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mikenmandymoo 
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 Topic: Mixing your own Saltwater
Posted: January 17 2012 at 12:45pm |
So, now that we are adding a few more tanks - it has come time to financially start mixing our own SW. where 75 cents a gallon is a great deal.... doing water changes in two (soon to be three) tanks - it becomes financially silly. Plus... I can use what money I DO save and get more stuff for the tanks!  When we purchased our 125 gallong (which is sitting empty at the moment) we got what I can only imagine is an RO unit. (will take pics and post later today) and so that leads me to another thread. My question for this thread: How exactly do we go about mixing our own SW? What parameters do we need to watch for when mixing it? I know many say let it sit for 24 hrs prior to using it - which is fine, but just wondering how about to go making the RO water into Salty water! :) Thanks
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: January 17 2012 at 1:18pm |
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It's super easy and somewhat fun. Come on over and I'll show you.
Or, take a five gallon buckley for example and fill it with water. Add two and a half cups of salt. Use a paint stirrer in your drill for three minutes. Heat to 78 or whatever your tank is at. Give it one more good stir to make sure it is oxygenated. Use it.
Things of importance: pH, salinity, temperature
Adam
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mikenmandymoo
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Posted: January 17 2012 at 1:27pm |
Power tools and salt water.... what could be better!!! Sounds good Adam - once we get to that point I'll give you a shout and bring Mike over to see your tanks (that he is drooling over by my descriptions already!  ) |
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 17 2012 at 5:33pm |
Adam goes to too much trouble. I take the RO water at whatever temperature it is, close to room temperature is best, add the salt, stir it with a stick to dissolve the salt, and pour it into the tank. Check out what else I said about water changes just a few minutes ago in this thread: http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=53756Years ago, the salt mixes weren't as good and we had to let them sit for a day, preferably aerating with an air pump and airstone. It's not like that anymore. Oh, and don't let Adam try to convince you to buy an expensive Refractometer.  An ordinary Hydrometer works just fine. Get it calibrated by checking it with a solution of known salinity(another hobbyists tank), rinse it with freshwater after use and clean it with ordinary white vinegar once every 2-4 months and it will be fine forever.
Edited by Mark Peterson - January 17 2012 at 5:44pm
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: January 17 2012 at 5:41pm |
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Agree with Mark as well on all that, including the hydrometer part.
Adam
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mikenmandymoo
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Posted: January 17 2012 at 6:35pm |
Ahh, well see we bought a refractometer at reef fest from Aquatic Dreams - they had it on sale for a STEAL! So we bought it. We use these instruments at the vet clinic all the time so we know how to use / care for it. :)
However, I enjoy the thought of stirring the saltwater up with a power tool!!! :)
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 18 2012 at 12:17pm |
 Cool. To be perfectly honest, I'd rather use a Refractometer, because technology is awesome, but I am also all about making this hobby as affordable as possible. Don't you just love that crisp defining line between white and blue...
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Jeremyw
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Posted: January 18 2012 at 12:51pm |
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I always thought the paint stirrer was a freakin brilliant idea! Because as I always say, power tools can be used for anything!
Other than that, Adam and Mark summed it up nicely, its easy to make and can be done fairly quickly !
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 19 2012 at 4:24am |
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I agree it is brilliant. Wasn't it John Finch that first demonstrated the drill paint stirring tool at a meeting? John had brilliant ideas. I miss him.
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the seanze
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Posted: January 19 2012 at 9:32am |
Oh, and a quick tip to help with the stirring, Put a powerhead in your bucket and stir the salt on the bottom occasionaly it really makes it easy.
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Jeremyw
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Posted: January 19 2012 at 10:22am |
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I believe it was Jon, thats at lest who I saw it from first....
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Akira
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Posted: January 20 2012 at 11:54pm |
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I use a rubber maid tote and my ATO pump to mix.......after an over night mix at room temp I then clean the tank and refill into my overflow with the same pump :) No muss no fuss not fancy but never see any swings in my params......
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mikenmandymoo
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Posted: January 21 2012 at 8:14am |
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Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Going to plan on start mixing my own here rather soon - buying the premix is expensive.... as well as my shock to find out that the premix water was 1.032! So - salt mix will be bought shortly. :)
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 21 2012 at 5:36pm |
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I would approach the LFS with the info that your Refractometer reads their water at 1.032. Somebody's salinity tester may be way off and at this point we cannot be sure which one is off or if both are off. Having worked at an LFS, this is the kind of stuff we appreciate being brought to our attention, not in an attitude of accusation, but as a way to get to the truth of what's going on.
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mikenmandymoo
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Posted: January 21 2012 at 7:07pm |
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Thanks Mark - maybe I will. We have bought it from the start from this store and so found it interesting that the refractometer read so high. Will we need to recalibrate every day with RO water then?
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: January 21 2012 at 8:00pm |
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Most people never calibrate.... which is a big problem. To be honest I think if you are calibrating once per year that is way more than most people.
Adam
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mikenmandymoo
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Posted: January 21 2012 at 8:48pm |
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Thanks for the advice Adam! Will plan on calibrating it tomorrow and then retesting the water. May do a good 10% water change as well.
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Akira
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Posted: January 21 2012 at 10:14pm |
Most people never calibrate.... which is a big problem. To be honest I think if you are calibrating once per year that is way more than most people.
Adam
Crap then i must be doing it wrong.......as I am fairly new i check it everytime I test , more for my info than anything else besides only takes a second and my kids like to look into the refract :)
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hydro phoenix
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Posted: January 22 2012 at 8:24am |
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don't forget to test for ALK!
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mikenmandymoo
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Posted: January 22 2012 at 8:45am |
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I got the ALK strips yesterday - gonna test those this morning. Also, calibrated the refractometer this morning and then retested the tank - tanks salinity is now 1.029.... getting better, but far from stable. :P
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