Salt Mix

[reef madman]

3 weeks now into curing lr in my tank (no fish or substrate in tank) 0 ammonia, but nitrite and nitrate both maxed out on chart. doing daily water changes, 10 gals on 55 gal tank (ro/di) and i am using instant ocean salt mix. i have just been mixing it up in bucket and using immediately with my water changes. guy at my lfs told me i need to let the mix sit for 24 hrs before adding to tank? does recommend that on the bag , but also says can be used immediately. any thoughts on this?

[redwinger]

I just mix and oxygenate for about 15 minutes is all. Never had any ill effects.

[tdwyatt]

Whie curing the rock, this is not a BIG issue, although you're blowing off the opportunity to possibly keep some hitchhiker from not surviving this ordeal by not allowing alkalinity and pH to fully develop. This requires circulating the water for 12 to 24 hours and bringing it to tank temp. This procedure allows for the concentration of atmospheric CO2 to equilibrate with the pCO2 concentrations in the seawater. This is the mechanism that indirectly drives the bicarbonate/carbonate buffer system and directly drives the pH of the water column. By using the water immediately without adequate CO2 stabilization, you deprive the creatures that are on and in the rock from the optimum opportunity to survive the high levels of organic acids and ammonia/nitrite toxicities that they must endure. In an emergency, I will use freshly made ASW, but given the opportunity, especially in n established system with live corals, I will ALWAYS allow 24 hours for this CO2-equilibrium to occur.


...but that's just my opinion.

[SeaDog]

I'm guessing in another ten years of this hobby I'll understand what Tom is saying, till then I'm going to do exactly what he says

[reef madman]

i'm with you SeaDog i'm only 3 weeks into the hobby , but learning a lot here off the forums . thanks tom, think i will make up mix a day ahead of time in future.