Is my salt still ok to use....

Daddyrawg · 08/17/2019, 09:34 PM

My salt that's been opened in the bag in a closed container has hardened.. is it still ok to use..?? I guess it's been exposed to air...

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LIreefguy · 08/17/2019, 09:44 PM

Hard like a rock , like if you grab it with your hand hard to break.

I wouldn’t use it in a Reef tank

Fish only sure

Hard like it crumbles in your hand easy. Sure you can use it

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OhsCC · 08/18/2019, 05:16 AM

That happens. Does not effect anything to me. Just more mixing.

LIreefguy · 08/18/2019, 09:09 AM

When salt clumps it’s basically from the moisture in the air

Basically why we tell you not to use it is when you buy salt they list what it will mix to
Basically calcium will be 420 , mag 1350

This clumping can cause a chemical reaction in the salt causing these numbers to be off

Most do t use it because it’s not worth the risk of adding it.
Now if calcium if the mixed water is 300 and alk is 6. And you do 30 precent water change

It might affect your corals

Might not kill them today , might only weaken them

But it’s the stability we want

The best reefers keep there tank stable

It doesn’t matter what your calcium is.
What lights you use and so on.

People have beautiful tanks in a wide range. It’s the stability we aim for

And the possibility for using bad salt it’s worth it to some of us

It might be 30 worth of salt

So the quick answer is yes you can use it

If it’s like one big rock I wouldn’t

If the top is a little hard and breaks up easy. It’s ok

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billdogg · 08/18/2019, 09:19 AM

I have used salt like that in the past. No sense letting it go to waste IMO. After you mix, there will probably be undissolved stuff in the bottom. That will be your Ca and Alk precipitated out. Test the water and add Ca/Alk supplement as needed to bring it up to spec and you will be just fine.

jm.02

on the spot · 08/18/2019, 09:30 AM

I'd still use it. Do your best to break it up first. It's just easier.

I've not noticed a significant precipitation from clumped salt.

BD, you using IO?

LIreefguy · 08/18/2019, 09:48 AM

If your the type to pour your salt in slow so it can mix with out clumping
Then why add clumped salt

If you aren’t then it doesn’t matter

Imo the guys I see with the prettiest sps dominated tanks tend to be anal

Just my 2 cents

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Daddyrawg · 08/18/2019, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by on the spot

I'd still use it. Do your best to break it up first. It's just easier.

I've not noticed a significant precipitation from clumped salt.

BD, you using IO?

Ya reef crystals

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Daddyrawg · 08/18/2019, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIreefguy

Hard like a rock , like if you grab it with your hand hard to break.

I wouldn’t use it in a Reef tank

Fish only sure

Hard like it crumbles in your hand easy. Sure you can use it

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It was hard but when I grabbed it and tried to crush it in my hand it broke apart fairly easily.

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nereefpat · 08/19/2019, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

I have used salt like that in the past. No sense letting it go to waste IMO. After you mix, there will probably be undissolved stuff in the bottom. That will be your Ca and Alk precipitated out. Test the water and add Ca/Alk supplement as needed to bring it up to spec and you will be just fine.

jm.02

Lots of posts...this is the correct answer.

The parameters that may be off are Ca, alk, and salinity. Mix up the water, and test/adjust for all three. There is no reason not to use the salt if you test and adjust as needed.

LIreefguy · 08/19/2019, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

Lots of posts...this is the correct answer.

The parameters that may be off are Ca, alk, and salinity. Mix up the water, and test/adjust for all three. There is no reason not to use the salt if you test and adjust as needed.

Lol
This is reefing there is no correct answer

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nereefpat · 08/19/2019, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIreefguy

Lol
This is reefing there is no correct answer

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Mix it up...test it for alk, Ca, and salinity...adjust if needed.

This is incorrect? What do you disagree with?

LIreefguy · 08/19/2019, 09:06 AM

Honestly nothing

I haven’t had salt go bad since 2006

I do 100 gallon water change a week

But honestly if it did
I rather throw out 20 worth of salt then have to test for alk , cal, mg

That’s all I am saying

The 20 isn’t worth my time to test and dose all 3

Like I said your statement is correct
But in reefing there is not 1 correct way to do something

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hkgar · 08/20/2019, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIreefguy

Lol
This is reefing there is no correct answer

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Sorry, IMHO, in this case there is 1 correct answer. Is it safe to use? The correct answer is, yes it is safe to use. You might have to take some precautions, but that does not make it unsafe.

Also, I never test my water change water for anything but salinity.

LIreefguy · 08/20/2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Sorry, IMHO, in this case there is 1 correct answer. Is it safe to use? The correct answer is, yes it is safe to use. You might have to take some precautions, but that does not make it unsafe.

Also, I never test my water change water for anything but salinity.

No reason to yell

One correct answer yes. I disagree and didn’t get rude.
Your saying salt can never be so bad it can’t be used.
I like to think in 20 years of doing this my opinion means something
And I disagree
You state It’s safe to use if you add stuff to it properly by the war
A person who hasn’t done a water change in so long and or who couldn’t store salt properly causing it to go bad
By the way from his explanation I don’t think is the case
I think in this case it’s safe to you

Your making a blanket statement

You want a person who let his salt sit improperly stored to them dose and test 3 major elements
And dose then correctly

So yes your right it’s safe to use , you can use it on your tank

But there is no chance I am using letting that guy who did that change my water

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hkgar · 08/20/2019, 01:58 PM

I yelled?

