mixing salt water, why so important

[scubasteve]

reading a few posts here and other places, it seems like mixing new saltwater in a outside container seems very important. what makes it different then just stirring it well before pouring it in the tank(as opposed to using a powerhead for 24 hours or something).

 

[reefrunner69]

The salt needs to mix for a minimum of several hours, even after the the water is clear...there are many chemical reactions taking place, it is generally considered good for these chemical reactions to take place outside the aquarium. The minimum mix time I would have before adding the water to my tank would be 6 hours, but prefer to go 24

 

[two11devan]

I have been mixing my salt with a PH for anywhere from 4-6 hrs prior to adding it to my tank. It seems to work well for me, however I have only been doing this for about 4 months or so. So far I have not seen any side effects. Maybe Im just getting lucky