I've always been under the impression that commecial salt mixes produce ammonia as a byproduct which is why you want to let it aerate over night first. Of course, I heard that through the grapevine when I first got into this hobby so who knows if there is any truth to it. I just figure why risk it if there is any truth to it. I think the biggest issue is stress. Just like you encounter if the temperature of SG is wrong on your makeup water.
Saltwater Aeration
- Thread starter jhaag
- Start date
Rather than accepting hearsay, why not just test it?
I did...
Mixed up one gallon of DI water, added 1/2 cup of Instant Ocean...Stirred the mixture til everything was disolved, ran ammonia test...
Result? No measurable amount of ammonia...
As far as aeration, I don't do that either...
I just try to match temperatures and S.G. as closely as possible and dump it in...
No bad effects doing this in my current tank for 18 months and no bad effects in my previous tank either...
[ April 10, 2002: Message edited by: MadMorf ]</p>
I did...
Mixed up one gallon of DI water, added 1/2 cup of Instant Ocean...Stirred the mixture til everything was disolved, ran ammonia test...
Result? No measurable amount of ammonia...
As far as aeration, I don't do that either...
I just try to match temperatures and S.G. as closely as possible and dump it in...
No bad effects doing this in my current tank for 18 months and no bad effects in my previous tank either...
[ April 10, 2002: Message edited by: MadMorf ]</p>
Funny thing is I was reading Calfo's book on coral propagation this morning and happened to read the importance of aerating the Saltmix. I will have to go back home to give you the excerpt from the book. But from what I remembered is that the alkalinity are affected/reduced without aeration.
I skimmed over that section because I do not mix my own saltmix instead I purchase the premixed seawater using RO/DI from my LFS.
I skimmed over that section because I do not mix my own saltmix instead I purchase the premixed seawater using RO/DI from my LFS.
What are the consequences with not aerating your saltwater mix for 24 hours prior to adding it to your tank? Is there any real danger here? I have repeatedly heard not to mix and pour without letting your saltwater sit at least overnight, but no one seems to really pinpoint the effects on livestock, etc.
Thanks,
McReef
Thanks,
McReef
Yes, I have heard many an "expert" recommend aeration, but have yet to hear the reason accompanied by any facts or backup. I guess that's what I am looking for. My success with reefkeeping is based on learning the science, mainly, and I have never learned the real reason for the aeration.
Danmhippo, did you find the excerpt from Calfo's book?
Danmhippo, did you find the excerpt from Calfo's book?
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> I have yet to hear an expert not recommend aeration for 24 hours, until I do I will continue with this procedure.
<hr></blockquote>
hi.
Not trying to pick on you Steve, but here I go again.
I have yet to hear an expert not recommend fasting for 24 hours and bathing just before doing water change, until I do I will continue with this procedure.
<hr></blockquote>
hi.
Not trying to pick on you Steve, but here I go again.
I have yet to hear an expert not recommend fasting for 24 hours and bathing just before doing water change, until I do I will continue with this procedure.
Posted by Seven:
hi.
Not trying to pick on you Steve, but here I go again.
I have yet to hear an expert not recommend fasting for 24 hours and bathing just before doing water change, until I do I will continue with this procedure.
What ever turns you on.
Steve
hi.
Not trying to pick on you Steve, but here I go again.
I have yet to hear an expert not recommend fasting for 24 hours and bathing just before doing water change, until I do I will continue with this procedure.
What ever turns you on.
Steve
Posted by Mcreef:
Yes, I have heard many an "expert" recommend aeration, but have yet to hear the reason accompanied by any facts or backup. I guess that's what I am looking for. My success with reefkeeping is based on learning the science, mainly, and I have never learned the real reason for the aeration.
-I have posted the "why" question to Randy Holmes Farley on RC. When I am trying to find out an answer to a chemical question I like to ask a chemist.
Steve
Yes, I have heard many an "expert" recommend aeration, but have yet to hear the reason accompanied by any facts or backup. I guess that's what I am looking for. My success with reefkeeping is based on learning the science, mainly, and I have never learned the real reason for the aeration.
-I have posted the "why" question to Randy Holmes Farley on RC. When I am trying to find out an answer to a chemical question I like to ask a chemist.
Steve
hi.
I have not touch a chemistry books for a while, so instead of reread them, I just want to ask questions here.
