Cloudy saltwater (1 Viewer)

[cacarnold3]

So I have used Salinity salt mix for some time now. No problems until recently. I buy the big bucket and it lasts me quite a while. The last time I mixed a container of 1.025 water I used the last of the bucket and after 24 hrs of mixing with the powerhead, it was still very cloudy. It stayed cloudy for several days and then seemed to clear up. I noticed a lot of residue (clay) in the mixing container so before I began using the new bucket of salt, I had my son clean out the mixing container well to remove the residue. I figured that the salt mix must have settled over time and that it occurred because I was at the bottom of the bucket. I then began mixing the new salt as usual. 24 hours later, it was still incredibly cloudy. I added a second pump to circulate the water in the tub for another 8 hours and it was still the same. Then I figured that I must need to turn off both pumps and let it sit (hoping that the cloudiness would settle to the bottom)- still nothing. I am not talking "a little cloudy" I mean white, can't see an inch below the water, white.

Has anyone else experienced this? What could it be and how can I stop this from happening? I really need to do some water changes but can't until this clears up.

 

[BigRick]

They put that clay I to the salt mix to keep it dry from humidity. Won't hurt anything just dont want to get it into the tank. Bottom of the barrel

 

[steveb]

I haven't used salinity but have had the same exact issue with regular instant ocean... It never cleared up even after several days.

I used the sample pack from Fritz btw and it was clear in 30 minutes and really clear at one hour. I mean to take some pictures and do a write up for them but was sick at the time.

Red Sea Coral pro is typically cloudy for about four to eight hours for me. If I continue to the run the pumps over night (24) up to 48 hours a lot of gunk begins to precipitate out on the pumps and in the bottom of the bucket.

 

[cacarnold3]

It is good to know that you liked the Fritz salt. I didn't set a sample to try. I'm hoping that I can get one soon. I have never had this issue with any salt in the past. I understand that the clay is for caking issues (which explains the first batch that did this- from the bottom of the bucket) but this was an entirely new bucket and I mixed it (as well as I could) prior to adding it to the RO water. I hope that these are isolated incidents and this doesn't continue for the entire bucket. One big bucket can last me a long time. Cross fingers, I will be able to do a water change tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Mark L.]

I haven't used salinity but have had the same exact issue with regular instant ocean... It never cleared up even after several days.

I used the sample pack from Fritz btw and it was clear in 30 minutes and really clear at one hour. I mean to take some pictures and do a write up for them but was sick at the time.

Red Sea Coral pro is typically cloudy for about four to eight hours for me. If I continue to the run the pumps over night (24) up to 48 hours a lot of gunk begins to precipitate out on the pumps and in the bottom of the bucket.

That's good to hear Steve. Did you happen to test the water parameters after you mixed up a batch? Shawn from Fritz was going to send me a box to test out but I haven't emailed him yet. He ran out at the show. I was talking to him about me using Tropic Marin Pro and how stable the parameters are and how clean it mixes. He gave me his word I would not be disappointed.

 

[steveb]

No I was pretty sick so I only observed the clarity. I would like to get some more to evaluate (alk, ca, mg) at 1 hr, 4hr, 8hr intervals.

 

[Mark L.]

That's cool. I'll email him tonight.

 

[cacarnold3]

I sent Shawn a thank you e-mail at lunch today and asked if there was a local retailer that carried their salt. I would like to try it a well.

 

[Mark L.]

FJW carries it Candace. Had quite a bit the other day.

 

[cacarnold3]

Mark- sent you a pm.

 

[cacarnold3]

Well, the container was still cloudy as can be when I looked last night. Had to do a water change on my frag tank anyway. I HATE putting cloudy water into the tank but had no choice. So far it seems to be unaffected.

 

[Bakapuma]

I have been useing reef crystals forever. No cloudy issues but I age my water for about 48 hours before a water change. I do get a film in my mixing container but thats it.

 

[mwilliams62]

I have used Salinity salt mix two times and will not go back very cloudy for a really long time and burned my hand when I was scooping it out. I just finished using the Red Sea Pro Reef salt mix with no cloudyness nor any residue in the container.

 

[jqsquared]

Ill try the Fritz here pretty soon, been on Coral pro, but this last bucket didnt mix up amazingly, seems really inconsistent, sometimes cloudy, sometimes its not and I mix the same conditions every time.

 

[dark8nge1]

I got a box of Fritz as well and it does mix up quite well. The parameters mix up pretty close to TMP for the stuff I measure. I've been doing 1/2 fritz and 1/2 TMP and will probably stick with the mix. The fritz does get some junk floating at the top if you leave it for a while and I do get a little bit of the clay build up but nothing like reef crystals, kent, or any of the other brands except (TMP). Considering sending in a sample of Fritz and TMP to Triton to see what the difference is. Amazing to see what type of nasties are in some of these salt mixes after people send it in to test.