Making your own salt water vs. Purchasing

rc cola

New Member
Hello,
I am in a predicament.. I got a tank back in January of this year and then was injured and I am suffering with a serious lower back problem. As a result I cannot carry the 5 gal containers of salt water that I was purchasing from my LFS.
Can somone tell me what the pro's and cons of making my own salt water to do water changes and maybe some things to be careful of?
I was having a friend help, but he has been less than helpful latley and I cannot rely on him for that kind of help anymore.
 

reefforbrains

Active Member
pro's-
*- much cheaper to mix your own in the long run with cost averaging the volume.
*- you can set your own salinity you like. IE higher for reef, lower for fish only ect.
*- You can pick the brand and contents of the water your adding to your tank.
* you can mix your own as needed in a pinch at 3am while never needing to wear anything but your boxers.
Cons-
*physically storing the supplies can be cumbersome.
*expense of said containers
* showing up at your local fish store in just boxers tends to be frowned upon at most locations.
The actual lifting portion of doing a waterchange can be minimized with the use of a small submersible pump. Doesnt have to be fancy just have some flow.
Run the water into your mixing tub and fill to desired level. Toss in an old thermometer and the pump to churn everything up viola!!! When water has settled (some say to wait up to 24 hours) then just put the hose on the pump and feed it onto your tank. Reverse the process for draining the tank.
When making your own water the other larger consideration is volume. For smaller tanks it doesn't make sense to lay out the expense of a dedicated water filtration system, the hosing from the water source to the tub, the physcal tub, pump, and heater.
If you house a 200 gallon display, then its a no brainer to be able to do it yourself. But for smaller tanks where only a few gallons per week is needed then the simple solution is to just use smaller "lift friendly" containers. Use the 1 gallon jugs from bottled water. So what if you use 5 at a time. They are much easier to manage.
Hope this helps.
-RFB
 

rc cola

New Member
Thanks for the info.. I guess my real concern was that the water was not cycled --meaning that it dosent have the bacteria etc that store bought water has in it..
is this a valid concern?
Thanks again!
 

beth

Administrator
Staff member
One thing that you need to do when making your own salt water is "age" the water for at least 2 days (a week is better). I set up a 20 gal tall tank for this with a pump and always had water being pumped (circulated). You can not mix salt and then just use that water, it needs to circulate for at least 2 days.
You also need a good instrument for measuring salt content, such as a refractometer. A swing-arm hydrometer is not a good choice.
 

spanko

Active Member
The term sit is a little misleading. what you really want when it is sitting is for the water to have a circulation pump and a heater. this will ensure proper mixing and stabilization of PH prior to adding to your tank. 24 hours is the norm.
 
U

usirchchris

Guest
Originally Posted by Beth
http:///forum/post/2608241
One thing that you need to do when making your own salt water is "age" the water for at least 2 days (a week is better). I set up a 20 gal tall tank for this with a pump and always had water being pumped (circulated). You can not mix salt and then just use that water, it needs to circulate for at least 2 days.
You also need a good instrument for measuring salt content, such as a refractometer. A swing-arm hydrometer is not a good choice.
Two days?...I usually do 1 day, but if in a pinch will only wait an hour or so, and I have never had a problem. I also use tap water. I am not trying to start controversy, but I think you may scare some new hobbiest away telling them that they need to have water sitting around for two days to a week. There may be some valid benefits to following your suggestion (aeration, ph, proper mixing etc), but I do not think it is necessary to maintain a tank. AH...I keep reading this and it sounds cynical or doubtful...this is not my intention. If you told me it would add 2 years to my fishes life then perhaps I would be on board
.
 

vkuroczka

Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2608557
The term sit is a little misleading. what you really want when it is sitting is for the water to have a circulation pump and a heater. this will ensure proper mixing and stabilization of PH prior to adding to your tank. 24 hours is the norm.
When I let me wate sit at least 24 hours, my pH drops to like 7.8. I have a powerhead but no heater, I just let it sit for like and hour and then pour it in.... I however don't use tap water I have a RO unit.
 