First, let me tell you about what I do personally. For both top off and making salt water, I usually run the DI water thru an aragonite filter. I never do an aeration or let the salt water "age." I feel that the lack of O2(gas) in the water is not a big issue, since I add the new salt water to the sump, and the skimmer should take care of that. The fact that the I only do small (10% max) and infrequent (twice a year, maybe) water change may make you weight my experience accordingly.
If carbonic acid is present in DI water with very little other impurity, does it means that the pH of DI water is very very low?
What effect does carbonic acid has on the salt mix as it is added to the water? Is this irreversible?
It does not take much to drive off carbonic acid... my beer go flat very quickly, for example... why so many people insist that it be aerated overnight?
Water can be aerated quickly, and for those that add new salt water to the sump, does aeration really that important?
I have not touch a chemistry books for a while, so instead of reread them, I just want to ask questions here.
First, let me tell you about what I do personally. For both top off and making salt water, I usually run the DI water thru an aragonite filter. I never do an aeration or let the salt water "age." I feel that the lack of O2(gas) in the water is not a big issue, since I add the new salt water to the sump, and the skimmer should take care of that. The fact that the I only do small (10% max) and infrequent (twice a year, maybe) water change may make you weight my experience accordingly.
If carbonic acid is present in DI water with very little other impurity, does it means that the pH of DI water is very very low?
What effect does carbonic acid has on the salt mix as it is added to the water? Is this irreversible?
It does not take much to drive off carbonic acid... my beer go flat very quickly, for example... why so many people insist that it be aerated overnight?
Water can be aerated quickly, and for those that add new salt water to the sump, does aeration really that important?
Here is the response from Randy, I consider him to be both an "expert" and "scientific".
-In a normal situation, I'd like to wait. In an emergency, however, it's most likely fine to use within minutes.
Here are some things that happen over hours in new salt water:
1. Oxygen equilibration. Depending on how much O2 is in the water you start with, O2 may enter or leave the water.
2. CO2 equilibration. The carbonate buffer of many salt mixes is not exactly equilibrated with the air, and the pH will rise or fall as some of the CO2 enters or exits the water. If the pH is OK, then this is nothing to worry about.
3. Precipitation of insoluble materials. This can include heavy metals that may come out of solution as carbonates or oxides if given the chance to settle on the bottom. I'm not sure of the extent to which this happens, but salt mixes are loaded with extra metals, and loosing them is a good thing, IMO. This is the primary reason that I prefer to let it sit a day or two.
Steve
-In a normal situation, I'd like to wait. In an emergency, however, it's most likely fine to use within minutes.
Here are some things that happen over hours in new salt water:
1. Oxygen equilibration. Depending on how much O2 is in the water you start with, O2 may enter or leave the water.
2. CO2 equilibration. The carbonate buffer of many salt mixes is not exactly equilibrated with the air, and the pH will rise or fall as some of the CO2 enters or exits the water. If the pH is OK, then this is nothing to worry about.
3. Precipitation of insoluble materials. This can include heavy metals that may come out of solution as carbonates or oxides if given the chance to settle on the bottom. I'm not sure of the extent to which this happens, but salt mixes are loaded with extra metals, and loosing them is a good thing, IMO. This is the primary reason that I prefer to let it sit a day or two.
Steve
Found it. Well, the excerpt is directed toward purified water (RO/DI). The preparation of the purified water before mixing with saltmix. (Like I said before, I skimmed the section through)
Page 168
"Carbonic acid is often present in demineralized water and can easily be driven off with vigorous aeration. Water should be aerated overnight or longer before applying any treatments. Otherwise, additional buffer will be necessary to raise the alkalinity or buffers already present in synthetic sea salts will be wasted..........Water drawn directly from the tap and or through a purifying unit is relatively low in dissoved oxygen. If for no other reason, all freshwater should be aerated to increase dissolved oxygen before we use in aquatic system."
Page 168
"Carbonic acid is often present in demineralized water and can easily be driven off with vigorous aeration. Water should be aerated overnight or longer before applying any treatments. Otherwise, additional buffer will be necessary to raise the alkalinity or buffers already present in synthetic sea salts will be wasted..........Water drawn directly from the tap and or through a purifying unit is relatively low in dissoved oxygen. If for no other reason, all freshwater should be aerated to increase dissolved oxygen before we use in aquatic system."
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