Mixing Saltwater and getting it back into your tank....

[Simmy]

Hi there, I'm new to reefing....been lurking for a few weeks.

What equipment do you use to mix saltwater? Do you simply just add the salt to a bucket of water and "stir" or are you using a powerhead or circulation pump to mix it all up? How do you get the water back into your tank if you are mixing up a large batch of water too?

Do you have recommendations on what equipment to use? I read that the Maxi-Jets are 3 in 1 pumps that could be useful for this?

Comments suggestions?

[Slyguy00]

Theres lots of ways to do it. I personally just add my water to my 5 gallon bucket, then add my salt, stir for a few minutes then let it sit for 8 hours, or a day. Make sure your p.H is correct and your temp, then just gradually start adding water to your tank. If im doing a bigger batch of water I just use more buckets. Thats how I do it anyways, I dont find the need to use a powerhead to mix it up.

[Dearth]

I mix a batch in a 40 gallon brute garbage can on a dolly and use a power head to mix I leave it going all the time. I don't use a heater to maintain temp just room temperature

[The Guy]

I mix ro water and the salt in a 25 gallon barrel I have, you can use a power head or whatever you have to mix it. I usually put a 150 watt heater in with it while it's mixing. After it's well mixed at the temp. you want add it to your system. My tank is 90g with a 50 g sump so I figure I have approx. 100 gallons of water when you figure the rock displacement and the fact the sump is running half full.
I shut off my return pump, then suction out of all but a couple of inches water and detris I can, then all my new water goes into the sump. Been doing it this way since set up as advised by friends that were already into reefing. Seems to work well with no ill effects. Maybe others can chime in on how they do water changes.

[asylumdown]

back in the day when I was only using tap water for my tank I would haul out a 20 gallon garbage bin and put it right in front of the tank. Then I'd use one of those Python aquarium vac things with an attachment that would hook up to the bathroom sink to fill it. I'd mix the salt with a huge pasta spoon while it was filling.

I'd only wait until the salt was completely visibly dissolved before using a bucket to hand-ball the water in.

Obviously this was a time consuming and messy process, and if you can use RO water, it's better (Calgary's tap water reads around 140TDS on my meter pretty much constantly, though I hear Vancouver's is much better). If you've got the space for something a little more permanent where you can set up a bin that can hold several water changes worth and transport the water using pumps, you'll be far more likely to still have your tank in a year I think.

On my current set-up I have a dedicated sump chamber for water changes. I can isolate 2/3 of my sump from the flow of the tank using valves, and then drain the 50 gallon chamber where all my reactors are using a permanently installed pump with an outlet at a drain built in to my cabinet. I have another pump in my R/O reservoir in the basement that refills the water change chamber with fresh water, and while it's filling I mix in the appropriate amount of salt. I've got a koralia in that chamber that helps mix it, but at most I wait until the salt is visibly dissolved and I don't see anymore of that distortion of light you get when fluids of different densities mix. Some people like to wait much longer before using their freshly mixed salt, but I've been using mine immediately after mixing now from day one and I've never seen any deleterious effects from it.

[Werbo]

It is great question as month after month of water changes can become boring and you want to streamline the process as best you can.

Any powerhead or pump will work and a hose (ie. new garden hose) dedicated to water changes. Obviously the bigger the faster.

I do 40G water changes using a 44G Brute can and old Hagen 802 powerhead to mix the water and pump old water to the bathtub and then new water from the Brute into the tank. Takes about 34-40 minutes.

Currently looking for a large CHEAP submersible pump (eg. Mag 12 or 18, Eheim 1262) to make the process faster.

[Coralgurl]

My water/mixing is done in the basement. I use 2 30 gl brute cans, (one for fresh water top up, one for salt). I keep both filled at all times, when salt is needed, mix up a batch, I have a power head and heater going. I then pump into 5 gl jugs and carry upstairs. When I find a pump that can push the mixed water up, I'll switch over.

Find the most effective, efficient way to get your mixed water to the tank from the beginning! Makes water changes much easier and will keep you motivated to keep them up!

As you are new, remember to top up with fresh water only as the salt does not evaporate.

[asylumdown]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

My water/mixing is done in the basement. I use 2 30 gl brute cans, (one for fresh water top up, one for salt). I keep both filled at all times, when salt is needed, mix up a batch, I have a power head and heater going. I then pump into 5 gl jugs and carry upstairs. When I find a pump that can push the mixed water up, I'll switch over.

Find the most effective, efficient way to get your mixed water to the tank from the beginning! Makes water changes much easier and will keep you motivated to keep them up!

As you are new, remember to top up with fresh water only as the salt does not evaporate.

How far would the pump need to send the water? I'm using 2 Aqueon Quiet flow 8000s to pump my water from my basement, but the barrel of water is directly under the tank in the utility room. One is hooked up to the Auto-top off system, and one is for water changes. I switched because the eheim pump I was originally using for my auto-top off couldn't push against that much head pressure if my reservoir was less than half full. The Aqueon (which was hella expensive!) has enough power to keep pumping even when the reservoir is essentially empty. I'd say I have between 10-12 feet of head pressure when you take in to account to tubing doesn't go straight up.

[e46er]

I have a 55 gal drum with a 1200 gph power head to mix up salt I throw a heater in day before a WC. I have a T off my closed loop pump so I open a valve and it pumps water out of tank then and use a mag 9.5 to pump water from my mixing barrel to the tank.

40 gal change takes around 30 min but I don't need to stand and watch it

[gregzz4]

You didn't mention how much water you're going to be mixing for your waterchanges (WCs)

I use a maxi-jet (MJ) 600 and 900, and a 100w heater in my 20g mixing tank. I prefer to have the new saltwater (NSW) the same temp as the DT before adding it
How much water I'm making dictates whether or not I run both powerheads or just one. One is on the bottom and the other half way up

I fill the NSW tank with RO water, turn on the pump and heater, and add the salt a few cups at a time and mix with a stick to disolve it
I think it was Myka who mentioned once about adding salt to cool water to avoid precipitation. I found this to be true and my new saltwater (NSW) doesn't get cloudy anymore as it did when I added the salt to warmed up water

I let it sit overnight before using it. The powerhead's agitation helps with pH as it's oxygenating the water
The next day, before using it, I test the specific gravity (SG) of the NSW, but don't bother testing the pH

I don't need to use a hose to add my NSW as I have my mixing tank higher than my sump. I installed a bulkhead in the bottom of the 20g and, when ready to add, I just open a valve and fill away
Makes water changes a breeze so I never dread them and they get done regularly

You don't need a heater. Up to you
A MJ can have a hose attached so after you use it for mixing, you could use it to pump the NSW
You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like. Just keep in mind as Coralgurl stated, make it as easy as possible so you don't put it off