LIreefguy · 08/20/2019, 02:44 PM

The IMHO

Caps is yelling

If that wasn’t your intentions then I am sorry
But I took that as being aggressive or yelling

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hkgar · 08/20/2019, 03:26 PM

I always do acronyms in caps. Sorry, not trying to be aggressive at all..

LIreefguy · 08/20/2019, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

I always do acronyms in caps. Sorry, not trying to be aggressive at all..

No problem my mistake
It’s all good

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outssider · 08/20/2019, 05:26 PM

if the water is low in alk/cal/mag what makes you think it's not low on other things we're not testing for ????

LIreefguy · 08/20/2019, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outssider

if the water is low in alk/cal/mag what makes you think it's not low on other things we're not testing for ????

Totally agree

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Oldreeferman · 08/20/2019, 06:36 PM

Sigh, & i thought women were touchy.............................LOL. imho.....that is in lower case by the way, id use it also after breaking it up first, heck yes. Remix throughly then add slowly to your RO water. I see no issue here as long as its eventually added to water slowly so it does not precipitate.

Daddyrawg · 08/20/2019, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldreeferman

Sigh, & i thought women were touchy.............................LOL. imho.....that is in lower case by the way, id use it also after breaking it up first, heck yes. Remix throughly then add slowly to your RO water. I see no issue here as long as its eventually added to water slowly so it does not precipitate.

Thx

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LIreefguy · 08/20/2019, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldreeferman

Sigh, & i thought women were touchy.............................LOL. imho.....that is in lower case by the way, id use it also after breaking it up first, heck yes. Remix throughly then add slowly to your RO water. I see no issue here as long as its eventually added to water slowly so it does not precipitate.

Wow sexiest and a reefer

You get an award

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mcgyvr · 08/20/2019, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldreeferman

LOL

Please stop the yelling already

08/17/2019, 09:34 PM	#1
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	Is my salt still ok to use.... My salt that's been opened in the bag in a closed container has hardened.. is it still ok to use..?? I guess it's been exposed to air... Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

08/18/2019, 09:19 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I have used salt like that in the past. No sense letting it go to waste IMO. After you mix, there will probably be undissolved stuff in the bottom. That will be your Ca and Alk precipitated out. Test the water and add Ca/Alk supplement as needed to bring it up to spec and you will be just fine. jm.02 __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

08/18/2019, 09:30 AM	#6
on the spot Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,010	I'd still use it. Do your best to break it up first. It's just easier. I've not noticed a significant precipitation from clumped salt. BD, you using IO? Last edited by on the spot; 08/18/2019 at 09:31 AM. Reason: question

08/20/2019, 01:58 PM	#16
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I yelled? __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/20/2019, 03:26 PM	#18
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I always do acronyms in caps. Sorry, not trying to be aggressive at all.. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

08/17/2019, 09:44 PM	#2
LIreefguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 98	Hard like a rock , like if you grab it with your hand hard to break. I wouldn’t use it in a Reef tank Fish only sure Hard like it crumbles in your hand easy. Sure you can use it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

08/18/2019, 05:16 AM	#3
OhsCC Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Posts: 247	That happens. Does not effect anything to me. Just more mixing.

08/18/2019, 09:09 AM	#4
LIreefguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 98	When salt clumps it’s basically from the moisture in the air Basically why we tell you not to use it is when you buy salt they list what it will mix to Basically calcium will be 420 , mag 1350 This clumping can cause a chemical reaction in the salt causing these numbers to be off Most do t use it because it’s not worth the risk of adding it. Now if calcium if the mixed water is 300 and alk is 6. And you do 30 precent water change It might affect your corals Might not kill them today , might only weaken them But it’s the stability we want The best reefers keep there tank stable It doesn’t matter what your calcium is. What lights you use and so on. People have beautiful tanks in a wide range. It’s the stability we aim for And the possibility for using bad salt it’s worth it to some of us It might be 30 worth of salt So the quick answer is yes you can use it If it’s like one big rock I wouldn’t If the top is a little hard and breaks up easy. It’s ok Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

08/18/2019, 09:48 AM	#7
LIreefguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 98	If your the type to pour your salt in slow so it can mix with out clumping Then why add clumped salt If you aren’t then it doesn’t matter Imo the guys I see with the prettiest sps dominated tanks tend to be anal Just my 2 cents Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

08/19/2019, 09:06 AM	#13
LIreefguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 98	Honestly nothing I haven’t had salt go bad since 2006 I do 100 gallon water change a week But honestly if it did I rather throw out 20 worth of salt then have to test for alk , cal, mg That’s all I am saying The 20 isn’t worth my time to test and dose all 3 Like I said your statement is correct But in reefing there is not 1 correct way to do something Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

08/20/2019, 02:44 PM	#17
LIreefguy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 98	The IMHO Caps is yelling If that wasn’t your intentions then I am sorry But I took that as being aggressive or yelling Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

08/20/2019, 05:26 PM	#20
outssider Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Reseda, Ca. Posts: 1,717	if the water is low in alk/cal/mag what makes you think it's not low on other things we're not testing for ???? __________________ Please don't feed the bears because the bears will become dependent on free handouts and forget how to take care of themselves …... Current Tank Info: 75 Gal. Mixed reef mostly sps

08/20/2019, 06:36 PM	#22
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	Sigh, & i thought women were touchy.............................LOL. imho.....that is in lower case by the way, id use it also after breaking it up first, heck yes. Remix throughly then add slowly to your RO water. I see no issue here as long as its eventually added to water slowly so it does not precipitate. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank