Mixing Tropic Marin

[kimmyd55]

Hello,

Well here i go, bought the Nano and i am ready to mix my saltwater, have my RO/DI Water and my box of Tropic Marin but i am not seeing on the box where it says have much salt per gallon of water to mix, can someone please help me or am i missing something on the box? Thanks in advance.

[duke1231]

try to see if they have a website, because it should be on the box. If worse comes to worse pour a little in mix it and then use your hydrometer to see where it's at. Does anyone else have an idea?

[wwest]

Most salt is 1/2 cup per gallon. but i dont know with the stuff you have. I have never used it before. Ill see what i can find for you though :)

[kimmyd55]

Thank you for the advice, i went ahead and mixed a 1/2 cup per gallon of water and at the moment am heating the water to check for specific gravity, i will post back and let ya'll know what i have come up with. I appreciate the advice.

[CarmieJo]

I've used IO and now Red Sea. I always start out with 1/2 cup per gallon mix it for a good while and then adjust from there.

[Rob]

yes, check is always the best route..
IO is suppose to be 1/2 per gallon
i order my last batch from dr. smith and foster, and when i do 1/2 per gallon i am at 1.020, so i have to add about 3-3.5 cups per 5 gallon bucket to get to 1.026... .

so i concur, start with 1/2 per gallon and test.. as you are.. :)

[PSH]

At half a cup per gallon will only get you 1.020 I think it even says that on the bucket of IO. I use 3.5 per 5 gallons of water.

[Rob]

well im not home right now, but i remember reading on it that 1/2 per gallon was to give 1.024.. i will check it when i get home in case im wrong.. :)

[kimmyd55]

Well after i have heated my water and tested it, i was way high on my salinity, so i am going to top off with some straight RO/DI and bring it down some. I thought I was measuring well, maybe i was too rounded with my 1/2 cups. Will check back in after the weekend with an update. Thanks for everyone's help.

[duke1231]

dont feel bad I did the same thing and I am still adding just RO to bring down my salanity. I must have had the salanity of the Red Sea. Rob your right it's 1/2 cup per gallon, and I think that is too much.

[Rob]

well either way, this just supports why we need to use a hydrometer/refractometer before we use our salt mix.. :)

[gerry363]

If this helps.....salt mix boxes have the weight of salt on front cover.Divide this weight by the water volume(gallons/liters.also on box). Multiply that amount by the volume you need.

My box of Tropic marin 4kg (4000) will mix 32us/gl...........4000 divided 32= 125
so for every gallon you need multiply by 125........5 gallons= 625.
Once you have this is done.pour salt into plastic cup.mark level of salt on cup.....no more weighing,spot on every time.

ps. Dont let your wife catch you using her kitchen scales!!:D

[CarmieJo]

Hi Gerry363,

:welcome: to TR. Thanks for jumping in with this tip. The 125 is mg, right?

[iglowce]

just wondering how far ur fish tank is from ur place. if distance is not a big problem, IMO u should just purchase seawater from the store. its not too expensive and saves u A LOT of time mixing

[George]

Thank you for the advice, i went ahead and mixed a 1/2 cup per gallon of water and at the moment am heating the water to check for specific gravity, i will post back and let ya'll know what i have come up with. I appreciate the advice.
You should always try to heat the water first, then add salt. Too cold water can result in precipitation which will affect the pH of the resultant mix.

On the subject of refractometers, a very good one is on sale at Dr's Foster & Smith: Portable Refractometer (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9957&N=2004+113761)