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Currently using Salinity from your Aquavitro line. I noticed that there is a power residue around the container that I mix it in. What is that? And if its benifical to rinse it with RO water and place in the aquarium?
left over powder from salt mix
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I met with Amanda of Seachem on Saturday at Pure Reef. She specifically addressed the temporary cloudiness and odor issue (not the residue issue). According to Amanda, both conditions are normal.
Seachem opens tomorrow. I would ask them before adding to the DT just to be on the safe side. Amanda may also respond. BTW, what a super bright and friendly gal. The AV line is very impressive.
Separately, I use I/O and Reef Crystals and I am also left with a white chalky residue on the bottom of my mixing container. I remove "whatever it is" with a paper towel after I have used all of the new saltwater in the container.
I think it is harmless, but have no scientific proof.
Seachem opens tomorrow. I would ask them before adding to the DT just to be on the safe side. Amanda may also respond. BTW, what a super bright and friendly gal. The AV line is very impressive.
Separately, I use I/O and Reef Crystals and I am also left with a white chalky residue on the bottom of my mixing container. I remove "whatever it is" with a paper towel after I have used all of the new saltwater in the container.
I think it is harmless, but have no scientific proof.
I've talked to people that have had a frothy foam build on top of the water when using Salinity.. That concerns me.. The precip is no big deal.. Don't know what I would think of dirty foam though..
I used to get the powder at the bottom too until I found out it is best to put the water in first and THEN the salt. I used to do it the other way around. Now I add water and then sprinkle the salt pretty slow until it's all mixed. My PH also hates when I dump the salt in too quick.
I've had residue with every salt brand I have used (DD, Salinity, Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals). I just figured it was dirt, for lack of a better word. I can't imagine these salt mixes being blended in a clean room type environment, but more like a cement factory!
I have always thought it was just impurities.
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Acroholic;517543 wrote: I've had residue with every salt brand I have used (DD, Salinity, Instant Ocean, Reef Crystals). I just figured it was dirt, for lack of a better word. I can't imagine these salt mixes being blended in a clean room type environment, but more like a cement factory!
:up: +1 along with sand and everything else you could imagine. Never had a problem with that. I am using Salinity at this point and if you add the salt to fast it will precipitate for lack of better words.
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:up: Im keeping mainly sps and they all look great.
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I use Morton's and I don't get ANY gunk at all! You guys are such amatuers...
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So has anyone switched from Seachem's reef salt to their salinity? Besides from each batch of Salinity having its own guarantee analysis, is there any difference in results?
Thank you all for your posts and input regarding salinity! The residue that is sometimes left behind after mixing a new batch of saltwater is indeed calcium carbonate precipitation, which also explains the foam that may form on top of the water. This is can happen with any salt that has elevated levels of calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. As a side note, these elevated levels can also cause a cloudy appearance to the water when mixing; mixing more slowly will cut down on some of the cloudiness that occurs, as LilRobb mentioned. In our experience, it seems as though the batches where the alkalinity and calcium are on the higher end of our range have the cloudiness issue more markedly (although once added to the aquarium, no prolonged cloudiness appeared and no problems were caused from it). Rinsing the bucket from time-to-time is not a bad idea to cut down on some of the potential build-up.
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So would the build up beneficial to the aquarium in anyway? I just don't want to dispose of anything that might benefit from the tank.
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Thanks for clearing that up for me. Also you mentioned that mixing slowly would reduce the cloudiness in the water, would your recommend mixing by hand or using a really small pump? I've been using a pump that has a gph of 420-775.
You are welcome. Depending on how much water you are mixing will influence the size pump you will need. A smaller pump is recommended. For example: We mix our saltwater in a 50 gallon drum using a mag-12 pump. It is initially cloudy, but once we put it into the tanks, it clears within thirty minutes. To run an experiment, we also mixed the saltwater in a 30 gallon bucket and we used a 400 gph pump. The water mixed much clearer in the smaller container with the smaller pump.
In any case, the cloudiness should not cause any issues whatsoever and once put into the tank, it should clear rapidly. I hope this helps!
In any case, the cloudiness should not cause any issues whatsoever and once put into the tank, it should clear rapidly. I hope this helps!
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That's perfect. I change 30 gal from my 150 every two weeks. So ill like for a 400gph pump.
Not that I would doubt the experience of Seachem,
but I have made some experiments for myself.
The vessel or mixing "speed" for saltwater plays only a minimal role for cloudiness and/or precipitation.
What does make a difference is how fast the salt is added to the water.
Say we have a 5gal bucket and dump all the required salt for a 35ppt solution at once - no matter how good the mixing pump is, it will create oversaturation at one point and will precipitate calcium.
If we add the salt required for the 35ppt solution slowly and "spoon for spoon" no precipitation will occur and the water will remain perfectly clear.
of course if we chose a larger vessel (50gal drum) the amount of salt thaat can be added without precipitation is percentually larger...
Hope the above makes sense...
Robb
but I have made some experiments for myself.
The vessel or mixing "speed" for saltwater plays only a minimal role for cloudiness and/or precipitation.
What does make a difference is how fast the salt is added to the water.
Say we have a 5gal bucket and dump all the required salt for a 35ppt solution at once - no matter how good the mixing pump is, it will create oversaturation at one point and will precipitate calcium.
If we add the salt required for the 35ppt solution slowly and "spoon for spoon" no precipitation will occur and the water will remain perfectly clear.
of course if we chose a larger vessel (50gal drum) the amount of salt thaat can be added without precipitation is percentually larger...
Hope the above makes sense...
Robb
You are absolutely correct LilRobb. :up:
The slower you add the salt, the less likely you are to experience excessive precipitation/cloudiness. When we add our salt to the 50 gallon drum, we do it by scoopfuls. We basically add the first half of the amount required, then hour or so later, add the rest. Then we let it mix for several hours before using it. We recommend mixing for 24 hours, but sometimes we need it rather quickly.
The slower you add the salt, the less likely you are to experience excessive precipitation/cloudiness. When we add our salt to the 50 gallon drum, we do it by scoopfuls. We basically add the first half of the amount required, then hour or so later, add the rest. Then we let it mix for several hours before using it. We recommend mixing for 24 hours, but sometimes we need it rather quickly.
