Any tips for keeping salt dry?

kakan · #1 10/19/2007, 10:18 PM

Every time I try to store salt in any kind of container it seem the somehow moister always gets to it and I wind up with a big salt brick.

Does any one have any tips for keeping moister out of my salt bucket.

TIA
Kakan.

sir_dudeguy · #2 10/19/2007, 10:24 PM

take a filter bag or something and fill it with rice and chuck it in there. That works really well. Whenever you go to really humid places they do that at restaurants and stuff...they putt bits of rice in the salt to keep it dry.

bureau13 · #3 10/19/2007, 11:12 PM

Do you get salt in those large 5 gallon buckets? The IO and Reef Crystals I buy have screw-on tops that have a rubber seal. I keep them in the garage in South Florida (i.e. REALLY humid) and they stay dry.

jds

AnnArborBuck · #4 10/19/2007, 11:24 PM

I throw a piece or two of bread in my buckets. Works great.

justinpsmith · #5 10/20/2007, 01:23 AM

Bread.

sir_dudeguy · #6 10/20/2007, 02:40 AM

sometimes those rubber seals dont work for some reason. I've had a completely tight lid on a bucket and next time i opened it it was rock hard lol. I'm in AZ so i really dont worry bout it, but my room is pretty humid from the tanks

mystrybird · #7 10/20/2007, 02:59 AM

What brand of salt are you using?
Are you keeping it in the same container it was in?

I have tried out a few brands over the years.

The only time I have had that problem was when I had not sealed the lid properly.

I would hesitate throwing some bread or other material in the bucket.
Might introduce some unwanted bacteria in the tank.

psyrob · #8 10/20/2007, 01:09 PM

I have the same problem with reef crystals, even tho it has the rubber seal on the 5 gallon bucket and I whack it with a hammer to close it. I live in So Cal, dry as a bone, and I store the bucket in a different room from my tank. I decided to just by the 50 gallon bags and use them up before they get "caked" instead of the 160 gallon bucket. More money, but then I get through the salt before it gets caked.

Do you use the salt that has hardened, by breaking it up? Or do you throw it out?

Jimds · #9 10/20/2007, 02:56 PM

I have experienced the same problem with reef crystal I would close the lid tight but still find the salt to get hard.

I have previously used instant ocean and never noticed the salt getting hard. Maybe tit is the seal they use.

kakan · #10 10/20/2007, 03:25 PM

I use reef crystals and I was using the bucket it came but for the last year or two I've been doing the same as psyrob and just buying 50 gallon bags and trying to use them before they cake up. I went out last night and bought a new bucket and lid and I think I'll also try a bag of rice as sir_dudeguy suggested.

thecichlidpleco · #11 10/20/2007, 06:07 PM

I go the bread route, also great way to keep freshly baked cookies soft.

oysterxfast5 · #12 10/20/2007, 06:17 PM

Does it really matter if it gets caked besides having to break it up?

GobyJohnKenobi · #13 10/20/2007, 07:20 PM

I premeasure it and put enough into ziplock bags to make all of my fresh batches. Then I just cut the corner off the bag and dump it in when it's time to mix.

I, uh, only mix two gallons at a time. What a pain.

Jimds · #14 10/20/2007, 07:51 PM

I simply put the chunks in the mixing container and by the next day they are completely dissolved.

yellowwatchmen · #15 10/20/2007, 10:59 PM

I use a container that was used for dog treats and it works great. I will try to post a pic tomorrow so you know what i am talking about.

USC-fan · #16 10/20/2007, 11:20 PM

How long are you guys leaving bread in the bucket?

mystrybird · #17 10/21/2007, 01:48 AM

How many others have had problems with Reef Crystals? I never said what brand I had cake up. I was certain it was because the I thought I didn't close the lid all the way. But it was Reef Crystals for me too!

Not here to dish or promote any brand over the other. But can say that was the only salt that went solid on me too.

When I did try to use what was left, I was not able to get it to dissolve completely and had to dump it.

justinpsmith · #18 10/21/2007, 02:12 AM

I leave the bread until it gets nice and moldy. That way it kind of grows a cheese on it. Then I just toast it and you have a lovely lightly salted cheese bread. Delicious with pasta.

pledosophy · #19 10/21/2007, 02:16 AM

I use an air tight container made for dog food. Got it at Petco.

I live in Oregon 100ft from a prtected wetland. Humid as can be. Salt is dry and powdery.

JME

jdieck · #20 10/21/2007, 02:41 AM

Sometimes salts get on the rubber seal and does not allow it to seal properly. In any case the best to keep things dry is a filterbag filled with silica gel which can be regenerated in an oven at 230*F for one hour.
I use it to dry the air going into the Ozone generator.
It is important to keep the salt mix as dry as possible. Moisture will degrade some of the components specially compunds that give the final mix the proper calcium, magnesium and alkalinity levels.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/...etail/iid/2249

lakee911 · #21 10/21/2007, 03:42 PM

Rice doesn't absorb moisture. It only agitates the salt in the shaker to break up chunks. Just think if it did: rice in the burlap bags would already be soft. You could put some large rocks in your bucket if you wanted to do that with the bucket.

I just keep the lid on mine clean and tight. The silica gel beads are a good idea. Just make sure they don't some how end up in the tank!

Jason