Premixed saltwater question...

[Stoll]

Hey everyone!

I'm wondering how long a bucket of saltwater could be left before use? Most places say to let your water age for at least a day or two before use, but what about a week, or a month, or longer...

I have a IO bucket full of saltwater that I removed when I first put my LR in my tank a several months back. I had just set it aside with the lid on and forgotten about it.

I was hoping that I could use it as part of a water change this weekend...

[Matt Rogers]

I think it would be fine as part of a water change. But I don't really know the shelf life so to speak.

[Stoll]

Hmm... I'm not sure I want to take any chances at the moment as all my live corals, Hippo tang and Sailfin tang are new additions.

Perhaps I should just use that water to start up my 10g QT tank?

[90_Berlin_joe]

stoll, i would test the water and go from there. I personally have a 35 gal garbage can setup to store my RO water that i add my salt, ph buffer and cal to before pumping it into my tank and it will sit for up to 1 week if not longer. My only problem that i have is i am using a Micron bag to rid my tank of micro bubbles and that seems to raise Nitrate if you don't change it ever few day(2).

Test it and you should be good.

[BaxterS80]

I premix a few buckets at a time up to a week in advance. With good aeration I see no reason not to..I have had no ill effects..The buckets have small powerheads and heaters....

[Tangster]

LOL I have used I/O that was so old and fused together I had to just put water into the bucket to dissolve it , then diloute that salt sludge after a few weeks soak to dissolve the slaltrock.. And if the mixed salt water was kept clean and sealed then its fine Salt if kept sealed and clean has no shelf life.. I'm aware of.. These animals are not as wimpy as many think .

[sssnake]

I have kept a bucket of saltwater on standby for months. Just keep the water heated and moving with a powerhead (as Baxter mentioned above). No problem.

[omard]

Air pump...keep water aerated.

Scott

[Tangster]

I'll ask it (: why do you guys keep it heated and circulating while its setting in the holding bucket ? never understood that myself . If mixed properly it will stay in solution O.K and if you think about it by pumping air into the holding bucket you are forcing dust and vapors and what ever is suspended in the air possibly forcing CO'2s into the mixture ?

I found that if just allowed to set its fine I prefer to keep it in a dark container and in the dark or dim light. I mix it in a 55 Gal Barrel and after the pump has it mixed from the predetermined amount of needed salt I just sets until needed . You can add a air stone a bit before its used to help with any low P.H id there is any ? Just asking why thats all I have one of those brains (: whats left of it, I've never seen any difference and do they post any special use needs or instructions on the new and expensive pre-mixed saltwater that comes in the plastic jugs .

[managemysite]

Saltwater itself does not go bad, but if it is not oxygenated then it can have anerobic bacteria in it or maybe even some ammonia from organisms dying, if it sits for a very long time, I would only use it in small amounts or oxygenate it for a few days first.