[Bamaguy]

I noticed already after only a week that my water is evaporating and I figure I might want to buy a water purification unit and some salt for water changes and top offs. I was planning on counting on the LFS for the water but they are closed on Sundays and Mondays and at night. So which system would everyone recommend and how do I mix saltwater and add it to a sump/overflow system?

[Taras1]

There are many good units. AquaFx is a sponsor here on RB. I've used the Coralife System, and am pleased with it. You can go Reverse Osmosis (RO) or Reverse Osmosis/DeIonizaton (RO/DI). The latter give you almost pure H2O.

As far as replacing evaporated water -- do NOT add salt. For the most part, only water evaporates. If you add salt you'll end up increasing your salinity over time. "Top off" should be RO, RO/DI or distilled water.

[Bamaguy]

Sounds good. Let's say though that my Salinity is low or I need to add water during a water change. How is the best way to prepare? With my first tank I just stirred up a bucket of purified water and dumped salt in and stirred and then dumped into the tank. I would imagine that's not the best way.

[Taras1]

Originally Posted by Bamaguy

Sounds good. Let's say though that my Salinity is low or I need to add water during a water change. How is the best way to prepare? With my first tank I just stirred up a bucket of purified water and dumped salt in and stirred and then dumped into the tank. I would imagine that's not the best way.

Weeeellllllll I "guess"timate, and don't make any real changes to my salinity using a water change. The reason being, when you do a water change, there's more being changed than the salinity. I mix my water up about 3-5 days prior. Keep it circulating with a heater and check the salinity, Ca, Mg, Alk and pH every 12 -24 hours, slowly adjusting those parameters to my tank's parameters. If I need to increase a parameter, like salinity, I use a saturated solution of sea salt. I then drip in about 50 - 100 cc's of that solution over 8-12 hours, (yes that slowly) and check the salinity the next day. I can count the number of times in the past 5 years I've had to do this on one hand.

I usually have to go the other way when it comes to salinity. That tends to go a bit quicker with RO water.

With Ca/Mg/Alk, I use the 2 part solutions. I use Kent products which actually have daily dosing guides.

LOL

[Bamaguy]

OK
I bought a RO/DI unit and will get some Salt from the LFS. I just don't want to get caught when they are closed. When my water level goes down, my pump gurgles like a broke toilet.

[Marine1]

Just remember to stay with the same brand of salt. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I read that mixing different brands can cause problems with your tank water.

[stephaniesquires]

Originally Posted by Bamaguy

OK
I bought a RO/DI unit and will get some Salt from the LFS. I just don't want to get caught when they are closed. When my water level goes down, my pump gurgles like a broke toilet.

With a 90 gallon you may want to look into an Automatic Top Off (ato). If you have a sump it would sit higher than your sump. the ato would automatically add water as your level goes down. I have an ice chest with a spigot where the drain is and fill it with RO/DI water, the ato is in the sump. When it gets too low the lever raises, opening the valve and letting water into the sump..