new 150 with skim milk

deeze

deeze

Member
I'm starting up a new 150 gallon tank and I can't get the salt to fully dissolve. it's RO, uv sterilized with instant ocean salt. PH is ok and I have a 500 gph pump circulating in it. I can't distinguish salt crystals in it because they're so fine. anyone have any ideas? I can turn off the pump and a super fine silt settles on the bottom that I couls siphon but that's a pain in the rump. I tried with Oceanic salt with the same results. tank has nothing in it right now... hummm?
 
brainrush

brainrush

Member
Did you add the salt first and then the water? What you are describing will often happen if you add the water to the salt instead of adding the salt to the water.
The white stuff that is not disolving is a percipitate (sp?) that occured when the water was SUPER SALTY. I'm not sure, but I think it is calcium. Someone else will know for sure.
This can be prevented by adding the salt to the water. This way the water never becomes super salty.
If you did add the salt to the water, then I don't know what is the problem. Maybe try adding the salt slower next time to let it fully disolve before adding more.
Some say the white percipitate is toxic and will cause a crash...maybe someone else can chime in on the "safe-ness" of still using this water.
 
deeze

deeze

Member
four days...
pretty frustrating. do you think that extra milkey stuff is additives or tiny salt particles?
I've done a million water changes on my 70 and never had this problem before. granted its never been that much water/salt.
 
deeze

deeze

Member
that's a good thought. I did add the salt to water but it was only about 50 gallons to 125 gallons worth of salt. once it's full it should be 25 gallons worth of salt short. do you think it will clear up once it's short or salt or am I shanked from the get go for adding so much?
thanks for your help!
 
bawood

bawood

Member
Well that's why your salt hasn't fully disolved. That's my simple answer.
There is a long explanation, but keep adding water and I suspect you'll see the problem go away.
Btw, a heater helps the solution mix more, but it won't matter for a while.
 
deeze

deeze

Member
Yea, I dunked one in there. I'm keeping it around 78. Should I turn it up really warm like 90 to help it dissolve? There's nothing living in it right now... no sand or anything.
 
saltwater8

saltwater8

Member
Whoa... :scared:
50 gallons of water to 125 gallons worth of salt... there is your problem

Water can only hold so much dissolved salt, once its reached its maximum saturation point, it wont dissolve the salt anymore.
When you finish adding the correct amount of water, the salt "should" dissolve.
***)
 
deeze

deeze

Member
yea, once it's done I should be good. I have 150 gallons up top with a 50 gallon refugium below... It's starting to look less like skim milk. My RO's eeked out 150 up top an now starting to fall in the sump...
 
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