How much salt???

[saltrookie]

Ok guys and girls.....here we go again. Last night, I posted a message about to much salinity and got wonderful responses but, my husband told me something this morning that made me flip out!! The question is, how much salt are you supposed to add per gallon?? I have a 30gal cube and we used instant ocean salt. Believe it or not...he added the whole friggin bag to the tank!!! Humm, do we now know why my salinity is so high?? Get this, he said that's what the guy at the lfs told him to do. You know, I thought you had to at least know something about animals before giving information about them. Just to prove my point....can someone please answer my question. Thanks!! Now I'm really fustrated and wanna just start all over with my tank, any suggestions?? :help:

 

[misfit]

When making water for my water change of about 20-25 gal, I use about 15 cups then bring it up to temp(TO get accurate reading) and that usually is close to 1.025then I adjust and let age a few days prior to water change . Hope that helps .

 

[thomas712]

Personally I don't measure per gallon and how much salt thereof. I mix my saltwater entirely separate from my main tank, Then through out the day I simply test it using a Refractometer to measure salinity/specific gravity, some use a hydrometer (less accurate). I bring it up to 1.025 or 1.026. Then let it mix for another 24 hours or so, then its ready. Of course I'm also using a heater and aeration.
So much per gallon really will only get you close to where it should be, and to be accurate you really need a refractometer. Then you just tweek your mixture it so that it reads right.
Thomas

 

[mrdc]

I follow Thomas's way almost exactly. I do roughly go by .5 cup per gallon. I don't want to overshoot it because I think it's easier to bring the salinity up rather than down. If I had to go down then I would need to use more RO water either directly or remove some of the saltwater and replace with RO...anyway just more work. I also aerate it and heat it and periodically test it with a refractometer add add a little salt as needed to get me to 1.025.

 

[saltrookie]

Thanks for all the help, what would I do without all of ya'll!!

 

[jdragunas]

the container of salt will tell you approximately how much salt to add per gallon...

 

[merredeth]

Instant Ocean has several box sizes. I believe 10 & 25 is readily available at most stores that carry the product line.
To get a salinity of 1.025 - 1.026 I round out my measuring cup, as I believe if you go by the directions of IO, salinity is around 1.022 if memory serves me correctly.
Hope that helps ya out.
Denise M.

 

[oreo12]

It takes 3 cups of ocenonic to bring 5 gals of water to 1.027 I use 4.5 cups to bring 5 gals to 1.0245 Hope that helps you.

 

[granny]

Instant Ocean states right on the bag to use 1/2 cup per gallon of water. The bag is for 50 gallons of water, which is also states on the bag.
I always mix my water and salt in a separate, rubber trash can, aerate it and heat it for 24 hours before putting into the tank. It is also easier to make any slight adjustments this way, but the 1/2 C per gallon come out darn near perfect every time.

 

[oreo12]

Originally Posted by Granny
Instant Ocean states right on the bag to use 1/2 cup per gallon of water. The bag is for 50 gallons of water, which is also states on the bag.
I always mix my water and salt in a separate, rubber trash can, aerate it and heat it for 24 hours before putting into the tank. It is also easier to make any slight adjustments this way, but the 1/2 C per gallon come out darn near perfect every time.
yep!!