For mixing salt water(for aquarium) how many cups of salt go in every gallon?

Question

I believe that it is 1/2 a cup per gallon but im not sure. My salt package goes by weight of salt not volume. i usually use a scale but it broke. Please don't make up answers if you aren't sure. This is a life or death (of my fish/corals) situation

Answer 1

yea ur right, half a cup per gallon.

I have saltwater fish and they are ok, i give them half a cup per gallon, ive had them for 2 years now.

Answer 2

Nigel and stvc1961 are correct here. The only way to be sure is to use a hydrometer. Salt compacts as it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, so if you use a "volume" measurement, your salinity will increase over time. I haven't found a brand yet that gives a salinity near 1.024 using 1/2 cup per gallon. I find that I need to add at least 3 cups per 5 gallon bucket, then use the hydrometer to adjust the water to the correct salinity.

You don't have to all the work that Nigel said though - the salinity only changes 0.001 per 10oF of water temperature, so as long as it's in the 70-80o range, that's reasonably accurate.

Answer 3

Your close but if its life and death i would get a hydrometer. If you are just starting out and the aquarium is TOTALLY EMPTY then you may mix the salt you need in the aquarium. Get the temperature of the water to 81 F (or the hydrometer won’t work properly) then add salt till the specific gravity hits 1.015. Leave this mix for 24-36 hours as different compounds in the salt mix at different rates. After 36 hours all the compounds should have mixed well and you can retest the specific gravity. It usually will remain the same but can increase over time as all the salt mixes into the water. Then slowly add salt till your hydrometer reads 1.022 and stop there.

Answer 4

It depends on the salt you are using. Don't you have something to test the salinity? I am thinking 2 cups per gallon to start. Need to mix the water with a pump and test it several times after all the salt looks mixed. The water will be clear again after the salt is fully mixed.
The salinity is 1.024 for most aquariums. But consistency is more important than the level. Radically changing the salinity stresses the fish and corals.

Answer 5

My salt container instructions say 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons of water.

Answer 6

you really need a hydrometer specific gravity is VERY important to your sea creatures .many people say that a (SG)of 1.019 or so is ok for fish only aquariums and will help to keep ick away but for invertebrates,corals and any other creature you need to raise that to between 1.023 and 1.025 and keep it stable at all times
there are basicly 2 types of hydrometers the glass floater and the swing needle (i use the swing needle because i find it easier to read) either is fine..they dont cost much and are critical to tank maintenance.
In case you were wondering specific gravity is a measure of the waters density (i.e)water with (sg) of 1.024 is 1.024 times as dense as pure distilled water. This density shift is how hydrometers work .........the little tube or swing arm will float higher in denser water..good luck and take care

Answer 7

I don't use that much. I use about a quarter cup per gallon and then let it sit for a few hours, then shake it up and dump it in.

Answer 8

what do you intend on conserving in this tank? Fish merely? Corals? Its no longer so user-friendly as merely filling it with water and throwing some salt in. Do a lot of examine. purchase a great salt mixture, and a hydrometer or refractometer to degree salinity. a million.022-a million.0.5 is the risk-free variety for specific gravity, even though it rather relies upon on what you intend to maintain. i could purchase 3 hundred lbs of stay rock, and in all probability a minimum of one hundred lbs of stay sand to put in there. in case you have stay rock and corals, you opt to apply RO-DI water, with a tank that length you're extra desirable off figuring out to purchase the filtration unit to clear out your person water as damaging to buying water someplace. once you initially set up the tank, you may fill it with water, have 4-5 powerheads in there circulating the water, then upload salt till you attain ideal specific gravity. for water alterations after tank is setup, mixture water and salt in seperate field with powerhead for twenty-four hours till now including to tank. Do a lot of examine first. examine alot till now you leap in and wait and notice. there's a lot to income till now you get began. You dont want any intense priced blunders. Saltwater tanks are high priced!! good good fortune

Answer 9

It is half a cup, but when you are doing your initial mix, you probalby want to mix it a little light. It is a lot easier to add more salt than it is to dilute when you've put in too much.

Answer 10

Usually depends on the percent change but its one teaspoon to a gallon.