Mixing my own saltwater...HELP

[ScottyMcReefer]

Once a week i do 3 gallons so i was thinking i could just fill my 3 gallon bucket at kroger with ro/di water???? Is this safe? Ive been using it as top off without a problem.

Next, what is the best salt? How long should i let it mix even if the salinity is a 1.024?

any other tips are appreciated :bigsmile:

 

[skinz78]

It sounds to me like you are on the right track!

The water will be fine but in the long run it will be much cheaper to buy a RO/DI filter and make your own.

Do you know which type of salt you have been getting in the pre mixed water?

I use Seachem Reef Salt and have no complaints so far, I have used Reef Crystals, and I don't think I will use it again.

 

[-=Mach=-]

curious on how you will measure 3 gallons of salt.... mix for 24 hours......for sps tanks trop pro is used....for others rc, dd etc.....its all on budget..

 

[droblack]

Overnight is usually plenty of time to allow your salt dissolve completely.

Why no mas Reef Crystals Skinz78?

 

[Harry_Y]

I currently use and have had good results with Reef Crystals, I have also used
Tropic Marin Pro but I did not see any great advantage in the extra cost

If you are only doing 3 gal weekly buying water is probably
OK for now but a RO/DI filter is a good investment.

I generally Mix my water for at least 24 hrs
(actually just the way I am setup it mixes for about a week)

I also bring it up to the same temp as the tank,

A refractometer is also a good investment to check your salinity.

 

[ScottyMcReefer]

ok this overnight 24 hour mixing is often argued it seems. Ive heard anywhere from 3 hours to 24 hours. Input on this?

 

[ScottyMcReefer]

Lets start with best salt?

 

[las]

If you want to do your water change the CORRECT way, you will mix your RO water overnight. Then you add your salt and let in mix for 24 hrs. Then make sure the temp, PH and salinity are all the same as your tanks.

 

[las]

I would use Tropic Marin, DD pro mag or ESV B Ionic salt system....

 

[gar732]

I currently use and have had good results with Reef Crystals, I have also used
Tropic Marin Pro but I did not see any great advantage in the extra cost

If you are only doing 3 gal weekly buying water is probably
OK for now but a RO/DI filter is a good investment.

I generally Mix my water for at least 24 hrs
(actually just the way I am setup it mixes for about a week)

I also bring it up to the same temp as the tank,

A refractometer is also a good investment to check your salinity.

+1 on everything he said.

 

[skinz78]

Overnight is usually plenty of time to allow your salt dissolve completely.

Why no mas Reef Crystals Skinz78?

I don't like how the RC leaves a brown gunk in the mixing bucket and for the price I think the Seachem is a bit better with the Cal, Alk, Mag. I also had a ton of Hair Algae when I was using RC and as soon as I switched it went away.

 

[jonzee2006]

also depending on what your keeping it may be a good idea to make sure that you big 6(mag,calc,alk,ph,salinity,temp) are the same in your new water as it is in your tank. if lower dose it if higher dont dose your tank for a day I think this way there is less stress on the corals and you keep your params constant. It may seem like a bit much but once you get the dosage right its a breeze.

 

[ficklefins]

It seems like you have received a lot of feedback regarding how to make your water, but I wanted to address the salt mix change over. If I were you, I would contact your LFS and ask them what salt mix they are using when they make up water for their customers (i.e. the stuff you were buying). I would then buy that same type of salt mix and use initially at home to make up your own salt mix. You may shock your system if you go from Instant Ocean (which might be what your LFS was using) to a more reef grade mix.

 

[ScottyMcReefer]

good call ficklefins. yeahhhh this week ill go in for one last hoorahh and "spy" on the salt hes using. Itll be tough handing him over money for the water but itll be the last he gets from me. =) this is the same guy that told me that pc lights were just as good as T5s......yeah i got my T5 and fell out of my seat when i saw the color pop in my tank. good god!

 

[Jpurpz831]

i just did a change in salts what i did was mix 50/50 new salt with old salt and mine is doing fine

 

[Harry_Y]

I've done 100 percent water and salt Mix changes before
(when moving, and when I had a tank leak) both times
I had no issues, just get your salinity and temp the same.

 

[_Alex_]

Why spy to find out the salt mix? Unless you just dont trust him, but by sounds of your experience with him I wouldnt either. I would just call and ask first then maybe do some spy work to see if he is liar.

 

[las]

It seems like you have received a lot of feedback regarding how to make your water, but I wanted to address the salt mix change over. If I were you, I would contact your LFS and ask them what salt mix they are using when they make up water for their customers (i.e. the stuff you were buying). I would then buy that same type of salt mix and use initially at home to make up your own salt mix. You may shock your system if you go from Instant Ocean (which might be what your LFS was using) to a more reef grade mix.

This is a great point! I switched salts very quickly and lost some chalices while others receeded. It is very important to slowly cross over to a new salt mix. I learned that the hard way.

 

[Raggamuffin]

This is my way, take from it what you will, the best advice I can give is to pick and choose what works for you from any advice.

Supplies: 2 cheap new/used power heads, 2 5g buckets, 1 small 25 or 50 watt heater, a sharpie permanent marker, 1 measuring cup (I prefer a 2 cup size) cheap plastic dollar store works just make sure your significant other knows it is strictly for mixxing salt, 1 small 1/4 cup measuring cup you will use 1 time (safe to use one from the kitchen just don't get caught or you may hear about it!).

Step 1: Mark the outside of your buckets to a full line, but make sure they are at the same height. Anywhere works but keep in mind salt, heater, and powerheads use space so a little low is better.

Step 2: fill the buckets with RO/DI to the line, submerge powerheads and plug in.

Step 3: pick a bucket to heat and put in the heater bringing it to tank temp.

Step 4: add a leveled 2 cups of salt and take a reading, you will be low.

Step 5: useing the smaller measuring cup add small level amounts until desired salinity is reached, Normally will take 2 or 3. adding it up make a mark on your 2 cup measuring cup.

Step 6: repeat 1-4 then useing your mark finish adding salt and check salinity (this is just a double check really), if it is right you can now mix salt very fast from then on.

The heater is used the first time this way so you get the salt mix correct after this time you can just drop it in before the change. I leave the powerheads in and on for 24 hours then pull them. I let the mix sit for a week and start the powerheads again the day of the water change adding the heater close to change time, after the change I mix a new batch and don't worry about it until next week.

In your case feel free to use 2 brands during your salt mix change and you can control ratio's until your old brand has been replaced.