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Aquavitro Salinity Mixing and Storing

lattehiatus

lattehiatus

Past President
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Please share how you mix and store Aquavitro Salinity salt!

One reason I like Salinity is that it typically mixes up to a nice 10-11 dKH. However, after storing the mixed SW for a day or two (with or without continuous mixing), alk invariably drops to 7-8 dKH. I am focusing on alkalinity, but I assume that other compounds are precipitating out. So now I am mixing a couple hours before water changes, except that I like having premixed SW at the ready.

Mixing:
15g Brute container, RO/DI H2O @ room temperature
Maxijet 1200 and Korallia 750 for circulation
1/2 cup to 1 cup salt delicately sprinkled in whenever I walk by

Storing:
15g Brute container (covered), 35 ppt room temperature
No circulation
 
Before I do anything, I rolled the bucket in different direction to mix the salt. I add 1/2 of the salt required to make a 55gal and mix over night. Next day, I add the other half and mix at least 4-8 hrs, usually overnight . I measure everything and use for 3-4 weeks water change. For me, I leave the pump on while it is in the holding tank but I sometimes turn the pump off. It makes no difference really.
 
What would be the difference if you stored the salt mix in a bucket for 2 days where the alk drops or 2 days after you add it to the tank?
 
Yes, I have. The alk and other parameters do not change over time with elos's kits. I would suspect that it would but nope.
 
What about the water you are using to mix up with the salt? I mentioned in a previous thread that I suspected freshly made RODI water mixed up differently than "aged" RODI. I have since confirmed this. I made up two 5g batches both heated to the same temp and both with koralia 225 powerheads. One bucket was two weeks old from my ATO tank, the other was less than an hour old fresh from the filter. I added the salt to both buckets simultaneously using a slow pour. Result: old water cleared much faster. About 30 minutes vs 2.5-3 hours. I wish now that I had tested the pH.

My experiences with Salinity have been good so I haven't thought to test alk. Other than precipitation I would be unable to explain a drop in alk for water being stored--it's gotta go somewhere and it's not clear where that is. The alk is either; precip as a solid or combining with something in the air or water so that it doesn't register as available alk or leaving into the air.
 
Gomer said:
What would be the difference if you stored the salt mix in a bucket for 2 days where the alk drops or 2 days after you add it to the tank?
Click to expand...

Presumably, the difference is that when the alk drops in the tank, it is due to uptake by living organisms. :)


Coral reefer said:
Rolling bucket is not advisable because instead of equally mixing it will actually seperate different size or density elements.
Click to expand...

I've heard the same before, but would it be reasonable to assume that during shipping, the salt would be exposed to jolts, vibrations, and shock that would essentially accomplish the same thing, causing the differently sized and density particles to settle?


bondolo said:
What about the water you are using to mix up with the salt? I mentioned in a previous thread that I suspected freshly made RODI water mixed up differently than "aged" RODI. I have since confirmed this. I made up two 5g batches both heated to the same temp and both with koralia 225 powerheads. One bucket was two weeks old from my ATO tank, the other was less than an hour old fresh from the filter. I added the salt to both buckets simultaneously using a slow pour. Result: old water cleared much faster. About 30 minutes vs 2.5-3 hours. I wish now that I had tested the pH.
Click to expand...

Very interesting observations! To prevent the alk drop and ensure that there is some water on hand to do an emergency water change, I usually make RO/DI water immediately after a water change, and mix the salt in 2 weeks later right before the next water change. In this case, the RO/DI is aged. But the reason I started mixing the salt in right before the water change is because I would start mixing the salt in with fresh RO/DI right after a water change, and experienced the alk drop. I'll have to do some experimentation. If it's not too much trouble, can you please point me to your old post about this?
 
Might not make much of a difference, but what if you mixed in unheated water? Most of the salts would probably dissolve slower, but carbonate actually has a higher solubility at lower temperatures.
 
lattehiatus said:
Gomer said:
What would be the difference if you stored the salt mix in a bucket for 2 days where the alk drops or 2 days after you add it to the tank?
Click to expand...

Presumably, the difference is that when the alk drops in the tank, it is due to uptake by living organisms. :)
Click to expand...

The point I was trying to make (which I did a bad job with lol) is that if your tank drops that much on it's own, and you need the higher levels, then you should have external alk etc to maintain anyways. Now, if you extrapolate to the possible precipitation as has been potentially observed by you, then the uptake in tank is only a portion of the precipitation, and you're requirements for external supplementation (2-part/kalk etc) is even easier to dose/stabilize.
 
bondolo said:
I stayed at 79 with a floor stand fan blowing across the frag tank. I am going to get a temperature controlled vornado fan to make things more automatic. I think I also need to get one or both of my return pumps out of the sump. They are adding too much heat being immersed.
Click to expand...

Think you're in the wrong thread bondolo.
 
I've found it takes three or four days before Salinity is fully dissolved and ready to use. I try to mix it at least a week in advance.
 
Sorry it's taken me so long to come back to this thread - it's been a busy couple weeks juggling jury duty with work. One of the downsides of working from a home office is that after sitting in the courtroom all day you spend the rest of the evening at work. :p

FWIW, I already mix and store saltwater at room temperature. It seems that I am allergic to PG&E bills. ;)

lattehiatus said:
Mixing:
15g Brute container, RO/DI H2O @ room temperature
Maxijet 1200 and Korallia 750 for circulation
1/2 cup to 1 cup salt delicately sprinkled in whenever I walk by

Storing:
15g Brute container (covered), 35 ppt room temperature
No circulation
Click to expand...
 
Gomer said:
lattehiatus said:
Gomer said:
What would be the difference if you stored the salt mix in a bucket for 2 days where the alk drops or 2 days after you add it to the tank?
Click to expand...

Presumably, the difference is that when the alk drops in the tank, it is due to uptake by living organisms. :)
Click to expand...

The point I was trying to make (which I did a bad job with lol) is that if your tank drops that much on it's own, and you need the higher levels, then you should have external alk etc to maintain anyways. Now, if you extrapolate to the possible precipitation as has been potentially observed by you, then the uptake in tank is only a portion of the precipitation, and you're requirements for external supplementation (2-part/kalk etc) is even easier to dose/stabilize.
Click to expand...

You make a good point, Tony. I'm not disputing you on uptake/replenishment, but here are some other considerations:
I'm trying to match the existing alk in the tank with the replacement water. So I keep the tank at 10-11 dKH, and I expect that the replacement water will be at 10-11 dKH to prevent potential shock to organisms. Yes, Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 could be added to the replacement water to make up for the precipitation, but what, if anything else, is also precipitating out in the premixed saltwater, including minor and trace elements? If other elements are precipitating out (and to be fair, I have no evidence this is actually occurring), then isn't one of the primary reasons for doing water changes at least partially negated?
 
I also use Salinity. However, I ONLY test salinity when I mix. I don't measure Ca/Alk/Mg.

I do notice that I get less precipitation if I mix in cool water, and step wise. Rather than adding all the salt at once, I added it in ~ 1/3s about an hour apart in highly turbulent water (I have an extra koralia in the mixing barrel for mixing, and then an MJ which is also used for continuous circulation/transferring.
 
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