Instant Ocean mixing

[DEAD_BY_DAWN]

I was wondering if anyone has had this issue with instant ocean,there seems to be hundreds if not more of small white speheres floating around in the mixing bucket the temps correct,any ideas what they are ? this btw is after three hours of mixing .

[prosnow]

no clue, but i would like to know myself, i seem to have the same problem

[DEAD_BY_DAWN]

This is the second time this has happend for me,i used the other one without any problems but this ones going in with baby seahorses.

[DanG]

I usually drop one of my seio 620's in a 5g bucket that I'm mixing with IO. Sometimes I've seen the small particles, but they usually go away.

[Flusher]

I've had small white sediment at the bottom of my mixing tank ever since I started a new bag of IO salt. The bag had hardened clumps of salt, as though moisture had got into the bag. The particles never dissolve. Every few weeks I scoop them out with a small net.
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Volcano vaporizers

[GMGQ]

One time I saw this film of flaky stuff floating on the water surface from mixing it... I just got a net and scooped as much out as I could.

If you grab the round white things and rub it between your fingers, does it break down?

[Chad]

This might sound like a dumb question but it is valid

How do you mix your salt, ie: Salt into empty bucket, then dump water in or Water in a bucket then dump salt in.

Also, how was the water brought up to temp, ie: heater in a bucket for a day or hot boiling water (rushed to temp on stove) and poured into a bucket.

I have noticed through experience, that adding too much salt first into either an empty bucket or smaller amount of water tends to cause calcium to precipitate out. Also, when rushing to heat the water to temp, and adding boiling water to salted cold water, there tends to be precipitate as well.

Just FYI... hope this helps.

Have you tested Alk, Cal, Mag on this batch to see the levels?

[WaterLogged]

I use an old air pump and throw the air line to the bottom of the bucket held down by whatever to airate and mix. I use I/O salt too and have never had problems with white specks or percipitating. Since I only change 10% of the 90 gal of water I dont use a heater to heat it either. I just put the water in the sump and let the temp equal itself out there.

[Beverly]

Have used IO in the past with no mixing problems.

I think Chad has asked some very good questions about how a person actually makes up their new saltwater for water changes.

Here's our method:

- right after weekly water changes in our 37g, 67g and 120g we begin adding RO/DI water to two 30g mixing vats (Rubbermaid garbage cans) that are stored in a room with an open window (summer and winter)
- tops of vats are left partly uncovered to allow for maximum aeration
- once the water level in each vat is acheived, an 802 powerhead is plugged in and the water gets a heck of a good aeration until the next water change
- two days before water changes, heaters are plugged in in both vats, powerheads still running like crazy and tops still partly uncovered
- the day before water changes, salt is added to a salinity of 1.025, powerheads running even crazier and tops still partly uncovered

NOTE: there is usually a bit of salted water left in the mixing vat from water change day. It is left in the vat and RO/DI water is added to dilute it.

I have just made up the water for water changes tomorrow. At first, the water is cloudy, but it clears within a half hour at most, mainly due, IMO, to the water being heated to tank temps and the vigorous aeration.

HTH.

[Bartman]

I have the same problem but I'm pretty sure I know what started it. I did not have the problem until I didn't seal the lid after a water change one week. The lid was loose for 2-3 weeks and when I went to use it the salt had hardened into clumps I had to break up to use. I have had white precipitate ever since then. The bucket is almost empty now and no ill effects on either of my tanks using the salt.

The precipitate either slowly disappears or mixes with my sand. I'm not sure.