Salt not mixing

[THE_BEAST]

Any one have any thoughts as to why my salt is not fully dissolving. I have had it mixing over night and it just looks like sand particles on the bottom of the tank. This is the second week in a row that it has done this.

[Dkray944]

It could be a bad batch of salt. I've had this happen before. It was cloudy and not dissolving. I changed the salt and the problem went away. The other issue might be the temp of the water.

[Big_Pun]

it happens just try not to get those into the tank, how much water did you mix and about how much is not mixing

[cbianco]

Precipitation? Did you add the salt to the water or the water to the salt?

Christopher

[THE_BEAST]

I added the salt to the water. 15 gallons for a water change. There was not much that didn't mix. I would say like four table spoons worth. Maybe do you think I added the salt to quickly. I just put seven cups of salt pretty much all at once. Temp shouldn't be an issue cause I heat the water to match the DT. Another thing is when I opened the box I noticed that the salt was all hard inside the bags. So I had to break it up

[cbianco]

I added the salt to the water. 15 gallons for a water change. There was not much that didn't mix. I would say like four table spoons worth. Maybe do you think I added the salt to quickly. I just put seven cups of salt pretty much all at once. Temp shouldn't be an issue cause I heat the water to match the DT. Another thing is when I opened the box I noticed that the salt was all hard inside the bags. So I had to break it up

Honestly, it doesn't sound like a problem to me. I think most of us have experienced this in our new batches of salt water.

My water containers typically have some residual solids left over after I make a batch of new salt water. As stated earlier, I just avoid putting it in my tank and rinse it out of the mixing container before I make my next batch.

Christopher

[THE_BEAST]

Ok. As long as I'm not the only one. And also that my new box if salt isn't bad

[Dkray944]

I agree. I don't think it's a huge issue as long as the water is not really cloudy and you don't let the undissolved salt in the tank. I do believe it has something to do with the hard salt though. If the salt gets any moisture it hardens and doesn't dissolve as easily the second time around.

[THE_BEAST]

Would it benefit the salt to put a mesh bag full of rice into the bucket to help absorb moisture or has the damage already been done?

[350gt]

Just get new salt...

Why risk anything....

[Big_Pun]

I use salinity and get lil bit of undissolved salt crystals at the bottom every time, no big deal just don't it in tank

[THE_BEAST]

Hmmm ok thanks

[Bill S]

A bit on the bottom is common. Wouldn't worry about it.

[FireWater]

Mix it in slower next time and see if that helps. Make sure you have adequate turbulence as well. I used to use 3-4 mixing pumps in a 30g brute can.

If you dump all of your salt in at once you'll never get the best mix. Picture dumping a butt load of sugar in your tea at once. You always have sugar at the bottom of the glass. If you pour it slow and mix it at same time then most of it dissolves.

The water can only handle so much matter at one time. Too much and you get precipitate.

[THE_BEAST]

Thanks. That was the best analogy yet. I'm gonna mix up some water tomorrow for my weekly water change. So I'll see how that works out

[cbianco]

Mix it in slower next time and see if that helps. Make sure you have adequate turbulence as well. I used to use 3-4 mixing pumps in a 30g brute can.

If you dump all of your salt in at once you'll never get the best mix. Picture dumping a butt load of sugar in your tea at once. You always have sugar at the bottom of the glass. If you pour it slow and mix it at same time then most of it dissolves.

The water can only handle so much matter at one time. Too much and you get precipitate.

I had to read your first sentence twice. I thought you said, "Mix it in the shower..."

You're leaving me with funny pictures in my head John!

:confused:

Christopher

[FireWater]

I've done some crazy stuff. Mixing salt in the shower is one I haven't done..... Yet. Never know.


Always take my advice with a grain of salt. I do what works for me and not always what the norm is. With that being said, I am now tankless for a while.

[FireWater]

I also don't use huge terms or words you have to look up in google as much as possible. If you've taken chemistry then you'll know a brief bit about precipitate and that a volume of any liquid can only absorb so much of another compound.

[cbianco]

I also don't use huge terms or words you have to look up in google as much as possible. ...

LOL! :lmao2:

No comment.

Christopher

[THE_BEAST]

Well I mixed some new water pouring in a cup of salt at
any given time. I would wait til it was fully dissolved til I got to my desired salinity. 1.026. Worked pretty well still had some particles but not nearly as much!!!

[FireWater]

One other truck for you to try next go round. Use cool water. Mix in desired amount of salt and then heat the water up to tank temp.