question on mixing salt

Oldfishman · 02/15/2018, 02:29 PM

The instructions I read said 1/2 cup of salt to 5 gallons would equate to a 1.026 mixture. It seems like I have to put a lot more than a 1/2 cup to get that mixture. I have calibrated my refactor twice and double checked it twice. Am I doing something wrong or have I missed something?

nereefpat · 02/15/2018, 02:33 PM

Closer to 1/2 cup per gallon, so 2 1/2 cups.

oldhead · 02/15/2018, 02:37 PM

Instant Ocean is 1 cup per gallon. I think you haven't added enough. Keep adding slowly until you get where you need to be.

nereefpat · 02/15/2018, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldhead

Instant Ocean is 1 cup per gallon.

Nope.

http://www.instantocean.com/products...t-mixture.aspx

Kardjunkie · 02/15/2018, 05:31 PM

Most salts don’t have 1/2 cup per gallon to make 1.026. Instant Ocean I think half cup per gallon is only like 1.020. I normally half to go slightly higher than a half cup per gallon to get 1.025 that I want.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pet Detective · 02/15/2018, 07:35 PM

Buy a good refractometer and practice mixing, let the salt mix dissolve for at least 30 minutes and then test, once you figure it out, it's just a matter of "rinse & repeat"

jawaiianmon · 02/15/2018, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pet Detective

Buy a good refractometer and practice mixing, let the salt mix dissolve for at least 30 minutes and then test, once you figure it out, it's just a matter of "rinse & repeat"

Refractometers are definitely nice to have.

ramseynb · 02/15/2018, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawaiianmon

Refractometers are definitely nice to have.

Especially the digital Milwaukee one. Best $100 I've spent on a piece of gear.

mcgyvr · 02/16/2018, 05:42 AM

In general most salt mixes take a bit more than 1/2 cup per gallon to get to 1.026..
If you trust your calibration then go with whatever it is.

homer1475 · 02/16/2018, 05:47 AM

I mix up 25G at a time, I also buy the 200G boxes of IO. Each bag is good for 50G of 1.025. I dump in half a bag, test and it's usually pretty good.

oldhead · 02/16/2018, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Nope.

http://www.instantocean.com/products...t-mixture.aspx

Well it takes 5 cups for 5 gallons to get 1.026

lapin · 02/16/2018, 07:46 AM

I mix mine to about 1.020. Use it for the rotifers. Then I add some more and test get it up to the proper level. Without testing or using an accurate gram scale you are just guessing. I think a lot of people kinda guess with a measuring cup when it should really be weighed.
My .02

Navig8tr · 02/16/2018, 10:21 AM

I mix by weight. I fill a 5 gal bucket to 1 inch below the rim with RO water and mix in 27 ounces of IO salt. It mixes so reliably to 1.026 that I only occasionally batch check with my refractometer.

afish70 · 02/16/2018, 11:27 AM

I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt mix and for 15 gallons i use like 8 cups and get right at 1.025.

02/15/2018, 02:29 PM	#1
Oldfishman Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 25	question on mixing salt The instructions I read said 1/2 cup of salt to 5 gallons would equate to a 1.026 mixture. It seems like I have to put a lot more than a 1/2 cup to get that mixture. I have calibrated my refactor twice and double checked it twice. Am I doing something wrong or have I missed something?

02/15/2018, 02:33 PM	#2
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	Closer to 1/2 cup per gallon, so 2 1/2 cups. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

02/15/2018, 05:31 PM	#5
Kardjunkie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 128	Most salts don’t have 1/2 cup per gallon to make 1.026. Instant Ocean I think half cup per gallon is only like 1.020. I normally half to go slightly higher than a half cup per gallon to get 1.025 that I want. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ "Never memorize something that you can look up." - Albert Einstein ...and he didn't even have google! Current Tank Info: BioCube 29 with InTank Media Basket - Building 75 gallon bow front

02/16/2018, 05:42 AM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	In general most salt mixes take a bit more than 1/2 cup per gallon to get to 1.026.. If you trust your calibration then go with whatever it is. __________________ Who me?

02/16/2018, 05:47 AM	#10
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I mix up 25G at a time, I also buy the 200G boxes of IO. Each bag is good for 50G of 1.025. I dump in half a bag, test and it's usually pretty good. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

02/15/2018, 02:37 PM	#3
oldhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 527	Instant Ocean is 1 cup per gallon. I think you haven't added enough. Keep adding slowly until you get where you need to be.

02/15/2018, 07:35 PM	#6
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	Buy a good refractometer and practice mixing, let the salt mix dissolve for at least 30 minutes and then test, once you figure it out, it's just a matter of "rinse & repeat"

02/16/2018, 07:46 AM	#12
lapin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Austin Posts: 801	I mix mine to about 1.020. Use it for the rotifers. Then I add some more and test get it up to the proper level. Without testing or using an accurate gram scale you are just guessing. I think a lot of people kinda guess with a measuring cup when it should really be weighed. My .02

02/16/2018, 10:21 AM	#13
Navig8tr Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 70	I mix by weight. I fill a 5 gal bucket to 1 inch below the rim with RO water and mix in 27 ounces of IO salt. It mixes so reliably to 1.026 that I only occasionally batch check with my refractometer.

02/16/2018, 11:27 AM	#14
afish70 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa Posts: 688	I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt mix and for 15 gallons i use like 8 cups and get right at 1.025.