michaeltx

Moderator
newly made saltwater is very low in oxygen so if you are replaceing a lot of water at one time it can drasticaly lower the available oxygen in the tank causeing stress of the stock.
the letting it "SIT" helps increase the oxygen levels of the water and gives time for the water to come up to temp with the tank even with water changes the less drastic of a difference the better.
as far as "CYCLED" water dont worry about it the bacteria is actually in/on the rock. sand. filter ads, and maybe decorations in the tank. Not in the water.
Mike
 

vkuroczka

Member
So does everyone elses water pH drop after letting it sit or is it just mine??? What am I doing wrong??? Like I said when I first check my water parms, they are perfect, but if I let it sit for 24 hours plus my pH drops to 7.8.........
 

michaeltx

Moderator
what kind of salt mix are you useing.
also there is a direct link of PH and algaes in a tank since the new water diesnt have any algae or plant life in it I would assume the PH would drop.
Thats why alot of people that run refugium and sumps put them on a reverse light cyce. tank on/refugium off refugium on/tank off. I always left mine on 24/7 for the refugium though
Mike
 

vkuroczka

Member
Originally Posted by MichaelTX
http:///forum/post/2608847
what kind of salt mix are you useing.
also there is a direct link of PH and algaes in a tank since the new water diesnt have any algae or plant life in it I would assume the PH would drop.
Thats why alot of people that run refugium and sumps put them on a reverse light cyce. tank on/refugium off refugium on/tank off. I always left mine on 24/7 for the refugium though
Mike
I don't have a refugium or sump, I have a canister filter ( I know, I know, but I like it) well anyways, I use Oceanic salt. I like it cause it doesn't cloud my water and it comes in those pre-measured packets.
 

michaeltx

Moderator
then you are more than likely seeing the natural drop in the water with out any type of photosuthisis * I know thats not spelt right LOL* going on in the water. once you add it to the tank is the tank waters PH in the right range?
also try taking a few tests through out the day morning-mid-day- and at night and see what your swing in PH is.
Mike
 

vkuroczka

Member
Originally Posted by MichaelTX
http:///forum/post/2608859
then you are more than likely seeing the natural drop in the water with out any type of photosuthisis * I know thats not spelt right LOL* going on in the water. once you add it to the tank is the tank waters PH in the right range?
also try taking a few tests through out the day morning-mid-day- and at night and see what your swing in PH is.
Mike
My water pH is about 8.0, trying to slowly get it back up to 8.2, so it shouldn't be a good idea to do a 50% water change on a 80 gal tank?
 

michaeltx

Moderator
unless there was some major issue I wouldnt do that big of a water change.
take a look in the archive section there is a post there on ph and different realtionships that effect the levels have on it.
Mike
 

rtspeed

Member
The only proper way to use water in a hour or so is to highlt aerate it witha pump and a air stone, as the dissloving of salt cause a raise in carbon dioxide and loss of oxygen. this is also the reason why you see the ph drop after awhile as the levels are going threw a chemical change. the correct way to do a water change is to wait til you aerate the water enough to have a close ph to the tank and to make sure all you levels a correct.
 

kynekke

Member
Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
http:///forum/post/2608175
pro's-
* you can mix your own as needed in a pinch at 3am while never needing to wear anything but your boxers.
Hope this helps.
-RFB
Wait??? Are you saying I can't go get pre-made saltwater in my thong??? No one ever mentioned that... we should sticky that info.
 

reefforbrains

Active Member
I will be flogged for saying this but many times I just mix in a tub and pour/pump right into the system.
I would advise against it to someone who isnt familiar with thier system and its chem but have done it for quite some time with no ill effects.
Saying no ill effects doesnt mean its harmless, but I do stand on the oppinion that -while it is always better to do it by the book, It certainly is not absolutley manditory to have the water sit overnight. More like a guilty pleasure out of repeated and stable results born from laziness.
JMO...and yes thong optional.
 
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