Is this salt still OK?

[Dante]

I just went to mix up a batch of new water for a water change using my IO salt and I found that I hadn't put the lid on properly last time I used it. The salt is hard and I have to use a screwdriver to break it up. It seems to (completely) dissolve a little slower than I remember. I'm assuming some moisture has gotten in the bucket. (?) Will this salt still be OK or has some reaction taken place that's going to mess it up? The bucket is still 3/4 full.

 

[jandree22]

fine to use... the easiest way to break it up again is to securely fasten the lid and invert the bucket a few times. the tumbling of the salt will break it up.

 

[Anonymous]

It will be fine. I don't think I have ever gotten through a whole bucket of salt without moisture getting to it and causing it to get hard. It takes longer for it to dissolve, but it shouldn't cause any problems.

 

[jandree22]

A trick I do to help dissolve solid chunks of salt, is to place them in a fish net, dip the net in the water, and crush the chunk back and forth with your hand. This will break up the chunk and only really fine pieces of salt will fall through the net helping it dissolve quicker.

 

[Anonymous]

I usually just dump it in the RO water with a pump and forget about it (literally) for a couple of days. By the time I remember that i have the salt mixing it is fully dissolved and well mixed.

Andrew

 

[FragMaster]

I use hot water and let it cool.

 

[grav]

Use the salt, but keep the rusty oil covered screwdriver away from it.

 

[FragMaster]

:idea: :wink: :lol:

 

[Dante]

Use the salt, but keep the rusty oil covered screwdriver away from it.

That's fabulous!!!

I have mixed up about 20G of SW using RO/DI water with a heater and PH. It has been mixing for about 3 days and there is still some white particulate that is not dissolving. Looks like tiny grains of sand. Any idea what this is?

 

[leftovers]

calcium carbonate or calcium that forms when water gets into the salt...usually if salt gets wet and hard toss it iirc some salts contain calcium chloride which reacts with moisture and surrounding components. I dont know if current mixes still use Cal Chl as primary calcium component.

But if you chopped up salt and mixed and still have precipitation toss and get fresh salt your tank and occupants will thank you.

 

[Anonymous]

leftovers is right. If there is any precipitate on the bottom, that means some element didn't dissolve, and perhaps that would affect your tank's inhabitants.

IMO, I'd ditch it, get more salt and mix a new batch. I've learned the hard way with reefkeeping that saving a few bucks isn't worth potentially creating a problem.[/quote]

 

[Anonymous]

I use hot water and let it cool.

What's the Calcium and ALK reading after using hot water? I'd think hot water would cause precipitation.