Can salt build up on measuring cups significantly affect salinity of new tank water?

[LordJoshaeus]

The measuring cups/spoons I am using to measure out salt for my water change water have developed a crust of salt since I have started using them. Can this crust be thick enough to throw off the salinity of the resulting salt water? If so, how should I clean the deposits off (with vinegar, perhaps)? Thank you

 

[Formulator]

Possibly depending on how much water you are mixing up. Don’t you test the salinity of your new saltwater though?

If it worries you just rinse them with water after each use.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Water?

 

[LordJoshaeus]

Possibly depending on how much water you are mixing up. Don’t you test the salinity of your new saltwater though?

If it worries you just rinse them with water after each use.

Yeah, that's why I asked...the salinity of the water I mixed up this week looked slightly lower than that of last week, even though I thought I used the same amount of salt (9.5 tablespoons instant ocean per gallon distilled water). Wasn't sure if it was an issue with my refractometer or whether salt buildup on the measuring cups/spoons was the cause. I will definitely give the cups a rinse.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I'd be surprised if the effect is large enough to measure.

 

[Solo McReefer]

I use a cheap kitchen scale set in grams

Tare out the Pyrex measuring cup

And weigh the salt

And then sneak up on 1.026 in the mixing container with tablespoons full

Wash and dry the stuff after each use, just water

 

[Formulator]

Yeah, that's why I asked...the salinity of the water I mixed up this week looked slightly lower than that of last week, even though I thought I used the same amount of salt (9.5 tablespoons instant ocean per gallon distilled water). Wasn't sure if it was an issue with my refractometer or whether salt buildup on the measuring cups/spoons was the cause. I will definitely give the cups a rinse.

Well if anything the salt on the cups would cause higher salinity, not lower. So I don’t think that’s the cause. FWIW I almost always have to do a minor adjustment after mixing and testing a batch. It never mixes perfect on the first shot.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Well if anything the salt on the cups would cause higher salinity, not lower. So I don’t think that’s the cause. FWIW I almost always have to do a minor adjustment after mixing and testing a batch. It never mixes perfect on the first shot.

I think the idea is that permanently stuck deposits reduce the internal volume to measure out loose salt, but again, I do not think folks can detect that in cups (maybe in spoons).

 

[Formulator]

I think the idea is that permanently stuck deposits reduce the internal volume to measure out loose salt, but again, I do not think folks can detect that in cups (maybe in spoons).

Ahh. I see that line of thinking now. I was thinking dissolution of residual salt, but that would require dunking the cup into the mixing water.