Two buckets of salt + garage = boat anchors

[reefknight]

Soooo today I attempted to start making up saltwater to be used this weekend in the filling of my tank. Two new buckets of Reef Crystals that I had in the garage have turned to hardened bricks of salt. :mad2:

Let me guess; it shouldn't be used right? I seem to remember something about hardened salt losing its buffering abilities and that the Alk & Ca levels would be way off and unstable. Can I get some feedback though? I've already had a bad week, didn't need this too.

Thanks

 

[lilrobb]

The problem with hardened salt is the limited amount of water that caused the crystals to melt.
Calcium precipitated (hardened) due to the relatively high concentration.
If you have a CA reactor or a dosing regime I would not worry one bit, however if you don't - your CA levels will be low.
Having said that, I'd take the salt myself in a heartbeat...

 

[hnguyen]

If your using it to start a new tank then I would just use it. Even if your alk and cal are low. You can always up it later on manually by dosing once everything is stable. No point in throwing out salt with low alk and cal when you don't even need it just yet.

 

[ralph atl]

hnguyen;633453 wrote: if your using it to start a new tank then i would just use it. Even if your alk and cal are low. You can always up it later on manually by dosing once everything is stable. No point in throwing out salt with low alk and cal when you don't even need it just yet.

+1

 

[reefknight]

Thanks for the advice folks. At least one bucket would be used to start the new system, 185gal tank + sump(~20gals). I'm sure I would have to do a few water changes before any livestock made it in there. I guess its time to break out a large container and a sledge hammer. Any better ideas on doing this?

It's not "new" I bought it a little over a year ago. I thought since they were in the buckets that the seals would keep out the moisture. Guess I've learned that lesson.

I have a Ca reactor but am not planning on using it. As a matter of fact it'll be up for sale soon. I'm planning on purchasing a Bubble Magus dosing pump and dosing Ca/Alk/Mg. I never could get the darn reactor dialed in correctly. That and my house holds CO2 pretty bad, ph is always 7.8-8. I don't want to drive it lower than it already is.

 

[hnguyen]

You can try and break some of it off to smaller pieces and then a little warm water should do the rest. Just throw a couple of heaters in to bring the temp up and then point a power head at the salt to help. Make sure you bring your temp back down before you check your salinity. If I'm correct. Your salinity will be off if temp is too cold or hot.

 

[rbredding]

for my tank.. I filled it up with tap water (so you COULD use warm water)... I didn't worry about RODI during my cycle..

(dunno if it's smart or not.. but my tank also sat cycling for 6-8 weeks before anything went in it)

 

[gnashty]

I used tap too. Id pour a small pot of near boiling water into the bucket. Pour off the slurry water to make room and repeat til the bucket was empty

Im sure someone will chime in if this is bad idea from a chemistry standpoint and any neg effects

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