can water get "old"?

[justin_tyme]

Just wondering: I got 5 gallons of saltwater from the lfs last week, but I couldn't do the water change I got it for right away so I just let it sit here for about 8 days without any air, movement, or heating.

Now I'm ready for a water change; after adjusting it to the tank temperature of course, can I use this water safely?

 

[reefrunner69]

Now I'm ready for a water change; after adjusting it to the tank temperature of course, can I use this water safely?

You should also aerate it for a few hours to get O2 up to saturation and AFTER aerating...check the ph and adjust accordingly. In addition you should check the specfic gravity or the water and adjust as necessary.

 

[BTA]

If it's gone stale, you'll smell it. Take a good whiff, lol, if smells like a freshly made SW, then do as reefrunner69 suggested.