letting salt mix sit.....

[briguy44]

Hey I know that you are supposed to do your water and salt mix in a container and then let it sit all day or over night with a bubbler or some type of power head. Why is this necessary and what will happen if you get lazy and don't let is sit? If I don't use a power head does it have to sit out longer is or is it necessary to have one? Thanks, as you can tell i am still a little new to salt

[Pufferpunk]

It is not necessary to let it mix overnight for BW, IMO. I actually pour it into the impeller side of my filter, as the tank is filling up. It is imperative to premix for reef tanks though, as there are many minerals that do not dissolve instantly.

[Nick]

I have pretty good luck with 15 or 20 minutes for a FOWLR tank, even with large(75%) water changes - as soon as the water is totally clear and no new bubbles are forming on the sides of the container, I declare it "mixed" and add it.

[briguy44]

Well it sounds like water changes are going to get a little easier around here!

[bazil323]

I agree. I usually mix it in a rubbermaid tub and mix with a stick and then let it sit for a few minutes until it clears (tends to get a little cloudy for the first few minutes while salt is dissolving) and I'm sure there are no chunks or bits of salt. Then I try to pour it through the filter so that any salt I missed gets caught before the fish might encounter it.

[Pufferpunk]

I highly suggest against doing this for a reef tank though!