Mixing Sea Salt

[reefgreenhorn]

Another dumb question on water. I purchased Instant Ocean 50Gal salt mix. I figured it would tell me how many Cups of Salt are needed per Gallon. It doesn’t. Am I missing something?

I wanted to prepare 31Gallons of water to be ready for my live Rock and Live sand arriving Friday.

Thanks.

 

[hdtran]

You need to check your specific gravity using a hydrometer or refractometer when mixing the salt into the water.

You can use this formula as a starting point (it'll get you close). Use 1/2 cup (cooking cup, level) of salt mix per gallon of water. After dissolving thoroughly, measure the specific gravity using either a hydrometer or refractometer, and adjust to your desired SG (spec. grav.) with either salt or water. Be sure that your water is at the desired tank temperature.

Most folks here probably run a SG of 1.024 to 1.026.

 

[reefgreenhorn]

Thanks. I have the hydrometer. Thanks for the Half Cup per Gallon info.

 

[PeeJ]

I use weight rather than cups. Not sure if its better or worse. .29 poounds per gallon

 

[taikonaut]

Weight is more accurate than volume. This also applies for the case in analytical chem lab. Chemists prefer mass over volume because it is a lot more accurate and precise than volume measurement.

 

[Mikef1]

Ya but volume is much easier than weighing your salt. Also most specific gravity meters are off. Mine is off my .03. I use a refractrometer, this is how I found out my hydrometer was way off.