How long do allow your salt to mix for water change?

[Krish]

Let's be honest...How long do you allow your salt to mix in a container before adding it to your tank??

 

[nata]

I actually wait a full day, after a bad experience and my alk going through the rooof, cause I did not wait..always have premixed saltwater in my barrel available at all times

 

[Krish]

I actually wait a full day, after a bad experience and my alk going through the rooof, cause I did not wait..always have premixed saltwater in my barrel available at all times

Nice!! Not sure if I had the voting options up before you saw the thread, but it's up now so you can vote

 

[Frankie]

NO less the 24 hrs. Normally it has been mixing for 6 days and every 7 days I do a 5-10% water change.

 

[Krish]

NO less the 24 hrs. Normally it has been mixing for 6 days and every 7 days I do a 5-10% water change.

Do you notice any significant evaportion during this time Frankie? If so, do you just top off with ro/di before adding to the tank because I'd imagine any significant amount of evaporation that takes place, if not topped off before adding to the tank, would leave the salt mix a little less consistent...

 

[jrgilles]

I do it in a 35 gallon brute garbage can with a powerhead, heater and a lid. All the evaporation rolls down the lid back into the bucket.

I check salinity again right before I add it to the tank.

 

[Krish]

I do it in a 35 gallon brute garbage can with a powerhead, heater and a lid. All the evaporation rolls down the lid back into the bucket.

I check salinity again right before I add it to the tank.

Nice!! Ever noticed if putting a lid on it affects the ph of the make up water any?

 

[jrgilles]

Hmm, don't know about the pH. Maybe I should test it. Hasn't effected the tank after a water change, but who knows.

 

[Krish]

Hmm, don't know about the pH. Maybe I should test it. Hasn't effected the tank after a water change, but who knows.

LOL!! Well, you probably don't change enough at one time for their to be a dramatic effect if infact your ph is affected using a lid.

 

[Frankie]

No, my water changing unit is sealed. These are food grade containers. The top one fills with RO/DI, then I open the ball valve in the middle allowing the bottom bin to fill. In that bottom bin is a mag 7 with a PVC pipe design that turns and mixes the saltwater 24/7. When I do water changes all I need to do is open the bottom valve to add the salt back into the sump. No buckets. Each bin hold 26 gallons. They have gallon markers on the sides allowing me to dose out the correct amount of water for each water change.

Do you notice any significant evaportion during this time Frankie? If so, do you just top off with ro/di before adding to the tank because I'd imagine any significant amount of evaporation that takes place, if not topped off before adding to the tank, would leave the salt mix a little less consistent...

 

[NWDiver]

I was mixing mine from several days to a week in a 55 barrel. Then I heard that the Salinity salt I used should be added to the tank right away. Well, being the skeptic that I am I decided to do some testing.
Uh-oh, alk does indeed drop a bunch, after 24 hours I lost a full point of alk. I was previously testing the water 4 hours or so after mixing, and getting good numbers so I only tested salinity before adding the mixed water to my tank several days later.
I've decided to dose the mix water to the alk level that I want prior to adding it to the system, this lets me mix the water as long as I want.

 

[NWDiver]

Hey Frankie, how do remove the water for water changes?

 

[eww]

Slick set up Frankie. I am setting up the same type of thing only using 55 gal food grade barrels. I hope to have it set up soon. Just need one more barrel and the plumbing stuff. We do a 15-20 gal change on our 80 gal system every 2 weeks. Right now we are using a 35 gal Brute container like Rob is with a Rio 2100 pump, heater and a lid on top. I usually mix for at least 3-4 days if not a full week or more. I have never noticed an adverse effects on PH or Sg.

 

[Krish]

Nice Frankie!!

 

[user 2204]

I try and wait for a full 2-3 days before using. I usually use a lid on my water change bucket as well. More so to keep the cats from drinking the Yummy saltwater. Crazy cats.

BTW, very nice set up Frankie.

 

[Frankie]

I simply syphon it out of the sump down the driveway with a long hose. Great way to kill weeds BTW
When I do water changes I only change the sump water.

Hey Frankie, how do remove the water for water changes?

 

[user 2204]

Great way to kill weeds BTW

Good for killing weeds? Hmmm, I may just have another use for the old water rather than dumping it down the drain.

 

[ashton]

I give it at least a full day before doing waterchanges.

 

[NWDiver]

Frankie> How do you measure the quantity of siphoned water? Do you have marks on the sump? I have considered doing something like this, or an automated water change.

 

[Frankie]

Good for killing weeds? Hmmm, I may just have another use for the old water rather than dumping it down the drain.

Down the drain is ok but be sure your not draining to a septic tank or leaching field. You will kill off the bacteria in these types of sewage systems and be very sorry.

@NWDiver- yes, I have markers telling me when to stop. Basically I try to remove and clean the entire sump bottom before I reach my limit. I never just take water out. I always make sure the water going out carries detritus with it.

Thanks for the comments.