Water changes

[malulu]

I have also seen people use the controller to have the ATO turned off except for a few times during the day. So this way the automated water change doesn't affect it and then you have the ATO turn on every 2 hours for 5 minutes. Unlikely to cause problems.

yes, i was think to do that in the beginning... but end up not bother to configure it that way...

 

[joeb558]

I was reading that storing mixed salt water for extended periods could cause organics in the salt to die off. Particularly in salts like reef crystals. I have witnessed this myself. I notice after a few days there was some brown matter floating on top of the water. I would just scoop it out and use the water anyway. Has anyone else seen this. Is this harmful? If there are organics in the salt we buy couldn't that lead to nitrate or phosphate production?

 

[dirtycontour]

I was reading that storing mixed salt water for extended periods could cause organics in the salt to die off. Particularly in salts like reef crystals. I have witnessed this myself. I notice after a few days there was some brown matter floating on top of the water. I would just scoop it out and use the water anyway. Has anyone else seen this. Is this harmful? If there are organics in the salt we buy couldn't that lead to nitrate or phosphate production?

Try keeping it circulated. I've heard the same thing about RC. I make up 30 gallons of IO and it sits for 5-6 weeks uncirculated without a problem.

 

[jgraz]

I was reading that storing mixed salt water for extended periods could cause organics in the salt to die off. Particularly in salts like reef crystals. I have witnessed this myself. I notice after a few days there was some brown matter floating on top of the water. I would just scoop it out and use the water anyway. Has anyone else seen this. Is this harmful? If there are organics in the salt we buy couldn't that lead to nitrate or phosphate production?

I've noticed the same thing with RC, but never really paid much mind to it. I have a 20gal tank as a mixing container with a mag 5 to move it. It always has at lease a few gals going. I can't remember the last time it was empty to be honest. And I've seen no ill effects from it at all.

 

[joeb558]

Thank you both. I thought that may be the case. I am in the process of switching to Aqua vitro now anyway. Will take a few months as I am doing it gradually.

 

[malulu]

i always have a maxi-jet pump running 24x7 inside my R/O storage/container, also the frest-salt-water storage container.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Actually I’ve had some recent issues with RC and I’ve been doing some research….part of which covered the mixing thing and how long you could keep the saltwater. Here’s what the good Dr. Randy Holmes Farley had to say about sitting saltwater:

"Depends on the salt mix and whether it has organics. Those without (like Instant Ocean) are good forever with no stirring or heating. Those with (like Reef Crystals) will slowly degrade, and should be stirred, IMO."

Came from THIS post.



Because of my recent problems I’m kicking around the idea of switching over to IO.

 

[NikkiT]

Actually I’ve had some recent issues with RC and I’ve been doing some research….part of which covered the mixing thing and how long you could keep the saltwater. Here’s what the good Dr. Randy Holmes Farley had to say about sitting saltwater:

"Depends on the salt mix and whether it has organics. Those without (like Instant Ocean) are good forever with no stirring or heating. Those with (like Reef Crystals) will slowly degrade, and should be stirred, IMO."

Came from THIS post.



Because of my recent problems I’m kicking around the idea of switching over to IO.

I used instant ocean for years with success. We currently use Aqua Vitro.