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Mixing Saltwater for a jellyfish aquarium
Mixing up Saltwater- Simulating the ocean in your home
If you are new to keeping jellyfish and saltwater aquariums as a whole, then it may be a good idea to purchase pre-mixed saltwater from your local aquarium store. They often have it for sale for around a dollar per gallon. This takes one variable out of the equation of getting started with the jellyfish hobby. There are many significant benefits to mixing your own saltwater, however. Let's look at a few:
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Cost: Mixing your own saltwater will come out to cheaper in the long run, especially if you're using a decent amount of water.
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Quality control: Despite potential intentions, having someone else mix your saltwater means the quality is in their hands. By mixing your own water, you can ensure that it's right, every time.
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So how do you mix your own saltwater and what is involved?
Fortunately, it's an easy process and doesn't require much. What you will need:
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A source of purified freshwater (more on that in a second)
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Aquarium salt mix (also more on that in a sec)
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A 5 gallon bucket or other mixing vessel
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A small pump or stirring utensil
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A hydrometer or refractometer to measure salinity
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Purified water: starting fresh
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Saltwater is only as good as the water you start with. And with jellyfish being ~95% water, its a good idea to pick quality water and salt mix. Distilled water, purified water and RO/DI water are all good options.
Distilled water and purified water can be purchased in gallon jugs from your local grocery store in the drinking water isle. If you're only making a few gallons at a time this is fine. Buying water jug by jug quickly gets old, though! When buying water, make sure to check the back label. Some drinking water is treated with Ozone to sterilize and purify it. Ozone and jellies don't mix well! Luckily, Ozone is easy to get rid of. Just pour the water in your mixing bucket and add an airstone to bubble it overnight. All of the Ozone should be bubbled out by the next day.
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RO/DI water stands for reverse osmosis deionized water. That term just describes how the water was purified. This can also be purchased from your local aquarium store. Some carwash places also sell RO/DI water. And lastly, you can purchase your own RO/DI filtration system for your home.
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Picking Out the Salt Mix- What is Best for Jellyfish?
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There are many options on the market when it comes to saltwater aquarium mixes. Most of them will be fairly similar and it ultimately comes down to personal preference and what's available to you. Most brands will have a standard mix and a "reef mix". For jellies, you will want the standard mix. The reef mixes boast elevated levels of elements like calcium and alkalinity, which tend to irritate jellies. Below is a list of salt mixes that we have personally tried and approve of:
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Instant Ocean: By far the most affordable and available nearly anywhere. Tends to mix up slowly, it's recommended to let this brand mix overnight before using.
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Fritz RPM: Excellent price when compared to the quality. Mixes up crystal clear in minutes and safe to use once clear.
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RedSea (Standard mix): A little more expensive but also mixes up crystal clear quickly. The blue bucket is their standard mix.
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TLF AcuraSea 1: Excellent value and quality for the price. Designed to produce very consistent results that match natural sea water as closely as possible.
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Mixing the salt
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Okay- You've got your purified water and you picked out a salt mix. Let's mix up some salt. Read the packaging on your salt mix to verify how much salt to add. This will vary by brand and by what salinity you are aiming for. Add your purified water to the 5 gallon bucket. For reference, 5 gallons typically means filled to the top. It's a good idea to fill the bucket up to around 4 gallons instead. If you're using a pump to mix your water, plug that in. A piece of PVC pipe also makes a good mixing stick if you don't have an extra pump laying around. Start adding the salt, sprinkling it in moderately to allow it to mix. When the water starts to clear you can check the salinity. Once you have the salinity dialed in, let the bucket of water mix until it is fully clear. If you're using Instant ocean, it's a good idea to let it mix overnight. And there you have it! Although it may seem like a process up front, you will quickly get the hang of it and be consistently mixing your own salt in no time.