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How long will saltwater stay "good" if I make it way in advance?


M&C

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I'm planning a pico build right now, and I was thinking of ways to make maintenance more efficient. Instead of mixing up a new 1g batch of saltwater each week for water changes, I figured I could maybe make 4 gallons or so at a time and have the water pre-mixed and ready to go for the next month. Will saltwater stay "fresh" for that long? I'd be keeping each extra gallon in a jug, so there would be no water movement and it wouldn't be exposed to air.

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Should be fine kept in capped gallon jugs (not exposed to sunlight). Before you use it, shake it up (and heat it, if using a significant amount).

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I keep mine in Brute garbage cans, sometimes for a couple of weeks. If it sits for a while I stir it up and double check salinity before using it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I use a 40gal trashcan with a lid. Keep a heater on it.. a MJ1200 in it and an airstone.

 

It does tend to smell odd after a few weeks and the hose in there feels slimy. However it tests fine.

 

I'm assuming the sliminess is just like how softened water feels slimy.

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Some salts aren't recommended for it like reef crystals isn't nor is red sea pro, but regular instant ocean stays fine for months IME

 

I hate to use iorc if left longer than a day and even then sometimes it has a brown film left on the brute. Doesn't hurt anything however. I just store the rodi and mix on demand. 30 mins or less and it's clear enough to use.

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I hate to use iorc if left longer than a day and even then sometimes it has a brown film left on the brute. Doesn't hurt anything however. I just store the rodi and mix on demand. 30 mins or less and it's clear enough to use.

 

I have had the same experience it gets nasty. I also read somewhere I think in a randy holme's farley thread it contains organics which could lead to problems. I don't know that for a fact though sooooo take that with a grain of your favorite reef salt lol.

 

edit: heres the difinitive answer in post 2, http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2119232

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I used to do this because I thought it was convenient, but when I measured the pH one time, it was about 7. This was after an intense shaking session :lol: So low and behold, I had to add it to a bucket and mix it up with a powerhead to raise the pH closer to 8 (which it did) It took almost as long as mixing fresh though.

 

Just keep that in mind.

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I clean my Brute regulary. Only because I like to get every last drop of SW out of the can and if I don't the precipitate winds up in my sump when the pump chews it up.

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