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02/15/2018, 02:29 PM | #1 |
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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?
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02/15/2018, 02:33 PM | #2 |
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Closer to 1/2 cup per gallon, so 2 1/2 cups.
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02/15/2018, 02:37 PM | #3 |
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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.
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02/15/2018, 02:44 PM | #4 |
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02/15/2018, 05:31 PM | #5 |
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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.
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02/15/2018, 07:35 PM | #6 |
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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"
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02/15/2018, 07:54 PM | #7 |
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02/15/2018, 08:05 PM | #8 |
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02/16/2018, 05:42 AM | #9 |
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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.
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02/16/2018, 05:47 AM | #10 |
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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.
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02/16/2018, 07:23 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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02/16/2018, 07:46 AM | #12 |
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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.
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02/16/2018, 10:21 AM | #13 |
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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.
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02/16/2018, 11:27 AM | #14 |
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I use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt mix and for 15 gallons i use like 8 cups and get right at 1.025.
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