The Puffer Forum

I have had mixed answers on this topic so I wanted your guys input as to adding salt to my tank. I have heard from some that I need to pre mix my salt water and add it in but others have told me I can just add the salt directly into my tank. Obviously adding salt directly into my tank is the easiest for me but I was just curious what your guys input would be on this topic.

Add your salt to the water you'll use to do a partial weekly water change (5 gallon bucket, trash can, etc). Add salt to water, not water to salt. Mix thoroughly with a powerhead/pump & let it mix for at least several hours, or overnight. If there is anything undissolved, mix better, and do not add undissolved precipitate to your tank. Keep other pets and children away from your water container. Warm your change water with a submersible heater before your water change to exactly match the tank temperature. If you don't have a heater to do this, you could microwave some fresh water & add to your brackish mix to increase temperature.

whatever you do, don't add salt right to a tank with fish in it, they will die. Always make up your water in a separate, dedicated vessel of some kind, as stated above.

I beg to differ. Although not recommended until you know exactally how much to add, I have been mixing salt into my HOB for years.

I guess what I'm saying is salt poured on to fish is bad. You are correct, when you know what you're doing exactly there are different ways of going about it.

I admit to being one of the 'always predissolve the salt' folks.

I always predissolve for my reef tank.

I always predissolve and always have. In fact, I believe that the label on the container even says to NEVER add the salt mix directly to the tank.

For upping my fw to bw I've been making a one gallon container of water at 1.028ish then adding a few ladles a day of it.

When I do my water changes I match the density from the tank to the new water just before I do the change

I pre-mix in my water change bucket, but because I'm only trying to get to an SG of 1.005 I don't use a powerhead or pump to help it mix...I use a 98 cent brine shrimp net, swirl it around a bit, go play flute for 15 minutes (sometimes more if the tunes are going well), stir again, then add to the tank after checking SG.

I think the amount of work and time necessary to fully disolve salt is naturally related to the SG you're trying to achieve. Low SG = more quickly and easily disolved salt.

If I were making full SW, I'd use a pump, bucket, heater and let it sit overnight, too.

PP - how do you do this add to HOB trick? Is this with your Aquaclears (I run them, too)?

Eric

I have my special bucket and utensils which are very scientifically ( ) calibrated. A set amount of nearly boiling water dissolves the salt (I'm only aiming for 1.005 here, so it works fine), then the rest of the bucket gets topped up with cold and the dechlorinator, left a few mins, then goes in the tank.
Pami.

After knowing exact ally how much I need to add to replace the !/2 tank of water I've removed (1 3/4 cup for my 20g, to achieve a SG of around 1.005), I pour it into the AQ filter box (not the side w/the impeller--it will get caught & ruin the impeller) a little at a time, as the tank is filling. I always test the SG a few hours later.

Yikes, that scares me...I think I'll stick to my bucket!

It is clever, and I'm sure it works, though.

Eric

do you guys know of any guides that would give me guidelines on raising my salinity? I am still at a grey area not knowing how many TBSP of salt to add per gallon to raise such and such %.

Do you have a hydrometer?