mixing saltwater

[joesfiddy]

what are the best ways and easiest ways to mixing up the saltwater. I just wanna hear what everyone else does. thanks

[fatrip]

i fill my garbage can up with the amount of RODI water i need, measure out the salt, throw in a Mag 5 pump and a heater, check to make sure the salinity is correct and let it go over night.

[meco65]

Put RO/DI in a container add salt, heater, and power head to mix. Mix for 24hrs. Check salinity, and ph before adding to tank.

[ahullsb]

ditto

[dileggi]

Fill up 5 gallon bucket with tap water, add salt, dose water, small pump to aerate and mix salt.

Check salinity. Let sit overnight and dump in the next day.

[o.c.d.]

I use food grade container on castors with r/o unit plumbed to in,mix r/o water with salt not salt then water or pricipitation may occure. then match ph, salinity with refratometer,temp .then it mixes min 24 hrs. then I tap into filter with drain hoze,pump water out. and finally with a pump in mixing container I pump water into tank.Important part is I don't lift any water.
I also read in advanced marine aquarium techniques that some garbage container contain a antibiotic chemicals to the material makeup and should not be used.

[Mini Me6]

don't forget to log anything you do and be consistant. If it's for water changes, log how much you change and how much salt you added to get the parameters you want. It will take a couple of tries.

My AP12 keeps me on my toes. I have a chart next to my tank that tells me the measurements I need to do water changes, filter change, Additives and so forth. Remember, you dont need to add any salt to topoff's. I use filtered water for my tank, haven't had any problems.

[o.c.d.]

Mini Me6 Totaly right I log and use a lablemaker to date and identify everything,I costant reminder and If tanksitter needs directions.

[zotzer]

Wow...people have complex systems of keeping track!

I have a 20-something gallon rubbermaid container in my kitchen. I always have saltwater mixing in there (just in case). I change 5g per week in my main tank, and 3g in the nano every other week, but usually have 15 or so gallons of saltwater mixed at any given time.

I just add RO/DI water as I am getting low, plus the appropriate amount of salt to get salinty where I want it, and keep an MJ powerhead on in the bin 24/7. That way I always have some on hand in case of emergeny.

Tracy

[Piscator]

Nothin' like a 'power-equipped' Brute trash can. Add water, salt, Mag 9.5, heater.

It usually mixes for several days...depending on my schedule that week....


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b125/JasonPoquette/IM000973.jpg

[fishox]

I've found that running a Mag5 in my mixing tank provides enough heat. Do you guys really think you need the heater?

[uncleant]

I ditched the heater when i noticed how much heat my mag 5 puts out. But anyway i use 3 25Gal containers, 2 for the mixing salt and one for just plain ro/di water for top offs
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i13.tinypic.com/6q06auh.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

[Piscator]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11144919#post11144919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fishox
I've found that running a Mag5 in my mixing tank provides enough heat. Do you guys really think you need the heater?

When I lived in CA...no.

Up here in chilly New England in the Winter with my mixing bucket in the unheated garage....yep!


:D

[fatrip]

def need heater in upstate NY in the winter

[o.c.d.]

You should read the Nov issue of reefkeeping online mag it has a section on mixing,It also says to try to keep your waterchanges within 1 degree of aquarium.

[phenom5]

i do just like most that have replied...RO water, salt, heater & PH, at least 24hrs. i only use the heater during the winter though.

one thing that i do that i didn't see mentioned. i usually put in too much salt...or not enough water, guess it depends on your perspective. that way i can just add water to hit my desired SG.

that's a sweet looking brute there Piscator...i'm going to have to look into setting something up like that.

[o.c.d.]

phenom5 do you use a precise mesure of water and salt technique, or do you wing it a little. adding salt never measures the same immediatly. I used to wing it a little and go from water to dash of salt,Then I marked the mixing container and use a measuring cup exact every time .

Also refractometer is very precise comparing to a floating arrow in a plastic box,I've seen very different reading when compared.

[phenom5]

i use a measuring cup for the salt...but my water container isn't marketed. so i wing it. i can usually get pretty close, but i rarely hit it dead on, so i aim a little high. since we're circulating our water for 24hrs because the parameters go a little screwy, i just aim high, circulate, then make adjustments to the SG with a little water. i've been more exact with my water in the past, but this works just as well.