange the rest of the case. Just my experience. "Your results may vary"

[mcgyvr]

First ensure your powerhead is moved/adjusted to allow a complete mix..
Second.. define how much its not mixing? as in do you have what looks like cups of salt sitting there or just a few "specs" of residual..
pictures would help..

Also.. it is colder how.. Might that be effecting it..?
How long as the powerhead been in there for..

Then I would recommend performing some tests on it to ensure its ok..
I would personally check alk/cal/mag/salinity at the very least to ensure they are what they should be..

[Rover88]

How much salt are you putting into how much water? You can 'oversaturate' the water with too much salt, at which point it won't mix.

[homer1475]

I only use regular IO and have never not had it mix up thoroughly. I will admit I just dump half the bag in my barrel and test it a few days later. I've never looked at it right away to see if it's not mixing up thoroughly.

[rocsec1]

The only I can think of is that the water is too cold. If the power head is working properly and the temp is good contact io.

[Gtboosted89]

What's the batch number?

[tjm9331]

I had bought a bag of reef crystals from petco cause I had run out and needed to setup a quick QT.

I didn't check the date on the bag (not even sure if there was a date) the salt was clumping and didn't "feel" the same as what I use out of the bucket. I let it mix overnight, when I went to go set up the QT I noticed there was unmixed salt in the barrel. I checked salinity which was good, although I had to add much more than usual in order to reach the right salinity and since it was just for a QT I used it.

What I noticed upon inspection of the bag is that the bags of salt can actually condensate inside and that condensation causes the mix to break down and clump together. Since then I've only used salt out of a bucket.

[ReeferNoob4ever]

You need to stir it for sure. I seriously use a spoon, but then again I'm only mixing up 5 gallon buckets. If I don't physically make the water spin around the salt just sits at the bottom. I use IO.

[billdogg]

If it was clumping then what you are seeing is calcium carbonate that has precipitated out. Your alkalinity and calcium will probably test low. You might have to supplement them to bring them up to "normal" Otherwise, it is good to use. I've actually kept a couple bags that are nearly solid just so that I have something to use to help lower the levels in case of an overdose of one or the other.