HELP me keep y salt from forming into a brick (1 Viewer)

[Metzzen]

Oceanic salt, 50lb bucket (or is it 60...). how the hell do I keep it from forming a huge block in the bucket? Im getting really tired of having to guestimate how much salt to use because i cant measure it due to being in softball size clumps (and thats after chipping away with a butter knife for 30 mins).

I have thought about maybe a tupperware container full of some sort of material that will suck all the moisture out of the bucket to keep this from happening. Any suggestions?

Im almost at the point where i want to buy premixed water just so i dont have to deal with it.

I have the bucker inside, in a closet away from the tank and this still happens. I have put duc-tape around the entire rim hoping I could seal out moisture but that didnt help.

Is this a problem with all salt or just oceanic? Im almost out and if its oceanic then ill go with a differnt mix next time.

 

[pelochas]

i had the same thing happen on oceanic salt bucket. it does not close as good as Instant Ocean or Reef Crystals buckets because the IO or RC buckets have a rubber ring and you have to hammer the lid a little for a good tight seal..one good reason i just buy the IO or RC

when you have moisture in the bucket, its pretty much a rock salt and you will not be able to remove the moisture in the bucket. but the salt is still good for use..should degrade at all.

 

[beau]

salt

I think the problem is that this is Houston with a lot of humitity. I finally bought a tupaware cerial container at walmart and the problem is gone.

 

[mario8402]

that is really weird.. I have never had this issue.. I have a 1/2 measuring scoop that I use.. I open the bucket, take out how many scoops I need and close it back up.. maybe the seal on your lid is kinked? I keep mine right next to the tank in the open and even put we buckets on it and have never had an issue with clumping

 

[jimR]

I keep my Oceanic in the garage and just make sure the lid is not left open for long at a time and when I am finished I stomp the lid down tight and never have a problem.
Are you taking the bucket from inside to outside when using, the temp change will cause moister issues.

 

[mario8402]

^ good question.. mine never leaves the room. temp swings will def cause that. how long do you leave the lid open when you get some out?

 

[decimal]

after having the same experience once, i now use two different plastic cups one to scoop and one to pour the salt into the water. after i am done i just twist the bag and close the lid. moisture is the enemy. even a small amount of moisture will get sucked up into the salt causing it cake.

 

[deepsea43]

no it is all salt i have instat ocean and it clumps also. if mosture gets in it cant get out.

 

[Metzzen]

The bucket stays inside in one place, never moves.

I always make sure the lid is on there really well.

I think I may juyst get zome zip lock bags and fill then with enough salt to do 5 gals at a time. Then when i need it ill mix 5 gals and drop a bags worth in there. Then if they form a brick at least Ill know how much is in there.

 

[Reefaddict79]

We get desicant packages in at work that come with some of the parts we order and I just keep one in the salt bucket to keep the moisture out of the salt.

 

[stdreb27]

I left my bucket open overnight once, and it did that, If I close the lid promptly I don't have this problem.

 

[snookfish]

As soon as you are done with making a water change, get some plastic wrap and put over the SALT then another one to go on the undersside of the rim of the lid.
OR
Find those little packets of silica (has the skull and crossbones and says "do not eat") and put it in with the salt.

my 2 cents

 

[decimal]

unfortunatly salt is more moisture absorbant than the little packets. they are useless in this situation. there is no need to go to great pains to protect the salt from moisture. oceanic has good buckets that should work just fine for keeping moisture out. as i said before, use one vessel that only goes into the bucket and another to put the salt into the water. when you pour the salt, water will and does splash onto the pouring vessel. if you use that same vessel to scoop salt you are introducing moisture in the bucket thus allowing caking.

 

[Metzzen]

ill try what you are talkin about second_decimal and see if it helps.

 

[Metzzen]

What the best way to break up the bricks that have already formed? I wish i had a big grinder that I could drop them into but the closest thing I have is a wood chipper

 

[deepsea43]

blender maybe?

 

[mario8402]

margarita much?

 

[decimal]

i just dumped it when it happend to me. once the crystals cake, they are also more difficult to dissolve.

 

[Capt_Swank]

Perfect way to keep the salt like new!

Perfect way to keep the salt like new!


Buy a bigger tank...

You will be forced to use the salt before it has time to lump up.

 

[Tangs]

I have always believed that clumping does degrade the quality of the salt?? While doing my water changes I try and not let the lid be off my container of instant ocean as much as possible and still get clumps at the top. Not rock solid mind ya