Is it normal to have precipitate in the bottom of your saltwater mixing barrel?
I dumped out my saltwater mixing garbage can yesterday and in the bottom was what looked like caked on calcium / mineral deposit. The deposit was easily removed and I rinsed out the barrel to reuse, but I'm wondering what is causing the precipitate?
I'm using a 20 gallon garbage can, a 75w submersible heater for temp, a Penguin 550 power head for mixing and IO Reef Crystals for salt. I fill the barrel with RODI water, then I plug in the heater and power head and then slowly add the salt to the water in half cup measurements and then wait 24 hours before using.
Am I doing something wrong that would cause the calcium to separate and precipitate to the bottom? Should I let the water heat up to temp before adding the salt? Could it be the submersible heater lying on it's side at the bottom of the barrel that is causing it...or maybe the combined heat of the heater and power head sitting in the bottom of the barrel? Maybe a bad batch of salt?
I dumped out my saltwater mixing garbage can yesterday and in the bottom was what looked like caked on calcium / mineral deposit. The deposit was easily removed and I rinsed out the barrel to reuse, but I'm wondering what is causing the precipitate?
I'm using a 20 gallon garbage can, a 75w submersible heater for temp, a Penguin 550 power head for mixing and IO Reef Crystals for salt. I fill the barrel with RODI water, then I plug in the heater and power head and then slowly add the salt to the water in half cup measurements and then wait 24 hours before using.
Am I doing something wrong that would cause the calcium to separate and precipitate to the bottom? Should I let the water heat up to temp before adding the salt? Could it be the submersible heater lying on it's side at the bottom of the barrel that is causing it...or maybe the combined heat of the heater and power head sitting in the bottom of the barrel? Maybe a bad batch of salt?