Mixed salt water problem-Where did the salt go??

[MinsTank]

My usual routine is to run about 30-32 gallons of RODI for my water change, and I mix my salt overnight. I use Red Sea Coral Pro and have never had a problem. I realize instructions say not to mix more than 2 hours, but by aerating it overnight I’ve had better luck with a stable reading. I’ve been doing this for almost 2 years.
This morning I woke up to check the salinity and it is reading ZERO. The water doesn’t even taste salty. Our house is a little warmer than usual due to a heatwave, but we run AC, so it’s not sweltering hot here…maybe 73 -76 indoors. Could that make a difference? Sometimes I mix with a heater in the brute. I didn’t this time. Pardon my ignorance! I’ve been super lucky in the hobby with very few issues. This is probably very basic science, but what do I do now? Add more salt? Start over & only mix per the instructions? TIA for any help & advice.

150g tank w/dual overflows & 55g sump. Community tank, mostly fish only, couple of softies.

 

[KrisReef]

Salt usually doesn’t evaporate. If you have a bucket of fresh water then the salt has migrated from the tank.

Check your display to rule out that injury.

 

[MinsTank]

The water was mixed in a separate Brute container, though. Not connected to display or anything. There’s no creep on the brute. I did have a lid on it overnight, with a pump running. I am truly stumped.
I absolutely added the salt…the container I measured it into is empty…no memory issues yet

 

[907_Reefer]

Measure salinity in the display to rule out testing equipment issues? What do you measure SG with, refractrometer etc?

With any evaporation, you would expect  raised SG... And not a big swing overnight..

If this was me, I would be sure that I forgot to add the salt lol..

 

[KrisReef]

The water was mixed in a separate Brute container, though. Not connected to display or anything. There’s no creep on the brute. I did have a lid on it overnight, with a pump running. I am truly stumped.
I absolutely added the salt…the container I measured it into is empty…no memory issues yet

I’m going to see my doctor on Monday, for a memory exam.
I can’t help you with this one, but glad to know that it didn’t siphon into your DT.
Hopefully you will find resolution to this incident, things like this can lead to distraction trying to figure things out.

I still wonder what happened to our garage door opener that disappeared 12 years ago and 2 openers later. The latest one is quiet!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I can't help but come to conclusion that salt was not added, there is no other explanation

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I absolutely added the salt…the container I measured it into is empty…no memory issues yet

If you do have memory issues, you might not know it. lol

Either the salt wasn’t added or it is still there.

 

[MinsTank]

Measure salinity in the display to rule out testing equipment issues? What do you measure SG with, refractrometer etc?

With any evaporation, you would expect  raised SG... And not a big swing overnight..

If this was me, I would be sure that I forgot to add the salt lol..

OH WOW!! I figured it out. Apparently the folks at Red Sea are correct in their mixing instructions (imagine that…). I believe the pump may have been glitchy and didn’t mix thoroughly. The mix separated/precipatated(?) and all the salt was at the bottom!! After manually mixing it up, I’m getting a reading.

I’m not sure what this does to the chemical makeup of the mixed water now. Would you guys use the water after mixing longer/better? Or toss it out and start fresh?

 

[TheMetalReefs]

do you have a tds meter? i would start over if your really sure you added salt. but that is super weird. glitch in matrix maybe?

 

[KrisReef]

I would add more and forget about it.

 

[907_Reefer]

A-ha! Got a spare pump? I would let it mix for a bit then re-check SG and see how much precipitate you have from there. $.02

 

[907_Reefer]

I’m going to see my doctor on Monday, for a memory exam.

Are you sure it isn't Tuesday?

 

[KrisReef]

I’d also recommend a more aggressive mixing pump. I feel like it is getting tired, time to take a nap?

 

[KrisReef]

Are you sure it isn't Tuesday?

They sent a text on Thursday and then woke me up with a phone call yesterday morning. Can’t figure out why they contacted me twice, again?

 

[MinsTank]

My usual routine is to run about 30-32 gallons of RODI for my water change, and I mix my salt overnight. I use Red Sea Coral Pro and have never had a problem. I realize instructions say not to mix more than 2 hours, but by aerating it overnight I’ve had better luck with a stable reading. I’ve been doing this for almost 2 years.
This morning I woke up to check the salinity and it is reading ZERO. The water doesn’t even taste salty. Our house is a little warmer than usual due to a heatwave, but we run AC, so it’s not sweltering hot here…maybe 73 -76 indoors. Could that make a difference? Sometimes I mix with a heater in the brute. I didn’t this time. Pardon my ignorance! I’ve been super lucky in the hobby with very few issues. This is probably very basic science, but what do I do now? Add more salt? Start over & only mix per the instructions? TIA for any help & advice.

150g tank w/dual overflows & 55g sump. Community tank, mostly fish only, couple of softies.

Thanks for your input everyone!!
Just glad to know my memory IS still in tact!

 

[MinsTank]

Thanks for your input everyone!!
Just glad to know my memory IS still in tact!

FOR THE RECORD, I’m going to dump the water and start again. I’m finding more I do online and I guess it really messes with the calcium and Alkalinity. I’m not a hard-core tester with our tank, I don’t chase numbers, but better safe than sorry for the community.

And possibly going to look in to a less high maintenance salt brand. I only have a toadstool and another little softie. Never went deeper into the reef world.

 

[Reefering1]

But if it precipitated, wouldn't that be calcium carbonate and not the salt itself?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If the solution is clear without a bunch of white solid at the bottom, there is no concern about anything in the mix not being normal, including calcium and alkalinity. It is clearly visible when there is too much precipitation.

 

[MinsTank]

I realized that there was solid stuff on the bottom. Also, my container had some residual solids from previous water changes. I clearly haven’t been doing this right. However, I haven’t suffered from it too much, apparently. I think I should be more careful moving forward, and make sure I’m using a GOOD pump to mix it, and just not over mix.

 

[907_Reefer]

I keep a few of these Jebao return pumps on hand for when I'm mixing in brutes, work great and not very spendy.