M&C Posted December 18, 2014 Share Posted December 18, 2014 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. Link to comment
seabass Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 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). Link to comment
markalot Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 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. Link to comment
jamescstein Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 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. Link to comment
hey Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 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 Link to comment
MikeTR Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 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. Link to comment
hey Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 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 Link to comment
Hexadron Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 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 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. Link to comment
MikeTR Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Mine gets mixed with a mag 18. Nice to know the white crap on the bottom doesn't need to be cleaned out every single time. Link to comment
jamescstein Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 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. Link to comment
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