Mixing red sea coral pro

[Clown79]

I just switched salts from Reef Crystals to coral pro.

 

I have a question about mixing it.

 

It says not to aerate, to mix vigorously for .5 - 2hrs.

 

Are you not supposed to use a powerhead and heater with this salt?

 

Or do you add the powerhead and heater after the salt has disolved?

[Droy008]

I mix mine in the bucket with water for a good 1-2 minutes then let sit with a powerhead and heater for an hour.

After that I check SG to make sure it hasn't changed and then add it to my tanks.

[Clown79]

Great. Thank you. The instructions were kind of odd. Never heard of not heating or aerating salt before.

[Muraki]

You risk making the salt mix cloudy if you heat it. I mix at room temperature for .5-2 hours. Once the water is clear it is usable. Once mixed then heat before adding to your tank if needed. If you heat it, don't heat it past 78F. Just my .2 cents

[Clown79]

Thats what I figured i'd do. I've read pre heating it creates cloudy water. So i'll heat it just before the change.

 

Very different instructions for this salt.

 

Thanks so much for the help.

 

Can this salt water be stored if I have any left?

[squamptonbc]

Thats what I figured i'd do. I've read pre heating it creates cloudy water. So i'll heat it just before the change.

 

Very different instructions for this salt.

 

Thanks so much for the help.

 

Can this salt water be stored if I have any left?

 

I store any left over water in a 5 gallon bucket, no power-head, no heater, and it stays clear and usable with no issues.

 

I mix it like this:

 

Power head for 1.5-2 hours

 

Heater if needed, but I change only small amounts of water that I don't find any reason to heat it. (I do small daily water changes vs a larger weekly one.)

[Clown79]

I normally store mine but have heard ppl complain that coral pro gets cloudy after storing. Just wanted to see what others experienced.

 

I do about 10-15% weekly on 2 tanks. I normally don't have much left over.

[Finhead1]

 

I store any left over water in a 5 gallon bucket, no power-head, no heater, and it stays clear and usable with no issues.

 

I mix it like this:

 

Power head for 1.5-2 hours

 

Heater if needed, but I change only small amounts of water that I don't find any reason to heat it. (I do small daily water changes vs a larger weekly one.)

 

Just curious on others methods. When you say small daily water changes, approx what % per day? And how long will the mixed SW be ok to use when not agitated? I've never stored mixed water, always a day or 2 before I do a change this sounds easier.

[Clown79]

I don't do daily waterchanges.

 

Most who may do daily would be pico tanks. most do weekly, some with high nutrient levels will do more to lower them.

 

Some will pre mix water and store for a few weeks. i mix my water the day i do a water change but save any left over.

[Finhead1]

I don't do daily waterchanges.

 

Most who may do daily would be pico tanks. most do weekly, some with high nutrient levels will do more to lower them.

 

Some will pre mix water and store for a few weeks. i mix my water the day i do a water change but save any left over.

 

Yes I'm not new to Reefing, been into the hobby for 14 years. As I said just curious on others methods.

[anizato]

Correct. Mix cold. Once clear, add heater. If you mix for too long you will see precipitation from the caking agent, you can still use this if it happens. However, if you by any chance happened to leave it mixing with heater and for some mysterious reason there is some sort of 'something' in the mix bucket (dirty finger smudge, a hair, ANYTHING = bacteria - there is probably some bacteria dormant in our salt mixes, you never know). It will bloom and your water will look foamy on the surface ..DO NOT use this water.

Even if you clean your bucket and use the most pristine methods, bacteria is everywhere but the cleaner you are the longer it will take for it to find its way into your saltwater. It HAS happened to me twice in 2 years, where I mix the water too long with the heater on and Some life-form will grow in this suitable environment. So, once you heat it, you have less than 2 hours to use it.

[squamptonbc]

I do 2% per day on a 14 gallon tank. Its just how I have always liked to do it, I've never had any issues negatively doing it this way, and seems to work just as well as larger weekly ones.

 

I do the same on my freshwater tank as well as goldfish.

 

I mix 5 gallons at a time, lasts about 2 weeks, I've never had an issue with keeping water in a container with a lid, sometimes I need to add a small of RO water to compensate for any water loss, but its very minimal.

 

 

 

Just curious on others methods. When you say small daily water changes, approx what % per day? And how long will the mixed SW be ok to use when not agitated? I've never stored mixed water, always a day or 2 before I do a change this sounds easier.

[Clown79]

Thank yoy so much. i will be really diligent with this salt.

[basser1]

You risk making the salt mix cloudy if you heat it. I mix at room temperature for .5-2 hours. Once the water is clear it is usable. Once mixed then heat before adding to your tank if needed. If you heat it, don't heat it past 78F. Just my .2 cents

 

This is what I do, except I don't use a heater. I mix it to my desired salinity using a powerhead and I use it immediately.

 

No problems after 3 years of using it.

 

If you can ignore the Red Sea persons' strong accent, here is a 4 minute video on how to mix it.

 

https://youtu.be/UlIHJ02NaKk

[braaap]

Weird. I've been using this salt for years. I heat my water and mix it for a day and then use it. Sometimes I have the water heated and then mix it over about 45mins-1hr and then use it. I've never seen it get cloudy or foamy or anything. It does leave a small amount of residue inside the bucket but that is all salt from what I have experienced.

[Clown79]

I know that everything i read regarding this salt and everyones experience, don't mix more than 4 hrs. I have also read don't heat when mixing, heat just before use.

 

My biggest concern was the aeration part.

 

Glad i asked. i will definitely follow everyones recommendations