Hardened Salt AKA Salt Block Usage

W

waterbeing

Premium Member
Well, we left the top loose on a bucket of salt and with the rains,etc from the last week, it has turned into an almost solid block of salt that has to be 'chipped' out in chunks now. I've never felt there was any reason to be concerned about using a partially hardened salt, but the latest batch of saltwater that we've made from the chipped out pieces just won't clear up. It's been mixing for 2-3 days now and still hasn't cleared. I don't see any residue/undisolved in the mixing tank bottom, but the water is still staying 'grey'ish like it hasn't mixed yet. Has anyone seen/heard of any bad experience from partially dampened/chunk salt usage? Maybe it will just take a week of mixing for each batch now :x , but thought I'd ask for opinion/thoughts anyway.

Doug
 
When in doubt, dump it. It is cheaper to buy new salt than it is to pollute your tank if it is not right.
 
Doug,
I am experiencing the salt block problem as well. My water change water also experienced the same problems for the last two water changes (one 4 months ago and one last week). Other than some salt not disolving in the water and acumilating on the bottom of the bucket (which I was careful not to stir into the tank) I have had no problems. I do not beleive there are any contaminents with the cloudy water, just salt particals not fully disolved and settled out of the water colum yet.
 
Have you tested the salt water after mixing? You will want to make sure that the Ca, KH, MG, & PH are OK. Cloudy water sometimes indicates that something has participated out. If it test OK then it should be safe to use.
 
Thanks all. I felt like it was OK too, but it just didn't clear up like normal. It didn't look like the normal state where the cloudiness/grey was a precipitate 'out' of the water, but rather more like the salt was just introduced and hadn't mixed well (although I didn't see any undisovled). I'll watch a little more closely and post if I find any additional info

Doug
 
I can't recall the reason why, but I do remember the advice to toss it out and just use new. Maybe RHF could give you a scientific reason. Or you could call the 800 number on the side of the bucket to get the mfg recommendation.
 
Thanks David,
My salt was Reef Crystals too and it seems to be OK for use now too after mixing more. I hope we can learn to screw the lids back on better now too. :?

Doug
 
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