The Puffer Forum

Blaine wrote:powerhead,...HOB, whatever....something to mix the salt into the water thoroughly was the point

True. But frankly, if a guy wants to stand there with a big spoon, it will mix also. Mixing time is really the key here. I suggest pre-mixing saltwater for a good 12 hours minimum.

Blane is right, a HOB is no different than using a powerhead.

Actually got a power head right now. The current in my tank was to much so I took it out. May need to get a cheap one once I upgrade because I will probably need it then.

I've also had this problem before when mixing various brands of salt. I must admit that is usually when making up full strength seawater at 5-15C, I do indeed have problems dissolving it if not using a powerhead for 24hrs.

For full 1.023 sg seawater for my tropical marines, I do try to leave a 40l barrel of it under heating and with a powerhead in because I understand that the 'new' synthetic seawater is quite caustic for that period. Quite where that came from or if it's true I don't know but it's often quoted in the literature.

I have been known to wash my arm under the tap, stick my hand in a barrel and swirl until the salt is dissoved. Probably not good practice - soap shampoo etc. Usually for the brackish tanks or native coldwater marines...

I've also had experience of making up synthetic ground water for an oilfield chemistry company. The various salts need to go into solution in a particular order or they will precipitate out. Barium chloride was one I had problems with but that's got to be a tiny constituent of sea water.

The stuff we were replicating was pickled underground aquefer water, millions of years old, 14,000 ft under the desert in Quater - that kind of thing...