Troylee
all about the diy!!!!!
couple weeks in advance... i always have 60 gal on deck in case of a emergency....
how long do you mix fresh sw?
- Thread starter benny z
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OP
OP
those of you mixing longer than 24 hours... do you ever test alk/ph before using it? how about ammonia? do you filter it at all when mixing/storing it that long?
just some food for thought.
just some food for thought.
SaraB
2500 Club Member
No, I don't test nor do I do any filtering. It is just keep it moving with a Maxijet and heated until I need it which could be 1 - 5 days.
Alpha Aquaculture
Designer Clownfish Hatchery
24hrs with a heater and korallia
if you store it for longer you must seal off your holding container because organic contaminants will enter your holding container and grow bacteria in your saltwater reducing dissolved oxygen and increasing nutrient levels. I personally have seen old salt batches in open top containers that had a considerable amount of sediment in the bottom due to organics floating in via the air.
if you store it for longer you must seal off your holding container because organic contaminants will enter your holding container and grow bacteria in your saltwater reducing dissolved oxygen and increasing nutrient levels. I personally have seen old salt batches in open top containers that had a considerable amount of sediment in the bottom due to organics floating in via the air.
bkoppes
SaraNOSNOWta
Half the time, I just mix and bring to temp and do the water change. Bad me!!
If I plan ahead, which is half the time, I will mix overnight.
I have never have seen a difference in corals being upset doing it either way.
If I plan ahead, which is half the time, I will mix overnight.
I have never have seen a difference in corals being upset doing it either way.
OP
OP
sara - next time you mix a fresh batch, try testing alkalinity immediately after it's dissolved, then again after a few days. you might be surprised!
agree. but also, even in a sealed container, it's highly likely the new saltwater will creep up ammonia if not filtered...another interesting test case!
same goes for ro/di water...ESPECIALLY ro/di water, actually. it is so pure, it can and will pull ammonia out of the air - especially if you have 4-legged pets! i try to store fresh ro/di water for as short a time as possible before using it.
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Pizzapro83
Well-Known Member
Good info. I never knew this. I always have salt water made. Sometime its a week old. I will have to run some test. You guys got me worried now
as little as mixing it in the sump for an emergency to as long as a few days when mixing large amounts.
i think people put WAY to much work into it sometimes. i have done it 10 different ways atleast and never had a problem with any of them at all.
i think people put WAY to much work into it sometimes. i have done it 10 different ways atleast and never had a problem with any of them at all.
As long as it takes to get the clarity, salinity, temperature and pH where i want it. Usually thats a few hours at most.
eland
Community Member
I do the same.
jabberkaycee
Aquatic Addict
Same here...
sohal tang
Community Member
24 hours
I mix 24 hours ahead of water change...but I do not use heater any more....
Sometimes I left the fresh salt water for 4 days or so and by then I had an
accumulation of sediment on the bottom of the mixing tank!!!!!!!
When I stopped heating the new mixing water I do not get that problem
Very weird....anyone seen that problem before??? I was told that it is normal
and that in our reefs the same sediment is present but it goes into the sandbed....
I guess if you use the saltwater in 24 hours you do not get the accumulation....
again..since I stopped heating the water the problem went away completely.....
Tim
I mix 24 hours ahead of water change...but I do not use heater any more....
Sometimes I left the fresh salt water for 4 days or so and by then I had an
accumulation of sediment on the bottom of the mixing tank!!!!!!!
When I stopped heating the new mixing water I do not get that problem
Very weird....anyone seen that problem before??? I was told that it is normal
and that in our reefs the same sediment is present but it goes into the sandbed....
I guess if you use the saltwater in 24 hours you do not get the accumulation....
again..since I stopped heating the water the problem went away completely.....
Tim
kingfisherfleshy
Well-Known Member
I am currently getting a heater/powerhead/airstone setup with a large garbage can for h2o changes on my 6' pred reef I am slowly piecing together.
My 75g mixed reef though for 8 years has received h2o changes via mixing saltwater with tap water that felt like a similar temperature as the tank...let sit till it looks fully dissolved, and then added.
It might be sketchy, but everything has always worked for me, we have a very pure well, and h2o tests have proved it. Very small amount of nitrate, but not anything to be worried about with my filtration.
I would be worried about letting h2o run longer than 24 hours. We do this at my place of work, and the can that they mix it in looks/smells dirty.
12 hours is probably what I will use once my new setup for h2o changes is complete.
My 75g mixed reef though for 8 years has received h2o changes via mixing saltwater with tap water that felt like a similar temperature as the tank...let sit till it looks fully dissolved, and then added.
It might be sketchy, but everything has always worked for me, we have a very pure well, and h2o tests have proved it. Very small amount of nitrate, but not anything to be worried about with my filtration.
I would be worried about letting h2o run longer than 24 hours. We do this at my place of work, and the can that they mix it in looks/smells dirty.
12 hours is probably what I will use once my new setup for h2o changes is complete.
The pH thing is BS. There was a large long thread recently on one of the forums where this was tested extensively and proven to be bunk. The testers were surprised at the results since they were adamant about the 24 hours going in to the test. They swore it was caustic or unstable but proved themselves wrong in the process.
If the pH, salinity and temperature are OK and its not cloudy use it.
If the pH, salinity and temperature are OK and its not cloudy use it.
nixer
Valuable Member
perhaps, but there is also many other factors that could change it.
i was just stating the reason why its said to. i just put it in when its clear. then again when i mix 5 gallons with a 800 gph put it gets mixed pretty fast
KingRicky
Well-Known Member
I perform approximately 1/3 water change every other weekend. I mix my water in a 30 gallon drum that sits on the patio of my apartment, don't have room in the apartment. I have to run a heater during the winter to keep water from freezing. I normally let it mix for a couple of nights. I use a SEIO 2600 as a mixing pump.
I normally make it Thursday night and then Friday test for Cal., Alk. and Mag. I dose DIY 2 part to bring the values up to where I want them (it seams they are always low in the NSW). I let mix overnight, re test and then start cleaning tank and changing the water first thing Saturday morning.
I normally make it Thursday night and then Friday test for Cal., Alk. and Mag. I dose DIY 2 part to bring the values up to where I want them (it seams they are always low in the NSW). I let mix overnight, re test and then start cleaning tank and changing the water first thing Saturday morning.
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