Salt mix question?

[Qman]

Hello everyone, I'm a new menber with a salt question. I need to mix up 60 gallons with "Instant Ocean" brand salt. They suggest 1/2 cup salt to 1 gallon, is this a good starting point? I will be mixing in two rubbermaid containers with powerheads and heaters. I also have a sea test hydrometer to test, I just want a good starting point.
Thank you

 

[dralarms]

Yea that's a fair place to start, but I always have to add more to get my sg up to 1.025. I think that theirs is set at 1.021 which imo is too low.

 

[fishfreek]

To be honest I never pay attention to what the amount of salt I add comes out to in cups per gal. I just add a few and then let that sit for a while. Check salinity and add more salt and check salinity after a few hours till I get to the point I want.

1.025 is what I shoot for.

 

[specialk]

With IO I do use 1/2 C per Gal. And it works for me.

Kaye

 

[dralarms]

With IO I do use 1/2 C per Gal. And it works for me.

Maybe my buckets are bigger than 5 gal.

 

[specialk]

I use a 4 Gal bucket it has the measurments marked right on it. I think it was .88 cents at walmart!



Kaye

 

[dralarms]

I use a 4 Gal bucket it has the measurments marked right on it. I think it was .88 cents at walmart!

I'm using 5 gal "soap" buckets. I clean them out real good before I use them. I have had no problems.

 

[stresco]

I found that with IO salts, if i use 3 heeping coffee cups, not mugs (dont tell my wife ) into every 5 gal of RO/DI water, I get perfect 1.025. With Oceanic, i have to level the coffee cups, so i am using less salts per gallon.

I agree that IO measurements are off. IMO i think that Oceanic is a better balanced salt.

 

[Sparky]

I have been messing with this everytime I make up replacement water.
What I use are 5 gallon buckets filled with 4-1/2 gallons of water. I also use Instant Ocean salt. I mix exactly 2-1/3 cups of salt per pail. My salinity comes out to 1.024 every single time. It has not failed me in the last 4 times I made water. I usually make up 5-6 pails for my water changes. Like I said, I have been playing around with the measurements for a while trying to get it just right.
Hope this helps you out.

Mike

 

[d_art]

I start off with the 1/2cup per gallon method and let it sit. It gets pretty close but then I usually have to add like one more full cup to get it to 1.025.

I also use IO but I am now wanting to get a 200gal bucket. If I get that much I want the best kind. Oceanic seems to be a very good brand but mostly for Inverts and Corals. Whats the best salt to use for FOWLR?

 

[d_art]

No answer again, huh? Maybe if I bump it up.

p.s.
Has anyone ever tried mixing different types of sea salts to get more of a balance with different elements?