Question on mixing/storing new salt water

[dhughesz28]

Loaded Question on mixing/storing new salt water
I have set up a 10 gal tank with a power head for the purposes of mixing salt water. I have heard that RO water should be aged for at least 24 hours, so last night I filled up the tank with bottled RO water I bought from the store and it is being circulated and aerated with the PH. Tonight I plan on adding the pH buffer and salt, and tomorrow I plan to set up my new tank (12g).
Question 1, am I going about this the right way? If not, what is the best method for preparing salt water?? How do you do it?
Question 2, It would seem easier to make large batches of salt water in the 10gal than to mix small amounts of salt water (1 or ½ gal for weekly/biweekly changes). So to my question, is it OK to mix the SW and store it? How long will it last, and will I have to constantly have the PH running? I know there will be some evaporation, so could I store the water in sealed buckets??
:happyfish

 

[trainfever]

When you first set up the tank, it is ok to mix the salt right in the tank. Afterwards you should never place the salt directly into the tank. I use two old 5 gallon water bottles. I buy my R/O water from the LFS. I fill the bottles with water and then bring it home and pour a gallon from each into two empty milk jugs. I use this water for top offs during the week. I now have two 5 gallon water bottles each containing 4 gallons of water. I pour the remaining water into a 5 gallon bucket and add the correct amonut of salt. After the salt is mixed, I pour the water back into the water bottles and store it until the following week when I do my water changes. I have a 45 gallon tank with another 15 gallons of water in my sump. I change 8 gallons of water every week. I dont bother using powerheads while mixing water because the salt is definitely disolved in a weeks time.

 

[mudplayerx]

It is not advisable to store saltwater for any length of time after it is fully prepared. The evaporation that occurs (even in a sealed container) will slowly raise the salinity. In the long run this will only waste your RO/distilled water.
As far as aerating the water for 24 hours before adding it to the tank... this, in my opinion, is unecessary. I've always added my saltwater to the tank right after mixing it will no ill effects. My parameters have always been perfect and I've had no deaths
Quick question: why do you want to store the saltwater... or were you just referring to the 24 hours?

 

[dhughesz28]

Mud, the 24 hour waiting period was for the fresh RO, befor the salt was added. This I was told was nessecary in order to allow the DO to ballance out... :notsure:
Also, if the container is sealed, you will have evaporation, but any water vapor will condense on the lid on the container and drip back into the water. If the container is sealed, and nearly full (not allot of air in the container) evaporation will be limited and the salinity will not change very much.
And to answer your last question, the reason why I want to store the salt water is because with such a small tank (12 gal) I will be making very small water changes, only two or three gal/month. I find it 10x easier to mix a large batch of salt water for several reasons. First, mixing a 10gal batch with the spare 10gal tank I have is allot easier to me than mixing 1 or two gallons at a time. But more importantly, as we all know, the more water you are dealing with, the more stable the parameters will be. So, by mixing a large batch of salt water, I feel that it will be more consistent, and in the long run better for my fish.