Does storing reef salt in freezing temps wreck it? Does salt expire?

duganderson · 11/14/2018, 10:36 AM

I have a bucket of reef salt that was stored in the garage in MN freezing temps. Did this wreck it?

Does salt expire?

Thanks, Doug

NaasReefer · 11/14/2018, 10:38 AM

I store my salt in a shed that was well below freezing for at least a month over the winter, the bucket was at least a year old. I made up a new batch of saltwater a couple of weeks ago for my tank upgrade using that salt and everything is perfect. I think as long as the salt doesnt get wet it's fine.

homer1475 · 11/14/2018, 10:40 AM

As long as it's not hard, it's fine in my experience. I usually buy a few 200G boxes at a time and store them in my garage. In upstate NY it gets way below 0 for many days at a time and I have never had an issue.

dtapke · 11/14/2018, 10:44 AM

Theory would say it should store better at freezing temps. I’d be cautious of rapid freeze thaw cycles though.

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xsentrixsupra · 11/14/2018, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

As long as it's not hard, it's fine in my experience. I usually buy a few 200G boxes at a time and store them in my garage. In upstate NY it gets way below 0 for many days at a time and I have never had an issue.

What do you mean by "not hard" sorry I'm fairly new to saltwater. Are you talking about if salt gets a bit of moisture and starts to clump or something else?

nereefpat · 11/14/2018, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsentrixsupra

Are you talking about if salt gets a bit of moisture and starts to clump

Yes

lolgranny · 11/14/2018, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsentrixsupra

What do you mean by "not hard" sorry I'm fairly new to saltwater. Are you talking about if salt gets a bit of moisture and starts to clump or something else?

Yes this is what he’s talking about.

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homer1475 · 11/14/2018, 01:45 PM

Yup, exactly what I'm talking about.

scuzy · 11/14/2018, 07:14 PM

I think even if it clumps once dissolve it's the same. I don't see any of the component going anywhere. When it evaporates it's just the water not the particles in it. maybe I'm wrong.

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nereefpat · 11/14/2018, 07:27 PM

If it clumps, I wouldn't be afraid to use it.

But, you may have to boost the alk and Ca back up. The moisture would probably cause localized precipitation of calcium carbonate.

11/14/2018, 10:36 AM	#1
duganderson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 569	Does storing reef salt in freezing temps wreck it? Does salt expire? I have a bucket of reef salt that was stored in the garage in MN freezing temps. Did this wreck it? Does salt expire? Thanks, Doug

11/14/2018, 10:38 AM	#2
NaasReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Naas Posts: 142	I store my salt in a shed that was well below freezing for at least a month over the winter, the bucket was at least a year old. I made up a new batch of saltwater a couple of weeks ago for my tank upgrade using that salt and everything is perfect. I think as long as the salt doesnt get wet it's fine. __________________ I found Nemo! Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon Mixed Reef tank

11/14/2018, 10:40 AM	#3
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	As long as it's not hard, it's fine in my experience. I usually buy a few 200G boxes at a time and store them in my garage. In upstate NY it gets way below 0 for many days at a time and I have never had an issue. __________________ 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"

11/14/2018, 01:45 PM	#8
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Yup, exactly what I'm talking about. __________________ 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"

11/14/2018, 07:27 PM	#10
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	If it clumps, I wouldn't be afraid to use it. But, you may have to boost the alk and Ca back up. The moisture would probably cause localized precipitation of calcium carbonate. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

11/14/2018, 10:44 AM	#4
dtapke Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 105	Theory would say it should store better at freezing temps. I’d be cautious of rapid freeze thaw cycles though. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

11/14/2018, 07:14 PM	#9
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	I think even if it clumps once dissolve it's the same. I don't see any of the component going anywhere. When it evaporates it's just the water not the particles in it. maybe I'm wrong. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro