Mixing saltwater

[polarbear]

So I have a quick question. I mixed 20 gallons of saltwater on Sunday so that I could do a water change this week. My plan was to do the water change yesterday when my BRS order came in so that I could do everything at once. I was told today that the BRS order won't be in until Thursday now.

My question is will the saltwater be ok in the brute trash can until Thursday? I have a rio 3100 pump in there to circulate the water.

[SABOB]

Keep it circulating and it'll be fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Zack]

I would also check your salinity and adjust accordingly to compensate for evaporation.

[polarbear]

Well I have a lid in the trash can so I'm not worried about the evaporation. I'm more worried about wasting 20 gallons of RO water and the salt I used to make it. I'm wanting to wait because I'm getting GFOnfor my reactor and need to glue and move around some corals which will be a lot easier when I take out some water. I hope it's ok on Thursday when I get ready to use it.

[350gt]

even with my lid, there is evaporation when I leave it that long. I have had mine brewing since saturday and I have to adjust (not much) but a little.. hoping to do mine tomorrow...

[tiger_eyed1]

Many people recommend that you let your salt water age beforeputting it into your tank. I let my R/O age 2 days b/f adding salt. I let theSW mix and aerate for another few days. So mine is maybe 5 days old b/f I useit. Now mine is covered so no airborne items or kids can get into it. NaturalSaltwater should age and filter a few days b/f we put it in our tanks so newsalt water aged a few days would be just fine. The issue some people have withaged water is they don’t keep in circulating or aerate b/f adding to the tank.As the water sits, it becomes oxygen deficient and stagnant. That is what hurtsyour tank and can kill your fish. You are doing the right thing to keep it circulating.

[polarbear]

Is circulating it with a pump at the bottom of the trash can enough or should I have it breaking the surface of the water?

[Sherita]

I keep at least 40 gallons of saltwater on hand at all times, as well as 60 gallons of r/o. I have circulation pumps in both the r/o holding tank and the saltwater tank. I have a heater in the saltwater tank as well. I have held saltwater for as long as a month, and it was still just fine. As long as you have it circulating so that it stays oxygenated, you will be just fine. I would check salinity, but I very rarely have to adjust mine before using it.

[jroescher]

I would imagine that as long as there is some circulation, it should last just as long as the water in an aquarium. Probably longer since there is nothing adding nutrients or other stuff to it.

[Bill S]

As long as light doesn't get to it, you should be fine. I've found that after a few days, I get some algae. On the other hand, I often mix for a few minutes, and then change water. Just be aware that RO/DI (and tap water) has very little O2 in it. Every once in a while I'll turn the water on, on the discus tank and forget about it. And then I find them a bit O2 deprived...

[Scutterborn]

I keep a 20 long full all the time for my changes. After a water change (3 gallons) I refill and resalt the 20L. My water ages for weeks before use. I use a MJ1200 power head and a MJ600 with a Venturi for oxengenation. I check the SG the day before a WC and adjust if needed. I also keep it covered with glass tops.