Instant Ocean salt + water =

[A_Lee]

So, I have been using Instant Ocean salt on one of my smaller tanks for a while now.
I always keep my water pre-mixed prior to use during a water change.
I have a 5g bucket, and I fill it with 4g of water. I place a small power head in the bucket, add Prime (yes, tap water), and then add my 2 cups of IO salt.
After a couple days I begin to notice a yellow tint to the areas of the bucket exposed to the salt water -it is also on the powerhead as well.
After I empty the bucket, I am able to take a paper towel and wipe the insides of the bucket and the powerhead, and there is a yellow residue (almost a real light sludge) on the paper towel.
Has anyone else experienced this yellow tint before?

 

[GreshamH]

very common and has been so for as long as I have been reefing. Many salts will do that in varying degrees. No real need to worry

 

[Vincerama2]

Sorry, I thought that was your bathroom when I came over ...

Yeah, I've seen the tint before...usually on old water. I just did two 5g buckets of IO water change last night. It was pretty clear water (well, the one in the nice clean white bucket was!) I can really tell the old water by that same tint.

Was your bucket totally clean?

V

 

[Vincerama2]

Also, the part of my brain that does math says that

Instant Ocean + Water = Ocean



V

 

[GreshamH]

It's simply precip Vince, no need to digest it anymore then that

 

[A_Lee]

[quote author=GreshamH link=topic=5615.msg70368#msg70368 date=1229623624]
It's simply precip Vince, no need to digest it anymore then that
[/quote]

Good to know it is nothing to worry about -but would you advise using the water before the bucket develops this yellow tint?
And would you by any chance know what exactly is precipitating?

 

[A_Lee]

[quote author=Vincerama2 link=topic=5615.msg70365#msg70365 date=1229623555]
Sorry, I thought that was your bathroom when I came over ...

Yeah, I've seen the tint before...usually on old water. I just did two 5g buckets of IO water change last night. It was pretty clear water (well, the one in the nice clean white bucket was!) I can really tell the old water by that same tint.

Was your bucket totally clean?

V

[/quote]

Yup, the bucket was pristine. I always wipe the bucket and power head down before I mix another batch.

 

[Vincerama2]

Well... if you used it before the bucket turned yellow, wouldn't it turn your aquarium yellow instead of your bucket?

V

 

[A_Lee]

[quote author=Vincerama2 link=topic=5615.msg70459#msg70459 date=1229640830]
Well... if you used it before the bucket turned yellow, wouldn't it turn your aquarium yellow instead of your bucket?

V
[/quote]

Good point ... definitely hasn't happened yet.
Maybe it has something to do with the temperature it is stored at? I keep it at room temperature, which in that location could be in the 60's easily.