You don't mix the entire bucket, unless you need that much saltwater. Only mix what you need. The salt I use is Instant Ocean Reef Crystals, and I mix roughly 1/2 cup per gallon of water to start with, and after stirring for several hours, I check the salinity of the freshly mixed saltwater. It's usually just a little low, so I add tiny bits until I reach my goal of 1.023 - 1.024 SG (Specific Gravity).Just thought of another question....
When I mixing the saltwater when I get the tank, do I need to mix every single bucket of water with salt? Let's say a 40 gallon breeder takes 5 or 6 buckets, does this mean I have to mix water with salt 5-6 times or do I just do it once until the salinty reachs 1.021 and add the rest fresh? Only thing left that confuses me
+1 Absolutely!While saltwater can be mixed in the new tank, I recommend mixing the water in a separate container.
Ok awesome. So any ordinary garbage barrel is good?While saltwater can be mixed in the new tank, I recommend mixing the water in a separate container.The reason is because you won't know if you've mixed enough water, or too much water if you mix it in an empty tank. Sand and rocks, assuming you'll be using those, is going to displace a good bit of water. I'd have about 30 gallons of saltwater mixed, and add the water to the tank immediately after the rocks and sand had been placed. Since you won't be mixing large quantities of water after the initial fill, a new, clean 30 gallon Brute garbage can will work just fine for mixing saltwater. I use a 30 gallon, heavy-duty tote that I picked up at Lowe's for water changes in my 125 and 40B... combined.
If you choose to mix the initial water in the tank, only fill the tank half full of water, and mix it to the required salinity. Add your rocks and sand after 24 hours of aeration or circulation, and then top the tank off with saltwater mixed in another container. You don't want to try to mix water in the tank once you have sand and rocks in it. It'll never completely dissolve... and you'll have a sandstorm in the tank.
SG is Salinty? I will only mix water like a day or 2 before a water change so it has had a chance to sit.Just to reiterate , your premix needs to be the same sg as your tank when u do water changes. Rapid changes up or down can be deadly for tank inhabitants.
The brute is an excellent idea, depending how often you do water changes make sure to check ur sg tho. If u mix it at 1.021 on say nov 1 then go to use the rest on nov 21 evaporation will have risen your sg in that case add fresh to get it where u need it
Very familour with those used to work as a line cook/chef.Needs to be a food safe container which Brute garbage cans are but other brands might not be.
Yes. SG is an abbreviation for Specific Gravity. Another measure of salinity is PPT (Parts Per Thousand). The average oceans salinity is 1.025 SG, or 35 PPT. Yet another measure is percentage, where the average of ocean water is 3.5% salt. You will most often hear the first two terms, SG or PPT. I think SG will be the most common measurement that you'll encounter.SG is Salinty? I will only mix water like a day or 2 before a water change so it has had a chance to sit.
Very familour with those used to work as a line cook/chef.
Thank you very much for your help!!!!I kept my mixed water circulating with a utility pump in a 37g Brute garbage can. When it got low on water, I would add new RO water and salt. Let it churn for 24 hours before use, but you can keep the mixed water going ... even for months on end, as long as you keep it circulated. Always check the SG, and make sure it matches your display before you use it. Don't heat the water for mixing...cold is better, I think it's Bang Guy who told me that, I used to warm the water. Oh... and when you add salt to your RO (reverse osmosis) water, make it swirl so the mix doesn't hit the bottom and clump up. Sprinkle the mix in as the water swirls.
Hi,Thank you very much for your help!!!!
I went in to my lfs today and they a 5 gallon bucket of Ocean Sea Salt Mix and right now it's priced at 69 dollars but he suggested I wait until Black Friday to get it because it will be only 30 dollars so I put in my order for 4 of them. How long do you think those buckets should last?
My fish store was telling me that it is ok to mix occellaris with snowflake clowns is this true?Those fish all sound compatible as long as the Clownfish are both the same species.