Reason for 24 hours settling of saltwater

[roka64]

That's exactly the point in premixing. You want to get the pH, temp and salinity the same (or as close as possible) to your main. Kind of like when you acclimate a critter to your tank's parameters.

[land locked]

If any one has a conversion table for a refractometer I would love to see it. For the temperature ranges we need.

[fijiwigi]

Originally Posted by roka64

That's exactly the point in premixing. You want to get the pH, temp and salinity the same (or as close as possible) to your main. Kind of like when you acclimate a critter to your tank's parameters.

I could have a container of RO/DI water with a heater and possibly a powerhead and PH that was fine. Adding salt I could get the SG the same after 5min no premixing. Doesn't mean I should add that water to my tank after 5 min

[roka64]

Hmmm, I guess it would depend on how much SW you were trying to premix. I use a 32G bucket, so I doubt the salinity (with my well water), temp and pH would come anywhere close to that of my main's.
So if you are talking a small amount of water....say less than 10G you are totally correct (assuming you had a rather large heater, or the ro/di was already warm).

[roka64]

Land_locked, I believe that would be determined by the manufacturer. Think of it like thermometers. Some have a +/- 2degree of error, some can have even more or less. The same applies to the brand and grade of error pf the refracto.

[cmor1701d]

Almost all refractometers today are ATC (auto temp compensating) so the scale is no longer necessary. I remember seeing one with my original hydrometer.

[fijiwigi]

My refractometer is ATC but when I first mix salt into cold water about 60degress it reads 1.025 then after it warms to about 80 it will read 1.020

[Kurt_Nelson]

I would guess that has more to do with the original reason for your post, than the temperature. That's the reason I let SW age... not only does it give the pH time to mellow out, it also give the salinity time to even out. Maybe it was just my mixing method, but in the beginning I could never get a consistent salinity until the water had been mixed for 4-6 hours. Now I don't even measure the salinity until 24 hours has passed.

[fijiwigi]

I am sure that I am overanalyzing the entire topic I usually let my water stabalize for 24 hours or more and sometimes let it sit for 2weeks and still use it. I just like to understand the why behind everything I do. Its starting to click.

[blindskate]

you should get a hydor koralia, it's a fan that creates air and oxygen and a wave effect in your tank. the more oxygen the better, mine has worked out great!