Mixing Water?

[partobe]

Hi Everyone,
I prepared my water for my biweekly water change. I noticed after adding the salt that it looked like a snow storm. So I posted a thread ("two threads in one). After chatting with a few of you I found out that I'm suppose to keep the bucket of premixed salt air tight. This is something I didn't know. Ive decided not to change the water this week and to wait for the salt I ordered on line to arrive and do it next week. I just wondered if there is something more I'm missing? Here is how I mix my water PLEASE feel free to tell me if I'm skipping something.
1. Make the ro water in my 20 gallon bucket
2. turn the ph and heater on
3. Take out the salt and now close the lid asap on the pre mixed salt
4. Add the salt
5. Make sure the temp and salinity are the same as in the main tank.
6. Wait 24 hours
7. Take water from the main tank.
8. Add the new water.
Please let me know if I'm not doing this correctly or if I'm leaving something out.
Thanks for all your help
Patrick

[Wiskey]

Looks good to me, I would add the salt slowly though.

Whiskey

[rdaled]

Would it be good to wait until the fresh water is around 75 degrees before adding the salt or does it matter?

[whatevva]

I would make sure that Alkalinity is matching. Tank water/New water

[partobe]

thanks Butch Whiskey and dale

[partobe]

Do you guys and ladies think it will hurt my tank to wait another week before I do the water change? I have new salt ordered but it wont be here until fri.

[pastina]

im a bit confused, what causes the snow storm? actual salt bits or the sand being kicked up when you add the new saltwater?
are you using instant ocean salt? IO is famous for "sweating in the bag" and not mixing properly.
i still havent bought an air tight container (i keep forgetting) so every time i use the salt even if its 48 hours later the dang stuff just doesnt dissolve properly and i get "snow" when i add it to my tanks
the summer is the worst, dang thing caked so much and actually swelled so that when i added the correct amount it was way less than the measuring cup said due to the salt swelling. what was usually 1.026 mixed came out to be 1.018
im starting to wonder if all salt brands do this or just IO
maybe i should just buy the bucket lol, ive been buying the bags only because its easier for me to carry and easier to store
are you using the bucket or the bags?

[partobe]

Pastina Like ou I'm not really sure what happens. Tom explained it to me but I guess I'm not that knowledgeable even when it's explained to me. Here is my understanding. If you leave the bag or in my case the bucket open and exposed to air for too long the calcium locks together and thats the white stuff you see floating. Some folks say the water is ok to use but it may be low on trace elements others say toss it and make a new batch. To be on the safe side I'm tossing mine. When my new bucket of salt arrives this week I will take out the salt I need and reseal it immediately.
Patrick

[Hardhead Cat]

As far as I know, you have it exactly right - the salt mix will get moisture from the air in it, causes the snowy bloom when you add it to your RO water.

Patrick, your procedure looks good - the only thing I would change is checking the temp and salinity AFTER the water / salt have mixed for 24 hours. They will change as the salt dissolves.

HHC

[partobe]

Thanks HHC I think I will toss this batch and go buy a small bag to make for tomorrow

[pastina]

i tried buying new bags in the beginning when this used to happen. but i found that the bag would only last two times before it would clump up and cause that snow, even though i tied the bags tightly and squeezed out some air from the bag. i got tired of wasting money and throwing away new bags of salt and ive just been using it the way it is. ive been doing it for a year now and so far i havent seen any negative effects maybe because i add my own trace elements (?)
i will finish up this bag and try the bucket and hopefully that will put an end to the snow storms.
i wonder what happends to the snow when it hits the tank? lol
it does dissapear in a few minutes, maybe it just gets sucked up in the filter?
a few months ago i spoke to a lady that went through this and she told me she uses rubbermaid bins like for cereal, they keep the salt air tight and she never had the clumps or snow storm again. silly forgetfull me, id always forget to buy the rubbermaid lol

[Wiskey]

I think you will be fine to wait an extra week on a water change. Your tank is mostally softies anyway, they would probably love you for it

Whiskey

[partobe]

Thanks Whiskey,
Well I already started making the water and ran down to the lfs and picked up a small box of rc salt. So I guess the water change will happen tomorrow.
Patrick

[Wiskey]

Cool.

Whiskey

[partobe]

Thanks Whiskey!
Pastina I hope this thread helps you as well.
Patrick