Do You Have To Mix Salt Before Added To The Tank?

[connorsbala]

Do you have to put a pump in the bucket before tou add the water tot he tank?
My plan was to just get the RO,add the right amount of salt,stir until dissolved,check SG on hydrometer and add small heater to get temp right(this is what i do on my brackish tanks except i use tapwater and get the hot water form the kettle so no need for the heater)
Ill be having a hydor koralia 2 in my 15 UK gal tank, wont that just mix all the salt in even more?

 

[@ombomb]

Ao, you should mix the water outside of the tank.

Not only are the parameters of freshly mixed waters potentially unstable, but any salt crystals which have not dissolved can be caustic and harm any life in the tank. Also you need to match the temperature of the water you're added to the temperature of the water in the tank.

 

[rictheredneck]

if your filling your tank for the first time you can but water changes do in a bucket

 

[littleme1969]

As above.. but its also best to always have an amount mixed and ready to go, I usually go for about 20% of my tank volume, just in case I have any emergencies. Also Water thats been mixed a day or so as mentioned above is more stable for s.g. and so should be used for water changes rather than mix and add straight away.

 

[connorsbala]

I wont be mixing salt in the tank...ill be mixing it in a bucket and was wondering if you have to leave it a while before you put it in the tank. Ill do that then,have it ready a couple of days before i do a water change;do i need to add an airstone or anything whilst its in the bucket?

Thanks for the replies

 

[Matthew5664]

It is advisable to mix the water with a power head for a few days before to make sure all the salt has dissolved and that the dissolved Oxygen:dissolved Carbon Dioxide has reached equilibrium.

 

[FLcracker94]

IMO, I would say, mix the water in a bucket, stirr it real good. Let it sit for a while, stirr again. let it sit for a little while longer, then before you put it into the tank, stirr it one last time.