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02-02-2003, 03:21 PM
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#1
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 3
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Mixing Salt
My first tank, boy what did I get myself into.  I have a 180 gallon reef tank in the wall of my new basement. When I prepare my salt for a water change I first put about 36 gallons into a garbage pail. Heat the water to 75 deg. I then add the salt to a sp. of about 1.024. I add a power head with a heater and leave for approx. 24 hr's. Yhe next day I check the water and it's super cloudy, can hardly see the bottom of the pail. It looks like a powder like substance. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong. I only use R.O water. Could I be mixing to long? Can I still use this water? Please help I'm in need of a water change.
Thanks
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02-02-2003, 04:14 PM
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#2
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: thousand oaks, ca
Posts: 369
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First thing WELCOME
Now as to the question about your water, is the "cloudyness" settling out as a fine silt? Could be from the salt you use. Sometimes particulates will settle out after mix, then with the ph going it stirs in to the water.
Test the water quality to be sure it's ok, (which it prolly should be) and if it settles out again, just be careful not to remix when doing the change.
Hope this helps you out, and hopefully others will have more to say.
Lee  |
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02-02-2003, 04:30 PM
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#3
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 356
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Hi and WELCOME!
I mix it exactly as you do but only overnight then add to the tank, it is slightly cloudy, but after adding it to the main tank, it goes away within a couple hours. I use Instant Ocean salt with RO/DI water. |
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02-02-2003, 06:23 PM
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#4
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Hail to the Redskins!!
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Gresham, OR
Posts: 1,133
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I have never had any cloudiness when mixing my new water. Not sure what I am doing that would make me not get the cloudiness. What kind of salt mix are you using? I use Kent or IO. Are you adding any buffer or anything else to your water?
Big Dave
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There's nothing like feeding your starfish for your party guests!!
120 Reef
SDSBBNR (sorta deep sand bed but not really)
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02-02-2003, 07:37 PM
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#5
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Look deeply into my eyes
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Location, Location
Posts: 12,042
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Welcome! just wondering, are you checking your SG after a 24 hr mix period?maybe the SG has gone up after it gets mixed more(i remember in the OLD days, i used to mix up salt in a 5 gallon bucket in the tub and quess on the the temp/SG,,,a LONG time ago,,,,,)along witht he other TRT'ers post on this , i agree, maybe check water parameters after the 24 hrs,,and maybe have the fresh water checked b4 also,,,one thing too, what brand of salt are you using?
Again, WELCOME TO TRT!
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Jeff
1st generation J-Crowd member
PRG Member since '09
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02-02-2003, 08:12 PM
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#6
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 3
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Quote:
Originally posted by Big Dave
I have never had any cloudiness when mixing my new water. Not sure what I am doing that would make me not get the cloudiness. What kind of salt mix are you using? I use Kent or IO. Are you adding any buffer or anything else to your water?
Big Dave
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Big Dave, Thanks for your reply. I'm currently using Tropic Marin salt. I don't add any buffer. I'm not sure how to check my R.O/DI water but looking into the garbage pail with about 35 gallons It's perfectly clear.
Do you add your water directly after mixing?
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02-02-2003, 08:17 PM
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#7
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squid
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 3
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I am using Tropic Marin Salt mix. Is there any way to check my RO/DI water? Looking in the pail with about 35 gallons it's as clear as a spring day.
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02-02-2003, 11:47 PM
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#8
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,155
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I use the Sen 900 or a MAG 5 to mix salt in a trash can . Fill the can with RO while the pumps running, brings temp up than slowly add salt over a few hrs time.
The vilolent agitation mixes it up nicely and helps out gas ammonia and set the buffer in the mix 
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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02-03-2003, 06:22 AM
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#9
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Good boy
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Marietta, GA, USA
Posts: 7,889
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Maybe you need a stronger powerhead or the one you have needs to be pointed at the bottom. I mix salt pretty much the same way you do. There is some cloudyness initially but it goes away within a few hours.
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02-03-2003, 07:44 AM
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#10
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Sailfin
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Noblesville, Indiana
Posts: 2,444
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WELCOME! 
And ditto what everyone else is telling you.
We mix about 25G in a 32G Rubbermaid, using RO and IO and a Mag2 pwrhd and heater. It's clear within a couple of hours, and we leave it there with heater/pwerhd until ready to use it...sometimes a couple days, sometimes longer...no cloudiness at all. We heat it up to 78 degrees.
We check the salinity as we make it, but when finished and after thorough mixing, we check it again to make sure it hasn't risen too much as it is all mixed in.
I cannot explain your cloudiness...
~Shirley |
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02-03-2003, 09:44 AM
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#11
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Plankton
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Michigan
Posts: 19
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HI, WELCOME ABOARD I use IO and mix pretty much the same way as most of the posts, never had that happen,I know this doesn't make you feel any better,just wanted to say hi !
I would stick with IO or kent. just keep trying!!! |
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