A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Sea Water Mix
- Mar 14, 2022
- Anshika Mishra
- 252 0 0
Not all saltwater mixes are created equal. You can as little as $0.33 per gallon or well over $0.55 per gallon, and there is one mix that is just better for beginners, i.e., seawater.
What is the saltwater mix?
Saltwater can be salt, table salt, kosher salt, or even Epsom salt. At the same time, a seawater mix contains a lot more.
Oceanwater is a mixture of 96.5% water with 2.5% different kinds of salt and 1% major minor trace elements.
A dry synthetic seawater mix aims to emulate the chemical composition of the ocean. Albeit with a few tweaks that some reefers will prefer. So, if you were to dill your water aquarium with a mixture of table salt and water, you would be missing out on all those major, minor, and trace elements that are especially important for coral health/
Choosing the Right Mix
The market is filled with a variety of saltwater mixes, and most of them are going to work just fine. But depending upon your tank and livestock goals, there will definitely be a seawater mic that's best for you.
The first consideration is price, and you can't trust the label here. But most quality saltwater mixes fall in that $0.50 - 0.55 per gallon range.
Next, look at the calcium adn alkalinity levels of each salt mix. Most hobbyists will likely keep their calcium levels somewhere between 400 adn 425 and their dKH levels somewhere between 9 and 9.
While most saltwater mixes will fall somewhere within that range, there are a couple of outliers. There are also some other factors you may want to consider when choosing the perfect seawater mix for you. Such as:
- How long does it take to mix?
- How long can you store it for?
- Does it need to be constantly heated and circulated?
- Or will it precipitate out or even cause that brown slimy sludge that will coat the inside of your trash can and mixing bucket?
But, you don't need to worry about the answers as a beginner. Just follow the seat water mixing procedure, and we'll be able to mitigate all those.
The Best Method
Believe it or not, it actually matters how long you heat the water for. It matters how long you stir it for, and it matters whether or not you follow the directions on the seawater mix.
So, here is the best way:
- Step 1: Read the Instructions on the saltwater mix
- Step 2: Start with room temperature RO/DI water. Somewhere around 68 degrees Fahrenheit or 20-degree celsius
- Step 3: Plugin a small utility pump to circulate the water
- Step 4: Slowly add your seawater mix until your desired salinity is reached. (around 35ppt)
- Step 5: Plugin a heater and set it to 78-degrees.
Step 6: Allow your freshly made seawater mix for at least 48 hours before using it for the best results. After 48 hours of mixing, you can store your freshly made seawater for several weeks, either with heat and circulations or without it. Just make sure you have a lid on it to avoid evaporation.
But for the most consistent long-term storage results, use the heater and utility pump all the time and mix at least 48 hours before use.
If you need saltwater mix faster than 48 hours, try to let it mix for at least 24 hours.
But, if there is an emergency, you can mic your seawater and use it right away. However, always keep a certain amount of seawater ready in circulating and heating all the time,
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