"aging" saltwater in new tank - storage time

[CloruroDiSodio]

Hi gang,

Leak tested my 180gal over the weekend and everything looks good. I drained the tank and sump and am now in the process of filling with RO/DI water for saltmixing. It will take a few days to fill the tank then I have to mix the salt, once the saltwater is ready and pumping how long will it remain acceptable? Our LFS has nice live rock but sometimes takes a little while to get a big batch in, I'm just wondering if I need to time the live rock order and saltmix prep to keep the water from getting "stale"

thanks

[BeginnerReefer]

I've heard you should give it a couple of days to basically even out with oxygen and stuff... but I'm still a newbie myself. Also I've never heard of the water going bad?

[der_wille_zur_macht]

It won't be a problem. Nothing bad will happen if you wait a while (especially if the water is circulating) and there's no problem with using it more or less immediately, either - assuming it is well mixed and at the correct temperature.

[IslandCrow]

You can keep it in the tank indefinitely. Truthfully, I don't think you even need to keep the water moving, but it's not a bad idea. Just make sure you've replaced any evaporation with fresh RO/DI water and you've heated it up to an acceptable temperature by the time you're ready to add anything to the tank. If you can cover the tank, that'd be a good way to reduce evaporation as well.

[Sisterlimonpot]

I have a 20 gallonSW reserve in case of emergancy that has been sitting now for 6 months ready to go.

[CloruroDiSodio]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the replies. The water will be circulating and heated to temp. Also the tank does have glass covers so that should work for the evaporation part of it. I'm thinking I may bubble some airstones as well until I'm ready just to keep it really oxygenated.

Thanks again, can't wait!!

[MotherFish]

Airstones aerate the water by agitating the surface for better gas exchange.
You can accomplish the same thing with less spray and saltcreep by directing a powerhead so that it agitates the surface.