Idea to avoid Humidity getting into your salt

[briandg]

I live in the South, and just finished my first bucket of salt. By the time it was half gone, humidity had gotten into it even though the bucket was always sealed. By the end of the bucket, it was difficult to even chip off the salt to use it. I think I've come up with an idea to avoid this and thought I'd pass it along.
I have a foodsaver that I use when freezing items such as meat. It seals items in bags after sucking out all of the air. I decided to foodsaver my salt in these bags. I use three buckets the same size when mixing my water for a water change. I marked a line on each bucket at the same height to know where to fill them to. I then measured out exactly the amount of salt needed for each bucket. I purchased a box of small foodsaver bags, and put the same measurement of salt in each bag. One box of bags was just right to foodsaver the whole bucket of salt. Now when I need to do a water change, I simply fill the buckets to the line, cut open one bag of salt and add it to the bucket. So far my salinity has been right on each time, and I haven't had any moisture get into my salt. It's also more convenient, because I never can remember how much salt to add when mixing, and was always needing to continually adjust when mixing. Mixing is now much quicker and easier, and no humidity . Other people might already be doing this, but I didn't see a thread on it, and thought I'd pass the idea along.

 

[lion_crazz]

Thanks for passing along the tip!
If I may ask, what kind of salt do you use?

 

[briandg]

My first bucket was just Instant Ocean. My Calcium has remained low using it, so I'm trying Reef Crystals this time.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Thanks for passing along the tip!
If I may ask, what kind of salt do you use?
Yeah. I am in NY and had the same issue with my salt when I used Instant Ocean. Since switching to Oceanic I have not had an issue.

 

[lion_crazz]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
Yeah. I am in NY and had the same issue with my salt when I used Instant Ocean. Since switching to Oceanic I have not had an issue.
Exactly what I was thinking!

 

[briandg]

Thanks for the info, if I don't have better luck with the Reef Crystals I will try the Oceanic next.

 

[lion_crazz]

Reef Crystals is made by the same company who makes Instant Ocean, so I am not sure it will be much different for you.

 

[f14peter]

Great tip . . . it's often those off-the-wall or out-of-the-box ideas that are the most useful.
I too lost some salt to humidity . . . I had the bucket in our converted garage where all the water buckets were (undoubtedly extemely high humidity in the room) and I guess I didn't seal the lid tight enough. Luckily, it was only the last couple of inches and now I keep the bucket (and triple-check that the lid's down tight) inside the climate controled living space. Our current bucket is nearly two months old and it's still as powdery as fresh flour.
BTW, I don't have a heck of a lot of experience, but I've been using Oceanic salt and am quite pleased with it.

 

[xdave]

I put a garbage bag in an old bucket and pour the new salt in there. I just twist tie the bag and seal the bucket.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by xDave
I put a garbage bag in an old bucket and pour the new salt in there. I just twist tie the bag and seal the bucket.
I realy think it depends on the salt. My instant ocean I used to scrape FOREVER with my plastic measuring cup. Oceanic has not clumped on me once.

 

[rbrockm1]

yeah i never thought about doing that. great tip

 

[hatessushi]

When I used Oceanic it never did clump. I use Tropic Marin Pro now and it doesn't clump but whenever I handle the salt cup or bag I get a residue on my hand I have to wash off, which I didn't get with Oceanic. Also, my Ph is still as low with TM Pro as it was with Oceanic. I was thinking to go back to Oceanic after this bucket or Reef Crystals because others have spoken very highly of it and it is no where near as expensive as TM Pro. Also Oceanic seems to be a clean salt that doesn't leave a residue on your hands just from touching the bag, of course there is no bag with oceanic.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Reef Crystals is made by the same company who makes Instant Ocean, so I am not sure it will be much different for you.

the difference between reefcrystals and IO is IO was designed for FOWLR tanks and reef crytsals is designed for reefs I use it and have never had a problem keeping my calcium up.

 

[symon]

Hmmm add the cost of the salt and the cost of the bags your using, seems a little pricey! But i live in new mexico what do i know about humidity!

 

[briandg]

Originally Posted by Symon
Hmmm add the cost of the salt and the cost of the bags your using, seems a little pricey! But i live in new mexico what do i know about humidity!

It's not too expensive, because I can reuse the bags, the bags are probably large enough to reuse four or 5 times, it will take me quite awhile to go through 5 buckets of salt. I agree there is the initial investment, but overall it won't be too bad.

 

[mandarin w]

Here is a little trick I learned in the Phillippines many years ago.
When I first saw people using it, they mainly used it for salt, sugar, any dry goods. So I figured it would work for my salt. I just use a micro bag and filled it with uncooked rice. I just leave that in the bucket of salt. The rice has no effect in the salt. That is why in resterants and other places, you will notice rice in the salt shakers. The uncooked rice will pull any moisture from the air. It will leave the last cup and fresh as the first cup.
Just a note: The rice should be plain, white rice. No flavored stuff.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by mandarin w
Here is a little trick I learned in the Phillippines many years ago.
When I first saw people using it, they mainly used it for salt, sugar, any dry goods. So I figured it would work for my salt. I just use a micro bag and filled it with uncooked rice. I just leave that in the bucket of salt. The rice has no effect in the salt. That is why in resterants and other places, you will notice rice in the salt shakers. The uncooked rice will pull any moisture from the air. It will leave the last cup and fresh as the first cup.
Just a note: The rice should be plain, white rice. No flavored stuff.
this is an excellent Idea, I do the same thing for my salt shakers in my house I just never thought of using it on my marine salt.