batch water mixing???
 

I was wondering if anyone mixes large batches of water for their changes and store it. I have a 10g nano which I do a 1 gallon change every week.I mixed 5 gallons of ro/di and crystal sea salt, have a heater and power head in it for circulation. After about a 2 weeks the water went brown. What did I do wrong? Mixing up only gallon of salt water per week is hard to get the ratio right. :redface: Any suggestions?

I get the same sort of issue, its ok so long as I do not add salt, but the moment I add salt I have to use it in about 2 days otherwise the Nitrates start going up.

Where would the nitrates be coming from? Never tested mine before dumping it.

I get a film on the inside of my rubbermaid container when I store RO/DI water for longer than a week, I think its some sort of biofilm. My theory is that when you add salt it gives them all they need to really thrive and a biproduct of that could be the nitrates that you are seeing.

Christy :)

I quess i should get a scale and mix a gallon up at a time.

A scale, what for?? Hydrometer might be the way to go. Once you make one batch, just add the same amount of salt next time, super easy.
Dave

Have you ever tried to mix 1 gallon

No I have not. I mix 30, 60 0r 90gal at a time.

Dave

Mixing that quantity, 1tps doesn't change your SG from 1.019 to 1.027 :biggrin:

reply
 

Do you keep it in a cool dark place with a lid on it? If you don't heat the water it should prolong it's shelf life a bit more. Plus with a lid on it and no O2 it will last even longer. It wouldn't take long to heat and ariate (sp) 1 gallon of water at a time.