Mixing Seachem Reef Salt & Precipitation

[Jimbo205]

When mixing Seachem Reef Salt, in time I get precipitation.

If I am making anywhere from 10 gallons to 30 gallons of water 24-48 hours before use; how many Teaspoons or Tablespoons of Epsom Salts should I add to prevent the Calcium from falling out of the solution?

And when I read the term 'Ionically Balanced', I assume that means 'elements', 'salts', or magnesium and or calcium. It all means the same thing, correct?

Thank you for your help with this.

Jimbo205

[Tech Support EH]

Precipitation can occur due to a few things. Temperature affects calcium carbonate precipitation. The higher the temp, the more precipitation you'll see. Pumps get warm and precipitation on them is inevitable. You can lower the temp some before adding the salt and see if this helps. Also, adding the salt more slowly and over the course of a day rather than all at once will also help alleviate this effect.

When we speak of ionic balance, we mean keeping all of your tank parameters(calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, pH) where they should be in order to help support one another. Since they all go hand-in-hand, if one becomes too low, then it is often hard to keep the others up where you want them. This is why we always stress the importance of testing magnesium, as many people do not appreciate it for all of the roles that it plays in a reef tank. Therefore, adding epsom salts should not be necessary when mixing your salt.

[Jimbo205]

Precipitation can occur due to a few things. Temperature affects calcium carbonate precipitation. The higher the temp, the more precipitation you'll see. Pumps get warm and precipitation on them is inevitable. You can lower the temp some before adding the salt and see if this helps. Also, adding the salt more slowly and over the course of a day rather than all at once will also help alleviate this effect.

Wow. I never expected that one!

Here, I have been pre-mixing my salt water in a container thermally insulated - with HOT water and allowing it to cool down in my cool/cold basement with a heater in the container to keep it from getting too cool/cold.

I have been using a styrofoam box that I got from a veterinarian's office and using a black garbage bag as a liner. The styrofoam is roughly 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch thick. I thought that would keep the temperature stable once I got it all mixed at the temperature I set my heater for. It holds roughly 10 gallons (may 13 gallons). I was adding 5 gallons of hot water. Then adding 1/2 cup ReefSalt for each gallon. Then adding the next 5 gallons of hot water to mix. Whoops! I thought hot water was supposed to help 'super-saturate' solutions and salts. Guess not!

So, I should use COLD WATER and slowly add ReefSalt over the course of a day?

Okay, I'll try that.

Never saw that one coming!

Thank you for the help (and in layman's terms no less - you guys and gals are the best).

[Tech Support DD]

Yes; try using colder water. To be honest, when we mix our saltwater here at Seachem, we take the water straight from our RO/DI unit and add salt to the mixing container (and the water is fairly cold). Also, adding the Reef Salt over the course of a day should help. Thank you very much for the kind words about our Support Team!