mixing water and salt

[emtguy]

My buddy works at culligan and i can get all the RO/DI water i need. The water comes in the 5 gallon jugs and i have one with the top cut off that im going to use for mixing salt. My question is how much salt do i need to add to get it at the right salinity? I have read somewhere that it is about 1/2 cup of salt to 1 gallon of water is that correct and if not what would be the right amount to get me close to .025 Thanks
Im using red sea pro salt mix from Dr.s You know who.

 

[lexluethar]

Originally Posted by emtguy
My buddy works at culligan and i can get all the RO/DI water i need. The water comes in the 5 gallon jugs and i have one with the top cut off that im going to use for mixing salt. My question is how much salt do i need to add to get it at the right salinity? I have read somewhere that it is about 1/2 cup of salt to 1 gallon of water is that correct and if not what would be the right amount to get me close to .025 Thanks
Im using red sea pro salt mix from Dr.s You know who.
It should say on the package how much salt to use to reach a certain salinity.

 

[cprdnick]

get a hydrometer or refractometer and measure it, you can't just guess at this, it won't be accurate. I went by the instructions on the bag the first time I mixed, and it was way too low. I'm not sure what they base that on, but it didn't mix right for me. Measure your SG and you'll do better.

 

[m0nk]

Get a hydrometer or refractometer (the later is better). You should measure it to know that it can support fish. If you're doing a fish-only tank you can have it at a specific gravity of 1.021-1.024, and if you're going to have inverts or coral you should have it between 1.024-1.027. Don't go over or under those numbers or it will stress out the inhabitants.
Also, Culligan's doesn't supply RO/DI water, it's only RO. You can't drink RO/DI water because the de-ionization process makes the water too pure to drink. You will definitely notice a difference between RO and RO/DI water in a saltwater tank.

 

[emtguy]

you're right Its DI water only(they get it from another source and sale it to a lab and dentist office for something)...i got a refractometer but i think you're missing what im asking. Im just wanting to mix my water not put it in the tank and i was wanting a starting place instead. I know it wont be dead on but i dont even have a clue as to how much salt to put period.
I mean one teaspoon per gallon or a cup per gallon? I just wanted to be close when i check it tommorow i'll know i will have to add some salt or water but this is my first time mixing it and i dont know where to start
the instructions dont tell how much to add by the way.

 

[jasonmarc]

Hey - start with a little less than you've heard. It depends on the salt you're using as well as a whole host of other things.. but I use red sea salt and it takes me about 8 cups of salt to mix up about 20 gallons of water to get a 1.025 reading.
Just play around with it to get it going - and make sure you get it ALL dissolved before you try to measure it

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by emtguy
you're right Its DI water only(they get it from another source and sale it to a lab and dentist office for something)...i got a refractometer but i think you're missing what im asking. Im just wanting to mix my water not put it in the tank and i was wanting a starting place instead. I know it wont be dead on but i dont even have a clue as to how much salt to put period.
I mean one teaspoon per gallon or a cup per gallon? I just wanted to be close when i check it tommorow i'll know i will have to add some salt or water but this is my first time mixing it and i dont know where to start
the instructions dont tell how much to add by the way.
That comes back to the specific salt, some are different. Oceanic, Instant Ocean, and the Red Sea brands are all 1/2 cup per gallon. It really should have that amount either on the container or written in a pamphlet in the container.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by m0nk
That comes back to the specific salt, some are different. Oceanic, Instant Ocean, and the Red Sea brands are all 1/2 cup per gallon. It really should have that amount either on the container or written in a pamphlet in the container.
I would also be very surprised if it didnt tell you somewhere on the bag how much salt to use. Generally though, it is a half to slightly more than a half cup per gallon of water.

 

[tarball]

Originally Posted by m0nk
That comes back to the specific salt, some are different. Oceanic, Instant Ocean, and the Red Sea brands are all 1/2 cup per gallon. It really should have that amount either on the container or written in a pamphlet in the container.

Yep, that's about right. I use instant ocean, for 5 gallons i use 2 1/2 cups of salt. That gets the mix very close to 1.025.
Remember water first then add salt while power head stirs water.

 

[emtguy]

thanks guys, i did find paper in salt that said 1.6lbs/5 u.s. gal
i think the overall concensious is 1/2 cup to a gallon. i'll try that. Thanks

 

[keri]

I find it really annoying that my RS salt tells me how to mix it by pounds per gallon...I'm sorry, I'm not a drug dealer, I don't have a scale that accurate in my house lol...

I go bu a little less than 1/2c per gallon as a start and work my way up from there. Also, measuring salinity right after initial mixing doesn't always give you accurate results! Give it 24 hrs.

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by Keri
I find it really annoying that my RS salt tells me how to mix it by pounds per gallon...I'm sorry, I'm not a drug dealer, I don't have a scale that accurate in my house lol...

I go bu a little less than 1/2c per gallon as a start and work my way up from there. Also, measuring salinity right after initial mixing doesn't always give you accurate results! Give it 24 hrs.
A kitchen scale works great too