Can I warm up salt water on stove?

[sonalichitnis]

For the school project we have setup 8 tanks which contain about 2 gallons of salt water. Each tank has some rocks and 5-10 Aiptasia anemones.
We use store bought salt water and use submersible heaters to maintain temperature between 78F-80F.
Now the issue is, we need to change water every 2 days for the experiment.
Being in PNW and due to cold weather by the time we transport water from store to the lab, it gets cold and takes time to warm up.
Can I warm up store bought salt water on a stove to bring it to78F and use it to replace water in the tank?

 

[The_Paradox]

Better option is buy a cheap 50-100w heater. Stove will work but unless you use a glass vessel as a double boiler you will introduce new variables.

 

[Katrina71]

Better to buy water in excess and let it get ambient heat in the room. If your experiment will allow.

 

[sonalichitnis]

Better option is buy a cheap 50-100w heater. Stove will work but unless you use a glass vessel as a double boiler you will introduce new variables.

good point about new variables. We will keep excess water in an empty tank with a heater.

 

[sonalichitnis]

Better to buy water in excess and let it get ambient heat in the room. If your experiment will allow.

Makes sense. We will keep excess water in an empty tank with a heater.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

how much water are you changing per 2 gallon? If its the standard 10%-15% water change, then a little cold water won't bother aptaisia.

Are you caring for them? What is the experiment? sorry I'm just curious.....

 

[Perthegallon]

Makes sense. We will keep excess water in an empty tank with a heater.

Mini heaters are probably going to be your best bet most likely

 

[wanderer]

Personally I would warm up water on a stove top. If you have stainless steel or cast iron you’re not likely to get a ton of dissolved solids in the water. I wouldn’t boil salt water as it is more likely to react than water

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I warm up water in the microwave when I'm in a hurry...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Bes sure to not overheat. Heating will drive off gases such as CO2 (raising pH) and O2.

Calcium carbonate will also precipitate from hot salt water since it is less soluble in warmer water (and the pH effect is a doubly whammy).

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I bought a cheap heater from the pet store and that's how I heat my water

 

[sonalichitnis]

how much water are you changing per 2 gallon? If its the standard 10%-15% water change, then a little cold water won't bother aptaisia.

Are you caring for them? What is the experiment? sorry I'm just curious.....

It is for a high school research project and water will contain some checmials. So, we need to change all the water so we can add new chemicals for next round of experiment. Now we are planning to keep water in an empty tank with heater and air pump so it is warm when we want to replace.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Use a powerhead instead of the air pump. Bubbles breaking will cause salt crust that can mess up the chemistry as well. All you need to do is keep the water moving.

 

[sonalichitnis]

Personally I would warm up water on a stove top. If you have stainless steel or cast iron you’re not likely to get a ton of dissolved solids in the water. I wouldn’t boil salt water as it is more likely to react than water

Use a powerhead instead of the air pump. Bubbles breaking will cause salt crust that can mess up the chemistry as well. All you need to do is keep the water moving.

Interesting. Do you mean just for the empty tank or even in the experiment tanks?
Our experiments tanks are small and hold 1.5 gallons of water. With the heater and 1 inch air stone (We had air pump sponge filter, but it was taking too much space so replaced with air stone) and 10 Aiptasia there isn't any space left

 

[BeanAnimal]

For the school project we have setup 8 tanks which contain about 2 gallons of salt water. Each tank has some rocks and 5-10 Aiptasia anemones.
We use store bought salt water and use submersible heaters to maintain temperature between 78F-80F.
Now the issue is, we need to change water every 2 days for the experiment.
Being in PNW and due to cold weather by the time we transport water from store to the lab, it gets cold and takes time to warm up.
Can I warm up store bought salt water on a stove to bring it to78F and use it to replace water in the tank?

Yes. I would use a stainless pot to be on the safe side.

 

[Tired]

Gently warming a pot of water on the stove would be fine, sure, though as said above a heater is probably easier. Much harder to accidentally overheat the water and start boiling it off + delaying your water change.