Salt Mix Clarity

[sledge75]

After adding salt mix (Oceanic) to a new tank I noticed that the water is no longer crystal clear as it was before the mix. I did also turn off all pumps and let it sit for an hour. The water is still a bit milky and not crystal clear. Is this normal or is something wrong? The tanks I've seen seem to be much clearer as I remember.

 

[Casino]

Turn on all the pumps and let it mix. Also, your glass just might be dirty with salt buildup and you need to scrape this off too.

 

[wrassefan]

also run some carbon...it will settle out

 

[mlamphere]

Definatly run the pumps it should clear in a day or less. I had the same thing happen when I filled my tank. I use oceanic too. When mixing salt for my water change I always have a powerhead going in my 5gal bucket overnight and use a heater to match the water temp. It always is crystal clear when I dump the water in.

 

[NateHanson]

Yeah, the salt doesn't dissolve instantly. It takes the better part of a day to become completely clear.

 

[mattn007]

Or could this be calcium presipitation (which I know nothing about but read may happen with oceanic salt and hits high calcium content).

 

[davidrupe]

I also have noticed oceanic makes the water cloudy. I add it to the tank anyways after mixing and within an hour or two, it is clear again. Fish all look ok so I don't think it is harmful.

 

[sledge75]

Well its been mixing in the tank with all pumps on for over 24 hours and it still looks cloudy. Should I maybe be using another salt mix. It seemed a lot of people really liked the Oceanic. I'm not worried about anything wrong with the water its just aesthetics.

Perhaps I'lll try running Carbon and a micron filter for a while after the holiday madness. Thanks for the help and Merry Christmas.

 

[Aqua Addict]

Just out of curiousity, do you have the tank up to temp yet? I have had similar results if the water temp is too cold. We like to bring the water up to al least 75 before adding salt for proper mixing...

Mike

 

[sledge75]

When I added the first couple cups the temp was about 73. I stopped and waited for the rest until 80... and still have more to add (at 1.023 now). Should it clear up on its own now that temp is up, I wonder? If not by the morning I'm going to try running the carbon and micron and see if that clears it up a bit.

 

[mlamphere]

Did you stir up the bottom substrate and maybe suspend some dust in the water??

 

[Piscevore]

i agree, this sounds more like a sand storm than a salt storm, just from the description.

I mix my salt with a power head, air stone, and heater, and it is never cloudy by the time it hits the tan (and I mix for 12 hours tops while at work, add when home). When I first add salt, depending upon water temp, salt type, amount of salt added it sometimes takes on a cloudy appearance. After 24 hours I would doubt salt would still be floating in your water column.

 

[Ifferfish]

I also make sure that I warm my water in the trash can first, then add the salt and then let it mix with air for a few hours before I add it . It is usually crystal clear by the time I add it and I add to my sump and not the tank. Just my routine .