Red Sea Salt Mixing Instructions

Properly mixing red sea salt for use in an aquarium is a two-part process. By understanding the components that constitute commercially available aquarium salts, and how to mix red sea salt so it has the appropriate balance of these components, you will be able to create a sustainable aquarium environment for your fish.

  1. The Relative Importance of Trace Elements

    • Trace elements, especially in relation to commercially available aquarium salts, are sometimes billed either in a confusing manner, or in a way that overemphasizes their importance. Red sea salt possesses the same number of trace elements as any other salt, because trace elements, by their very nature, are present in every salt. The proportion of trace elements is what ultimately distinguishes one sea salt from the next.

      Red sea salt is desirable for aquariums primarily because of its calcium content and higher parts per million of salinity. When mixing red sea salt, the emphasis should be placed on the presence of calcium and its relative salinity.

    Mixing Techniques

    • To begin mixing, construct or buy a mixing container. A proper mixing container should never be exposed to detergents. Purchase a plastic container, such as a trash can, that can hold 35 to 50 gallons of water. Fill the container with purified water.

      Mix in 2.8 pounds of red sea salt for every 10 gallons of water to produce an approximate alkalinity of 2.2 to 2.5 milliequivalents per liter, with a specific gravity (also known as salinity) of 1.021 pH: 8.4.

      Specific gravity can be measured by purchasing a refractometer. When mixing a new solution of sea water with red sea salt, match the previous specific gravity of your aquarium as closely as possible. Sudden shifts in specific gravity will "shock" the inhabitants of your aquarium. Vary your red sea salt mixes until you find the appropriate levels to match your particular needs.