Water temp and salt mix

[DonW]

Boomer,

Is there a temp that is to low to be mixing sw for use? I'm concidering setting up my outdoor storage tank as a constant water changer. Obviously its going to get cold and I dont want to heat 300g outdoors
Also is there a temp that will cause a calcium reactor to be less efficient? I'm concidering feeding the water change system into the carx, so the water change will run at the same rate as the carx and be cold water.

Thanks
Don

 

[klaz]

i think 26c it's ok....

 

[Boomer]

Don

Is there a temp that is to low to be mixing sw for use?


I would not go below 60 F


Also is there a temp that will cause a calcium reactor to be less efficient?

Yes but no real set temp /say without massive calculations. Water temp affects dissolution and colder water can hold more in solution but will dissolve less in time. The water is also more dense a colder temps. Other things to consider with low temps, organics will be less soluble which can effect things, there will more CO2 and O2 at lower temps and temp effects pH, fractionation rates will be less, etc, etc.

.

 

[DonW]

Don

Is there a temp that is to low to be mixing sw for use?


I would not go below 60 F


Also is there a temp that will cause a calcium reactor to be less efficient?

Yes but no real set temp /say without massive calculations. Water temp affects dissolution and colder water can hold more in solution but will dissolve less in time. The water is also more dense a colder temps. Other things to consider with low temps, organics will be less soluble which can effect things, there will more CO2 and O2 at lower temps and temp effects pH, fractionation rates will be less, etc, etc.

.

Thanks Boomer,

Not what I was hoping for but life goes on. I dont want to heat the tank and in this state it isnt going to stay above 60 most of the year.

Don

 

[Elmo18]

Hi Boomer.

Can you explain why it is bad to mix fresh H20 at below 60 degrees F when used to mix salt? Chemically that is...

I try to use room temperature water, but it is nice to know why. Would a finished product of new saltwater be different from say Bucket 1 with fresh H20 at initial temp of 50 degrees F, and then brought up to a temp of 78 degrees F, than say Bucket 2 with fresh H20 at initial temp of 70 degrees F, and then brought up to a temp of 78 degrees F? Lets assume similar aeration/mixing, and all salt mix has been dissolved before bringing the temperature up to 78 degrees F in the separate buckets.

I would guess the obvious in that it will take longer for the salt to dissolve in the cooler water, but are there any bonding differences that occur?

Best,
Ilham

 

[Jobiwan]

Every salt mix has slightly different components, each component has unique solubility traits at various temps, no one can give you an answer that covers all synthetic mixes with any scientific basis, the data just aint there....common sense (a dangerous commodity in our hobby) would maybe indicate that higher temps would just increase solubility and hence speed up the time for all the components to dissolve, but kinda getting into pseudo science there I would think...I've had cold water tanks for local critters, haven't seen any difference when I mixed water at lower temps other than slower dissolution from a practical view, I'd hate to think that my 48 degree synthetic sea water is somehow chemically diffferent from my 78 degree tropical mix, but who knows...

 

[Boomer]

Can you explain why it is bad to mix fresh H20 at below 60 degrees F when used to mix salt? Chemically that is...

It is hard to get all the salt components dissolved as has noted. Yes, one can add more salt and achieve a higher "salinity" but the components that make up that mix will not be the same as higher temp as they have not dissolved. If that water is now warmed up and say the components are in suspension, there will be a marked increase in salinity when warmed and their dissolved. If those components are on the laying on the bottom they will not be in the water mix.

Low temp will also throw off you refract and hydrometer as colder water is denser. So, you will need a temp correction table. If you look at the worlds ocean salinity, in general, colder coral reefs have lower salinity.

A test: Take 1 L of RO/DI water at 80F and 1 L at 50 F then measure up ~37 grams of salt and add to each. Aerate and circulate for 24 hrs, keeping both at their temp of 80 F and 50F. Filter 1/2 L of each through a 1 micron filter, then measure the Sg, pH, Alk, Ca++ and Mg++ when both are at 80F and see what you get. Take the second 1/2 L and do the same but do not filter it through the 1 micro filter.

 

[Jobiwan]

That's a great idea Boomer, it would be interesting to see how the different mixes compared, have to do multiple runs I suppose due to batch variation, kinda beyond the scope for the typical hobbyist...

 

[Boomer]

Yes it would give you and Don more to work on as far as me giving you guys the "worry department" attitude

 

[DonW]

Yes it would give you and Don more to work on as far as me giving you guys the "worry department" attitude

I'm not going to mess with it if you dont think I can stable parameters. I was hoping to be able to just dump two buckets of salt in the tank fill it up, mix and let it flow 24/7. I'm sure in the winter it would be real close to freezing.

Don