Boredom leads to weird thoughts,

[caferacermike]

Sooo.... I was let home early do to the weather. This is bad for you members at MAAST because it allows me more time to think. This is bad.

With my extra time I decided to do a 20g water change on the ol 75. Nothing special here just a water change. As I measured out my salt I suddenly had a thought, so how do you do it?

I like to put my salt in the mixing container first and then add water. After about an hour I adjust the ratios to SG of the tank.

What do you like better, salt then water or water then salt and why?

Is there really any difference? Can either way prevent precipitation or mineral seperations?

[erick]

I read somewhere where there is a difference, but cant remember where.....Maybe WWM.... But I think it said not to add salt direclty to the water (i.e. water first then salt) as this could cause precipitation of minerals/calcium. Now having said that, I can confirm that when I was setting up my 110, not too long ago, I was adding salt into the sump to raise salinity, and I had a BLIZZARD in my tank :angry I had to drain almost ALL of the water to be able to reach inside and SCRAPE the glass clean :cry On my BRAND NEW tank. When I mix I use a 5 gallon water coolers, filled with water first, and then dump the salt in. Aerate it for about 1 week, then check salinity and do the water change. I have had precipitation events in the coolers I'm sure (cant see it though) as I have calcium buid up on the insides. Oh, one more thing... I use city of Converse tap water, real high in calcium content in the first place, so it is no suprise that the water doesnt want to hold more minerals...

[jroescher]

I've always wondered if there was a right way of doing this.
I mix up about 20 gallons at a time in a 55g barrel. Fill with water, then add Oceanic salt. Precipitations never been a problem.....yet.

Someone gave me a bag of Kent Sea Salt and when I add it to the water, I get a snow storm. It all dissolves back into the water though after a few hours.

[caferacermike]

I've always added about 11 cups of Seachem Reef to a 20g trasch can then add 20g RO/DI. I then drop in a Tunze 6060 to stir it. The water gets cloudy for about 5 minutes and then goes clear. I sometimes find a trace amount of white stuff at the bottom that quickly mixes when stirred back into the stream.

[Hotrod32487]

Dont kill me but this is what I do and ive never had a problem... I use my 4 gallon bucket and put the salt in first. Then I get the tap water flowing in there and add the start right stuff for the chlorine. I stir it with whatever until its no longer cloudy and wait about 10 minutes and add it. From everything ive heard it sounds like most people let their water sit for a long time before they add it? I dunno but this is what I have always done and never had any problems. I do plan on using RO water soon though to get rid of some of the algae i get once in a while

[mathias]

I throw salt into a bucket and then add water..... stir till clear or throw in a powerhead...

[caferacermike]

Hot rod just so you don't feel bad I only let my water circulate for about an hour or until I'm finished doing whatever else it is I'm doing. I hear people say they wait a week. That's seems crazy to me.

[apedroza]

I do salt first then water then add salt until S.G is reached.

[thedude]

Water first, then salt always.

If you put salt in first, the little bit of water has a super elevated level of calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, strontium, etc. When these elements reach saturation point, they precipitate out. You are actually wasting calcium if you do salt first then water.

John

[erick]

When I do water changes, I mix up the batch for the next water change... Since it is weekly :unsure ....Umm, did I say weekly, oh well good intentions at least.

[jessinator752]

i add salt to my water. i find it easier to add more salt if needed than trying to add more freshwater to get the desired salinity. i tend to mix mine 12-24 hours before doing the water change.

[caferacermike]

I hear what you are saying Jess about not over doing it. I always make sure I'm a cup short on salt so I can adjust with salt.

John I'll take your words as wisdom. So from now on I should be adding salt to water? I've never had any left over stuff in my batch, only clear water.

[hobogato]

salt to water - in case i forget to turn off the water and overflow the barrel flooding my garage and making a big mess - i have never done that tho :lol :innocent

[SoLiD]

RO\DI Water then add Salt. Then I put in a power head to stir it around for 12 hours or so. Right now I'm using Instant Ocean salt and I too notice the white flakes on the bottom. What is that stuff? Calcium... Buffer... ???

[BIGBIRD123]

I throw salt into the tank and add food for the fish and let them swim around eating and this stirs the salt. It saves on 'lectricity for the PH.

Steve

[caferacermike]

I hadn't thought of that. I'll need more fish. Anything in particular? I'm thinking a bluespot jawfish could sift through the pile at the bottom. Would that help mix it faster?

[BIGBIRD123]

If you mix a little sugar with their food, it makes them a little hyper and waalla!

Steve

[mathias]

that makes sense now salt in water... from now on I don't want to be wasting any of that good calcium....