How much salt?

Jocephus · #1 07/26/2007, 10:08 AM

Hey everybody. Brain fart moment here, can someone tell me how much salt to mix per gal?

drummereef · #2 07/26/2007, 10:23 AM

Depends on the salt mix brand but IO is 1/2 cup per gallon of water. This is not an accurate method of measurement though. You should be using a proplerly calibrated refractometer or at the very least a hydrometer.

Jocephus · #3 07/26/2007, 10:24 AM

Thanks drummereef, I do have a refractometer, just couldn't remember where to ballpark it.

papagimp · #4 07/26/2007, 12:19 PM

IMO, it don't matter how much salt per gallon, just what salinity you are trying to get. 1/2 cup instant ocean will not yeild 1.026 and that's where I like to keep my tank at. Add enough to get anything from 1.023 - 1.026. (just don't change the salinity with each water change, keep it consistant)

cdangel0 · #5 07/26/2007, 01:03 PM

The 1/2 cup per gallon for IO is to bring the salinity to 1.021 - you have to add a little more to get to 1.025 - 1.026

Jocephus · #6 07/26/2007, 01:47 PM

Thanks guys, I used up all I had premade, and needed to mix another batch. It's been six months since I've mixed any and couldn't remember what the instructions said.

ahullsb · #7 07/26/2007, 05:52 PM

6 months since you mixed salt? Getting a little lazy on the water changes? haha just kidding. If you are using Instant Ocean, 3 cups will yield 1.024-1.025 in my experience!

Jocephus · #8 07/26/2007, 07:32 PM

HA! I knew I shouldn't have said that out loud! Maybe not six months, and I did have a fairly large stash of water mixed... but yeah, it's ben a while. LOL I used to get salt in the bags, and the directions were on the back. I got the bucket this time, and no luck. Anyway, tank looks much better, and my corals love me again.

ahullsb · #9 07/27/2007, 01:32 AM

Nice. I've got to do a change in the morning...