new salt = cloudy water ???

abendx · 07/21/2006, 06:08 PM

i just got done plumbing my 90 gallon, tested it with freshwater, drained it and added an approximate amount of salt..... filled it with RO water turned on the powerheads, sump, etc..... that was last night (about 22 hours ago). the water is cloudy? like the salt is not mixing well? checked the salinity and it is correct. the tank is 18" wide and i can barely see an object six inches back from the glass!??!

any ideas? is this normal? the salt mix was coralife.... i have used it before with no issues like this in my 40g that has been running for about six months (same source for water, same brand of salt).

i have about 200 pounds of live rock ready to go in.... should i keep the rock out of that water while it is cloudy like that?

thanks!

outy · 07/21/2006, 06:57 PM

it should clear up

you should always mix salt in another container before adding it to a tank.

i would add [sand if using it] then half salt water then add LR then top off with saltwater and let it cycle

washingtond · 07/21/2006, 07:06 PM

Always place the RO water into your mixing container first before adding the salt. Then add salt until you get to the SG that you desire.

If you add the RO water to the salt you could have precipitation until it becomes properly deluded. This will cause the water to be cloudy.

reiple · 07/21/2006, 09:00 PM

mix salt and water outside your tank. if you mix inside it will be cloudy. But it will settle after a while.

Bebo77 · 07/21/2006, 09:04 PM

what type of salt is it? i had the same problem with IO

jarhed · 07/21/2006, 10:00 PM

Weird.

When I fired up my 180 and 60 sump, I filled with RO, then added the IO salt. Cycled it for a day. It was clear from the get go.

socalreefer73 · 08/08/2006, 02:03 AM

I know of a tank that's got white slime after one day of being setup with IO salt. Said the water was nealy opaque and now thinks are covered with slime... new tank.. was filled with FW ofr a few days to get an eye on the temp of the new system...

abendx · 08/08/2006, 09:11 AM

finally cleared up. it took about three days? i think adding the water before the salt is the proper solution.... why, i am not really sure?

07/21/2006, 06:08 PM	#1
abendx Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 185	new salt = cloudy water ??? i just got done plumbing my 90 gallon, tested it with freshwater, drained it and added an approximate amount of salt..... filled it with RO water turned on the powerheads, sump, etc..... that was last night (about 22 hours ago). the water is cloudy? like the salt is not mixing well? checked the salinity and it is correct. the tank is 18" wide and i can barely see an object six inches back from the glass!??! any ideas? is this normal? the salt mix was coralife.... i have used it before with no issues like this in my 40g that has been running for about six months (same source for water, same brand of salt). i have about 200 pounds of live rock ready to go in.... should i keep the rock out of that water while it is cloudy like that? thanks!

07/21/2006, 07:06 PM	#3
washingtond Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carrollton, Texas Posts: 360	Always place the RO water into your mixing container first before adding the salt. Then add salt until you get to the SG that you desire. If you add the RO water to the salt you could have precipitation until it becomes properly deluded. This will cause the water to be cloudy. __________________ David - Member of DFWMAS . Current Tank Info: 200/75g reef tank with Fuge/Sumps, Aqua C skimmer. 250 XMs, auto top off systems, JBJ Chiller Geo Reactor.

07/21/2006, 09:00 PM	#4
reiple Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Posts: 126	mix salt and water outside your tank. if you mix inside it will be cloudy. But it will settle after a while. __________________ "If history teaches us anything at all, it is simply this - every revolution carries within it the seeds of it's destruction. And empires that rise will one day fall" -- Princess Irulan Current Tank Info: 1-reef, 1-FOWLR, 1-piranha tank

07/21/2006, 09:04 PM	#5
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	what type of salt is it? i had the same problem with IO __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

08/08/2006, 09:11 AM	#8
abendx Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Oxnard, CA Posts: 185	finally cleared up. it took about three days? i think adding the water before the salt is the proper solution.... why, i am not really sure? __________________ 2007 MASVC President of VICE! (retired) Marine Aquarium Society of Ventura County Current Tank Info: One gallon goldfish bowl

07/21/2006, 06:57 PM	#2
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	it should clear up you should always mix salt in another container before adding it to a tank. i would add [sand if using it] then half salt water then add LR then top off with saltwater and let it cycle

07/21/2006, 10:00 PM	#6
jarhed Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,638	Weird. When I fired up my 180 and 60 sump, I filled with RO, then added the IO salt. Cycled it for a day. It was clear from the get go.

08/08/2006, 02:03 AM	#7
socalreefer73 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego, Ca. Posts: 821	I know of a tank that's got white slime after one day of being setup with IO salt. Said the water was nealy opaque and now thinks are covered with slime... new tank.. was filled with FW ofr a few days to get an eye on the temp of the new system...