Salt wont mix into water.

[rookie07]

Im adding more salt water to my tank.
HOWEVER the salt wont mix in. I have a small pump in the bucket and a heater, but after 2 hours, I can still see salt floating everywhere. Hoiw do I mix the salt into the water better?

 

[thirty5]

Im adding more salt water to my tank.
HOWEVER the salt wont mix in. I have a small pump in the bucket and a heater, but after 2 hours, I can still see salt floating everywhere. Hoiw do I mix the salt into the water better?

What kind of salt are you using? Salt should definately be almost fully dissolved in 2 hours, especially if you are using a powerhead in the bucket. Did you use COLD water. Cold water is always slower to dissolve water in. What temp is water?

 

[rookie07]

water temp is around 74 or so(add heating up). A major name brand salt was used. I think instant ocean. And powerhead is 90 gph

 

[thirty5]

water temp is around 74 or so(add heating up). A major name brand salt was used. I think instant ocean. And powerhead is 90 gph

I have no idea why the salt is not mixing then. But make sure that it is fully mixed before you add to your tank.

 

[marrone]

Raising the heat up to about 78-80 should help. The Powerhead, 90gph, is small but what size is the bucket? You may also want to take a stick and stir it up by hand, see if that makes a difference. Also what's the SG of the mix in the bucket? If it's too high the small mayn't fully mix.

Also why are you adding more salt water to your tank? If you're doing a top off, to replace evaporated water, this is going to increase your SG. You want to top off with fresh water.

 

[rookie07]

add stuff to tank, lost water in that process. SG is 1.023-1.024.
4 gl bucket, and I am mixing by hand also

 

[octovox]

Once I accidentally left a bag of salt out open overnight, and when I tried to mix it it would not fully dissolve even after 48 hrs with a skimmer in the bucket. I just kept straining out the undissolved crystals with a filter pad and adding more salt until I had the right sg and no crystals.
I think the salt in the bag absorbed humidity from the air when it was left out open which made it dissolve really slowly.

 

[MO~IDOL]

use microwave heat up some rodi water mix with salt then add more rodi water.

 

[tosiek]

Throw it away and use a new batch. Call and/or write to the company stating the batch number and stuff and see if you could get a replacement or some info from them.

Yes your adjusting the salt levels of the water with it but it also carries trace elements (otherwise people would be using a sea salt variant cheap product). If its not dissolving then the trace elements aren't either as well. Its not just salt, read the ingredients.

Is it alot or just a few particles? How bad is it. Usually some sand and undissolved material is usually left behind but it shouldn't be alot. maybe 2 tablesspoons worth max depending on salt brand and it should be sandy.

 

[tosiek]

Pretty sure its measured doses per amount of salt you dissolve into the water to. So adding then skimming isn't helping to add the trace elements even though your salt level matches.

 

[rookie07]

FYI
left the bucket covered over night, with the pump going. ITS STILL NOT MIXED WELL.
Im going to use some very hot rodi water and then mix it with cold rodi water after the salt has mixed in.
Thanks guys

 

[yiliyang]

Your priority should be to replace the junk salt you are using. It seems pretty obvious the salt has problems, not your mixing style. Write to the company and state the problem, most likely they will replace your salt.

I can mix salt in icy cold water and it fully disolves in about 10 min. Address the root of the problem my good man.

Good luck.

 

[KathyC]

If you are saying you are going to mix you salt into hot water and then take that mixture and mix it into your colder water - that will NOT work!
Your salt will 'precipitate'.
By doing it that way your salinity will be mega-super high and the alk & Calcium that is in the mix will at first mix and then it will mmediately turn back into crystals and fall to the bottom (it will look very cloudy)
Once that happens it will not clear or be useful in your tank at all.

They are suggesting you START with your total volume of water being a higher temperature (78- 80) and THEN add your salt!!

 

[KathyC]

Octovox - In your case - when you had left the salt bucket open overnight - your salt had precipitated (yes, it can happen in the salt bucket!) and that made all of the salt that was 'clumped' precipitate.

If there was any salt under that hard layer that was still nice and soft (like it is supposed to be) - that salt would be ok to use.

You should not use any salt that has hardened - it is useless to your tank.

Can anyone (Dean? ) jump in here with the technical description of what 'precipitation' is so our noobies understand what is happening please?

 

[tosiek]

Precipitate

 

[tosiek]

If your still confused, it means throw away your salt if its not mixing because its useless. :biglaugh:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Salt bad. Call company to complain. Get new salt.

 

[rookie07]

Im Buying New Salt.
Thanks Everyone