Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

[MetaDev]

Finally done cycling and have done a few water changes to reduce nitrate. I am using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt as I will be doing a Mixed Reef on down the line when everything is stable. I recently checked my tank and the Salinity was at 39 PPT when it was at 34.5 before that, whenever I was mixing the water it was showing right at 34.8 PPT. Am I not mixing it long enough and then testing the Salinity? I mix it with a Powerhead for about 10 minutes or so (or until clear as instructions say) should I mix it for at least 30 minutes or so regardless if its clear or not? Is the Salinity rising because salt still has not dissolved enough even though everything is clear? I panicked a little bit when I saw the Salinity so high so I took out water and only replaced it with RODI Water and is now steady right at 35 PPT. I have a 26 Gallon Red Sea Max Nano Peninsula. I did about a 10 Gallon Water change first and then a 5 Gallon after that.

Any tips for mixing Red Sea Coral Pro Salt?
If I add salt to raise the Salinity, how long should I wait to retest? I can only think that the salt did not dissolve fully and thus raised my Salinity to 39 PPT after a while.

 

[Lavey29]

I've been using it for 2 years. I mix 10g at a time and let a small pump circulate it for an hour before my first salinity check.

 

[Alexraptor]

Been using the stuff for about a decade, I ususally run a stream pump in the bucket, and slowly add salt over the course of a few minutes and then let circulate for 2-3 hours (but within the recommended 4 hour maximum), and then test and do water change.

 

[MetaDev]

Thanks for the information! I will mix it much longer from now on and then test the Salinity after!

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Been using the stuff for about a decade, I ususally run a stream pump in the bucket, and slowly add salt over the course of a few minutes and then let circulate for 2-3 hours (but within the recommended 4 hour maximum), and then test and do water change.

Are you saying that red sea salt has a four hour maximum mix time I’ve never heard this before

 

[BillFish Coral Lover]

I think the instructions say to mix for two hours. I wouldn’t measure for at least one hour. The salt is still in granular form early on and you cannot get an accurate measurement until it has completely dissolved. At least am hour, but I wait until close to or at two hours and then adjust as necessary.

 

[MetaDev]

I think the instructions say to mix for two hours. I wouldn’t measure for at least one hour. The salt is still in granular form early on and you cannot get an accurate measurement until it has completely dissolved. At least am hour, but I wait until close to or at two hours and then adjust as necessary.

If the Salinity is too low, should I add more salt and wait another hour? I was told if its too high, I can add RODI Water and test instantly again, is this true?

 

[((FORDTECH))]

If the Salinity is too low, should I add more salt and wait another hour? I was told if its too high, I can add RODI Water and test instantly again, is this true?

Wait about 20 min in either situation and I’m sure you be fine

 

[Alexraptor]

Are you saying that red sea salt has a four hour maximum mix time I’ve never heard this before

I'm saying the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt has a four hour maximum mix time, it's printed right on the bucket.

 

[yanni]

I mix my coral pro salt for like 30min max, and it’s been fine for years. Haha

 

[aquariumaddictuk]

Finally done cycling and have done a few water changes to reduce nitrate. I am using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt as I will be doing a Mixed Reef on down the line when everything is stable. I recently checked my tank and the Salinity was at 39 PPT when it was at 34.5 before that, whenever I was mixing the water it was showing right at 34.8 PPT. Am I not mixing it long enough and then testing the Salinity? I mix it with a Powerhead for about 10 minutes or so (or until clear as instructions say) should I mix it for at least 30 minutes or so regardless if its clear or not? Is the Salinity rising because salt still has not dissolved enough even though everything is clear? I panicked a little bit when I saw the Salinity so high so I took out water and only replaced it with RODI Water and is now steady right at 35 PPT. I have a 26 Gallon Red Sea Max Nano Peninsula. I did about a 10 Gallon Water change first and then a 5 Gallon after that.

Any tips for mixing Red Sea Coral Pro Salt?
If I add salt to raise the Salinity, how long should I wait to retest? I can only think that the salt did not dissolve fully and thus raised my Salinity to 39 PPT after a while.

The salinity can't rise above the salt you added to correct ratio of RO so if weighed correctly it may well appear lower initially.you can pretty much mix & go with coral pro that's one of the things that users enjoy about it.dont be afraid to violently agitate it if necessary.i mix up 25 litre drum & pick it up & shake the bejeezus out of it with lid on until it shows the SG I weighed salt at.get rough with it you won't hurt it

 

[Dave1993]

i use to use the pro salt but i swapped to the blue bucket and like it better

 

[((FORDTECH))]

I'm saying the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt has a four hour maximum mix time, it's printed right on the bucket.

So another words this is not a good salt to use for auto water changes I’d assume then if can’t be mixed for more then 4 hours also probably must be used right away…..

 

[Alexraptor]

So another words this is not a good salt to use for auto water changes I’d assume then if can’t be mixed for more then 4 hours also probably must be used right away…..

I wouldn't recommend it for that kind of use, no. I mean it can be done, but it's a bit wasteful.

The reason it should not be mixed more than 4 hours is because the Coral Pro salt has enhanced levels of CA and Alk, which will precipitate out of solution, if it stands mixing too long.

Coral Pro salt has an Alk of 11-12 dkh at 34 ppt.

 

[temphermitcrab]

I've been using it for 10 years as well. I mix it for at least 4-24 hours and haven't see any precipitation myself but that might be a good point.

The Pro salt doesn't work well if you want Alk at 8 because it causes it to jump after a water change. I'm actually just starting the switch to HW Marinemix.

 

[apb03]

So another words this is not a good salt to use for auto water changes I’d assume then if can’t be mixed for more then 4 hours also probably must be used right away…..

I used it with AWC for a while, it wasn't bad, but definitely had a lot of brown sludge buildup.

 

[Propane]

What are you using to test with?

 

[Roatan Reef]

Reef Crystals.

End Thread!

 

[JonoH]

I mix my coral pro salt for like 30min max, and it’s been fine for years. Haha

I think its more that they dont recommend any longer than that. Otherwise you start to lose nutrients etc due to evaporation. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Reef Crystals.

End Thread!

When the price of reef crystals has come up so much that it’s almost the same price as all the other salt I’m not sure why you’re still using it. Yes, when it was the cheapest salt on the market, I can understand then.