Ways to mix salt

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by frog/lionman
http:///forum/post/2899885
What would happen if you pour the water into the bucket with the measured salt?

For a few moments you have water with extremely high levels of dissolved Calcium and Bicarbonate. It will precipitate into Calcium carbonate crystals almost instantly. You will not be able to redissolve the Calcium carbonate and it will sit on the bottom of the container like silt. The water resulting from this will be low in PH, Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium. It will be usable but it will probably need supplements to refresh the trace elements.
This is why the water needs to be vigerously stirred when adding the salt. I do not believe a powerhead is always sufficient. If there's no fine silt at the bottom of the container after you mix your salt then you're doing it right.

 

[shwstpr88]

You can get a powerhead at walmart for 12 dollars.

 

[mie]

I bought a 55 gallon plastic food grade barrel for 15 bucks at the local feed mill and use that for mixing salt. I disinfected it with vineger water. I have a 1/2 inch vinyl hose hooked to the end of my power head so when I need to get water I simply grab the hose and throw it in the bucket and fill it up.

 

[erock412]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2898251
Salt also releases carbon dioxide when it dissolves.
I'm new at this whole saltwater aquaria hobby, but I dont see how adding salt to water releases carbon dioxide.... NaCl+H2O couldn't yield C02 b/c there is no Carbon in the equation. Am i wrong about this?

 

[adee]

do you have to keep the water moving until all the salt disolves? I still have some salt at the bottom of the bin im using to mix my salt water

 

[dustyboy316]

My wal mart dosen't have power heads I don't think.
I'm having this problem right now too. I don't have another job for a weel so I am EXTREMELY low on money. How long would you have to stir to get good mixing?
For my water changes I have been taking my power head out of my aquarium for an hour at a time, for about 4 hours. So it is in the tank the 4 hours not in use. Would this method be practical (I let the water sit out a bit to get the oxygen/carbon level a little equal).
And whats the painters drill or w/e?

 

[woody189]

Originally Posted by ERock412
http:///forum/post/2900268
I'm new at this whole saltwater aquaria hobby, but I dont see how adding salt to water releases carbon dioxide.... NaCl+H2O couldn't yield C02 b/c there is no Carbon in the equation. Am i wrong about this?

That was actually really smart, I would have never caught that.
BUT maybe some of the trace elements have carbon and it gets released.
I have no idea, i'm just sayin

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by ERock412
http:///forum/post/2900268
I'm new at this whole saltwater aquaria hobby, but I dont see how adding salt to water releases carbon dioxide.... NaCl+H2O couldn't yield C02 b/c there is no Carbon in the equation. Am i wrong about this?

Replace the word "Salt" with "Salt Mix".

 

[woody189]

Originally Posted by dustyboy316
http:///forum/post/2900282
My wal mart dosen't have power heads I don't think.
I'm having this problem right now too. I don't have another job for a weel so I am EXTREMELY low on money. How long would you have to stir to get good mixing?
For my water changes I have been taking my power head out of my aquarium for an hour at a time, for about 4 hours. So it is in the tank the 4 hours not in use. Would this method be practical (I let the water sit out a bit to get the oxygen/carbon level a little equal).
And whats the painters drill or w/e?
I do the same thing, i take one out of my tank and use it, but i have 2 others.
I don't think 4 hrs is going to deplete your tank of O2.
But, they say you're supposed to mix the salt for longer than 2 hrs. It's recommended that you mix at least 24, but that might be overkill.
I have question though...
WHen mixing water, i read that the PH should be directed towards the bottom, and then the top (or something like that).
WHen it's placed towards the top, am i supposed to make sure that little intake valve is out of water?? If i do it like that it's a mixture of air and water. ( idon't take it fully out of water, that's what damages/makes that nasty noise).
I never understood what that little vent was for

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by ADEE
http:///forum/post/2900276
do you have to keep the water moving until all the salt disolves? I still have some salt at the bottom of the bin im using to mix my salt water
See my post above regarding silt at the bottom of the mixing container. It may not be salt you're looking at.

 

[dustyboy316]

Originally Posted by woody189
http:///forum/post/2900294
I do the same thing, i take one out of my tank and use it, but i have 2 others.
I don't think 4 hrs is going to deplete your tank of O2.
But, they say you're supposed to mix the salt for longer than 2 hrs. It's recommended that you mix at least 24, but that might be overkill.
I have question though...
WHen mixing water, i read that the PH should be directed towards the bottom, and then the top (or something like that).
WHen it's placed towards the top, am i supposed to make sure that little intake valve is out of water?? If i do it like that it's a mixture of air and water. ( idon't take it fully out of water, that's what damages/makes that nasty noise).
I never understood what that little vent was for
Well it would be 8 hours, and then I do gradual changes everyday because there is no heater. Don't want to swing the temp too bad.
And I also leave the water out before being mixed... does it matter if I leave it out before it's mixed?

 

[gmann1139]

Originally Posted by ERock412
http:///forum/post/2900268
I'm new at this whole saltwater aquaria hobby, but I dont see how adding salt to water releases carbon dioxide.... NaCl+H2O couldn't yield C02 b/c there is no Carbon in the equation. Am i wrong about this?

Yes. There's a lot more in salt mixes than table salt. Iodine, Calcium, Magnesium are a couple of the biggies, but there's dozens of elements present.
I'm feeling lazy tonight, so I'm hoping someone else will post a link to a list of what's in common salt mixes.

 

[roberteb]

I use a 44 gallon brute and an Mag 5 pump.

 

[frog/lionman]

thanks Bang Guy, I used to add the measured saltmix to my mixing bucket and then add the water to the mix, I thought this was better than adding the saltmix to the water because it disolved it on contact. However, what you said is true, I always had lots of undisolved saltmix in the bottom that never mixed no matter how long I left it mixing.