What is the proper method of storing saltwater. I have been simply mixing up about 35 gallons and letting it sit with a heater and an air stone in it. Is this the proper method? How long can it be stored this way? Any drawbacks?
Interesting, I have 35 gallons of RO and 35 gallons of SW at the ready. I was just wondering if it would lose anything in 8 weeks (which is how long it will take to use for changeouts) if I left it heated and had a bubbler in it.
Personaly i have a 5 gallon container i premix salt in for water changes and i keep it for close to two weeks. its sealed all the time but its just R/O and salt..
yes, keep it stored in a "food safe" container if you can.
as for the saltwater, you can keep it stored also, just remember that after a few days/weeks you will need to top it off to adjust the SG. water evaporates. even more so when its heated. and from being in a sealed container for so long its likely going to have low PH, so make sure before you add it to the tank the PH and SG are adjusted
__________________
Show people you appreciate there advice, click the icon under there name and give them Reputation points
I have two large (7 gal) containers that I keep full of mixed water at all times. When I mix, I drop a heater and two powerheads in the tub and keep the lid on there loosely. After running the powerheads for 12-24 hours, I pull them and then seal the bucket.
When I use the water, I put the powerheads and heater back in. I check the SG before using, in case I need to add some RODI
Excuse my ignorance, but if stored in an airtight container... why wouldn't mixed saltwater last indefinitely?
__________________ "Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study Hard. Be evil."
The Palouse Region Aquarium Society is now PALOUSE REEFERS - http://www.palousereefers.com/
Abolish the IRS! Bring transparency and accountability to tax policy - close all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation. Support the Fair Tax plan... visit http://www.fairtax.org
the biggest thing to take into account is that RO water is like a sponge for impurities! we spend money trying to keep it pure, so your aim should be a logical outcome. storage in food safe is without question as stated, a sealed vessel of lid design of some type or description is also prefered. but its really just till u put in your tanks, cause people leave the tanks open exposed to any airborne nasty!
so i guess it just giving your water a fighting chance to make it pure!
in saying that i use a glass lided tank with live rubble & noodles in the bottom, & constantly refill when needed! a strongish powerhead is the only movement used!
i dont go overboard with the sealed bit! but i never lose site of it ether!
I normally make about five 5 gallon buckets or RO/DI water which are sealed air tight and only one of the buckets I use every other day for 1 gallon RO/DI Saltwater water changes and top offs. Seems to be doing the trick for me.
I use 5 diffrent 5 gallon buckets as well. 1 is purely for RO/DI water for topoffs and such, 1 is mixxed saltwater that I plan on useing within that week (I let mine sit for 2-3 days before use) , 2 others have RO/DI in them and are just in line to be mixxed, the last bucket I keep empty as a "waste water" bucket, it NEVER gets used to hold clean water or mixxed saltwater, it's strictly for water changes or fish evacs if needed.
Well maybe I should test my stored salt water and RO to see what it is doing as I store 35 gallons of each. I use the RO for more than just the tank, I clean all my phyto jars and containers as well as my testing kits with it, and I cahnge about 10 gallons a week. But I guess I never thought to test for PH and the like. I will see what I get....
I have (2) 55 gallon water storage tanks. One is for RO/DI water used for top offs, one is for preparing saltwater. The tank for salt water mixing has a heater and pump. Both are covered, but not airtight. I make sure that I use up all the water in each tank every month, so that I can clean and rinse the tanks. Even with RO/DI, I still get a slight "film" covering the walls of the tanks, probably from my buffer. I like to mix up the saltwater at least a few days before being needed. I also like to "seed" it with some water from the tank that it will be going in. Don't know if this is important or total over-kill, but have had godd luck, even when doing large water changes.
Hi guys : this is maybe a little different but just read the thread. I am presently setting up my new 180 and filling it with RO /DI water . Now the problem here is that it does take time to make this water. I have also added salt which was maybe a mistake to? Anyhow the top of the tank is open and other than that I am still filling away. I will add live rock shortly but not right away. So that being said what should I do? run power heads in the mean time as no skimmer or filtering of any kind is going on. thanks for a idea on this. Dass
icon under there name and give them Reputation points
V-series Productions