Cloudy salt water

[Corsair]

Dear All,

I have mixed some fresh saltwater for my quarantine tank using tropic marin salt,

however the water is cloudy and does not clear up after a few days. I have a power head aerating the water in the tank?

If I turn it off, the powerhead and base of the tank will be cover with white powder...

Does any one encounter this problem? How long does it takes usually for the salt to be completely dissolved?

[optimus prime]

1) salt did not dissolve properly?

2) you not using dechlorinated water?

3) lousy salt brand?

[weileong]

Make sure you pour salt into water and not water onto the salt.

[Gouldian]

It is adviseable to aerate the decholrinated water over night before adding salt.

If not you will experience what you are experiencing now.

[bum]

It is adviseable to aerate the decholrinated water over night before adding salt.

If not you will experience what you are experiencing now.

actually, Singapore water now no longer contains chlorine but chloromine,

which cannot be removed by bubbling,

but running a powerhead overnight to dissolve salt is a good idea

you gotta use additives that remove chloromine,

eg, seachem PRIME or AQUAz triplex solution.

i use tropic marine and i've never had this problem except once,

that was when i used salt that had been left opened very long like almost a year.

the salt crystals did not dissolve and there were sediments floating on the surface.

salt will absorb moisture from the air so mke sure you keep yours properly.

now i change water weekly so i use up salt pretty fast,

no more such problems.

[Gouldian]

actually, Singapore water now no longer contains chlorine but chloromine,

which cannot be removed by bubbling,

but running a powerhead overnight to dissolve salt is a good idea

you gotta use additives that remove chloromine,

eg, seachem PRIME or AQUAz triplex solution.

i use tropic marine and i've never had this problem except once,

that was when i used salt that had been left opened very long like almost a year.

the salt crystals did not dissolve and there were sediments floating on the surface.

salt will absorb moisture from the air so mke sure you keep yours properly.

now i change water weekly so i use up salt pretty fast,

no more such problems.

That's why I say aerate dechlorinated water.

The reason why we aerate is not to percipitate chlorine - it is because tap water contain very little oxygen and when you aerate it overnight after you have dechlorinate your water you will find that the salt will take shorter period to dissolve. Try it if you haven't.

[Corsair]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply.

I added salt to water and use Nutrafin dechlorinator. Have been aerating the water with a powerhead for several days liao. The salt looks fine because there isn't any salt lumped together when I open it....Does it means I have to drain away the cloudy water and do the mixing again?

[Gouldian]

Sorry bro, but what are the steps in chronological order you take? Did you dechlorinate, aerate then mix?

[optimus prime]

clearer steps:

1) fill pail with water

2) dechlorine / dechloramine the water

3) aerate overnight

4) put salt in water and dissolve completely.

5) check salt content.

6) if ok, pour in the tank.

[Corsair]

I think I got the steps wrong.

Did not aerate the water overnight...heheh

Pour water into pail

Add salt.

Add dechlorinator

Stir the water

Add the powerhead to aerate.

Can I still keep the water or drain it off and mix new one again.

[Gouldian]

Can use for cycling. But I wouldn't reccomened to use it if there are precious live stocks in there.

[terryansimon]

I've tried adding water to salt, and I get clear solution! been doing that for the past six months. no problems whatsoever.

my routine *weird one to follow actually. a bit unconventional*

1) add pre-measured amount of salt into pail

2) add a bit of water

3) swirl water around to dissolve as much salt as possible

4) add Seachem Prime

5) add even more water

6) measure with refractometer --> if obtained wrong readings, either dilute or add more salt.

7) add water until almost full.

8) let it stand for one or two hours.

I don't bother aerating it for 24hrs as I do not have the space or luxury in my house to do that. if I use a powerhead/air pump, I will create a lot of salt spray and incurr the wrath of my mother. so yah.

so far, so good. been doing that for the past half a year. hehz.

and PS. I am using Tropic Marin salt as well.

[Ekia]

Dear All,

I have mixed some fresh saltwater for my quarantine tank using tropic marin salt,

however the water is cloudy and does not clear up after a few days. I have a power head aerating the water in the tank?

If I turn it off, the powerhead and base of the tank will be cover with white powder...

Does any one encounter this problem? How long does it takes usually for the salt to be completely dissolved?

I enountered the same problem 1-2 months ago.... found out the reason in the end. Reason? Calcium Precipitate. My water was cloudy even after 2 days in a powerhead.. same as you. Try doing a test on the water.. if your calcium and kh is low.. confirm its because of calcium precipitate.... The salt can no longer be used.. unless you don't mind low calcium and kh in yr main tank...

[Corsair]

Hi Ekia,

Does it mean that the salt I bought have quality problem?

If it's the case, then waste money...have to throw it away....

[Ekia]

You better test the water to confirm first... might not be calcium precipitate but could be a strong possibilty..

Has the salt touch water before?? clumped together? Mine got into contact with water before...

[Corsair]

Mine is new, no salt clump.

Whitish powder form on power head and base of the tank.

[Golden Tooth]

I've tried adding water to salt, and I get clear solution! been doing that for the past six months. no problems whatsoever.

my routine *weird one to follow actually. a bit unconventional*

1) add pre-measured amount of salt into pail

2) add a bit of water

3) swirl water around to dissolve as much salt as possible

4) add Seachem Prime

5) add even more water

6) measure with refractometer --> if obtained wrong readings, either dilute or add more salt.

7) add water until almost full.

8) let it stand for one or two hours.

I don't bother aerating it for 24hrs as I do not have the space or luxury in my house to do that. if I use a powerhead/air pump, I will create a lot of salt spray and incurr the wrath of my mother. so yah.

so far, so good. been doing that for the past half a year. hehz.

and PS. I am using Tropic Marin salt as well.

We got the same steps bro.. Only thing is i'm using different salt brand.

[ozy]

I have the same problem at home. I think it is calcium precipitate because the powder does feel kind of chalky.

I use Tropic Marine salt too both in the office and at home, but no such problem when I use it in the office. The salt in the office is clumpy but no white powder. The only difference I can think of is that in the office, I would stir the water for each scoop of salt until it dissolve (4 scoops per pail). For the time when I had the problem, I just dump the salt into the preparation tank and let the power head circulate the water. After that incident, I would prepare salt water with a pail with constant stirring.

I remember Tanzy has mentioned before regarding adding salt to water instead of the otherwise as it will affect the calcium level of the mixture. Maybe he can clarify.

[Gouldian]

Hi Ekia,

Does it mean that the salt I bought have quality problem?

If it's the case, then waste money...have to throw it away....

Calcium percipitate happens when you mix water with salt or the water is mix with water directly from the tap.

Thus, most literature reccomend the ageing (leaving it to aerate overnight) before mixing with your salt mixture.

I am sure if you were to get your steps correct, the next batch will be alright.

[Corsair]

Dear all,

Thank you for your advice.

I will try to re-mix the salt again. This time aging and aerating the water first.

[Corsair]

Aerated the water overnight before adding salt.

Problem solved. No more cloudy water!!!!

Thank you to all of you for offering advice.