What's up with this?!

[zoie2]

I've been having a problem getting my calcium above 350, so just for the fun of it, I tested my just made salt water when I was doing a water change. It only came out to 250!!! Whats up with that? I use IO salt. I couldn't believe it.

I want to switch to something else, but the only brands my LFS sell are Red Sea and IO.
Has anyone ever bought their salt on line? NOt sure it would be worth the S&H. :help:

 

[bang guy]

It could be the way you're mixing up your saltwater. Can you tell me what your proceedure is for mixing it?

 

[zoie2]

I buy RO water in gallon jugs. I fill my sink half full with hot water and heat my 2 gallon jugs to my tank temp (79). I put 1/2 cup IO salt in a 2 cup plastic measuring thing then add 1 cup of my RO and stir. I dump it back in my gallon jug and shake it up then pour some more back in the plastic measuring cup untill all the salt is desolved. I let it sit for a bit, making sure all salt is desolved, check the temp one more time then add it to my tank. (After draining out 2 gal. of tank water of course).

 

[bang guy]

Try this -
Use a 5 gallon bucket.
Chill the RO water then add the 2 gallons to the bucket. The colder the better but obviously not frozen.
Measure just over 1 cup of salt.
Use a big plastic spoon or some other device to stir the water in the bucket as hard as you can while you slowly pour the salt into the water. It needs to be poured into the bucket slowly enough that it dissolves before it gets to the bottom of the bucket.
Let the water sit for an hour to stabilize & warm up and then test the salinity. If it's below 35ppt then stir the water again and add some more salt. If salinity is too high add some more RO water. Keep track of how much salt it actually takes to reach 35ppt so you can be more accurate the next time.
Let the water sit covered overnight or at least 12 hours.
Now you can accurately test the Ca level.
If you're doing a large water change then heat the water to tank temperature. If it's a small water change there's not need to warm the water past room temp but it doesn't hurt.

 

[fbm]

I too use IO salt and my calcium is very bad and I am just now getting it by adding magnesium too. I will not buy IO salt again, maybe I will get the -- IO but not regular IO.
I was mixing mine in five gallon buckets and I would add a half cup of salt every hour untill I had 2.5 cups and that would give me a 35ppt reading. Then I would let set for 12 more hours or so before testing and my calcium was 300. I just wonder if I got a bad batch or all IO salt has been like this. I posted this over on new hobbyist a few days ago about this problem with IO salt I was having.

 

[reefkprz]

IO is intended for FOWLR tanks, switch to reef crystals by the same company you will be far happier with the results. its what I use (not that that really has any bearing) but I like it and its not super expensive.

 

[rs1831]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Try this -
Use a 5 gallon bucket.
Chill the RO water then add the 2 gallons to the bucket. The colder the better but obviously not frozen.
Measure just over 1 cup of salt.
Use a big plastic spoon or some other device to stir the water in the bucket as hard as you can while you slowly pour the salt into the water. It needs to be poured into the bucket slowly enough that it dissolves before it gets to the bottom of the bucket.
Let the water sit for an hour to stabilize & warm up and then test the salinity. If it's below 35ppt then stir the water again and add some more salt. If salinity is too high add some more RO water. Keep track of how much salt it actually takes to reach 35ppt so you can be more accurate the next time.
Let the water sit covered overnight or at least 12 hours.
Now you can accurately test the Ca level.
If you're doing a large water change then heat the water to tank temperature. If it's a small water change there's not need to warm the water past room temp but it doesn't hurt.
Shouldn't you aerate the saltwater for at least 24 hours?

 

[my way]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Chill the RO water then add the 2 gallons to the bucket. The colder the better but obviously not frozen.
What's the purpose of using cold water?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by rs1831
Shouldn't you aerate the saltwater for at least 24 hours?
Aerating definately helps.

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by My Way
What's the purpose of using cold water?
Cold water can hold more Carbonate and Calcium. That makes it less likely to precipitate Calcium carbonate during the initial mixing.

 

[zoie2]

very interesting. I will try that. I only have a 12 gallon tank, so I can't imagine doing a huge water change.
I didn't know that about cold water. I guess you do learn something new every day!!
Thanks. I want to switch salts but the LFS I use only sells Red sea and the IO salt. I did find a NEW LFS which might carry the crystals.
Anyway thanks again!!