Instant Ocean Salt Residue-Should I be concerned?

[Carolina]

Hi -
I did a major cleaning on both tanks yesterday, and since there was a lot of algae/detritus floating around, I decided to do a 20% water change..... It was the first on the big tank and pretty much the first in 4-5 months on the 5-gallon tank.
I used the same salt I used to fill the 10G tank, Instant ocean, only this time I noticed all this white powder residue on the bottom of the tank that didn't dissolve.
It's not a huge amount, but definitely noticeable.
The shrimp seemed to be fine by the time I left to this trip - of course they were a bit agitated with all the commotion - it was a big cleaning plus the WC, but no losses, and nothing too extreme....
Should I be concerned? Is that harmful? Why is the salt not dissolving?

[KenCotigirl]

The salts used for salt water fish have other minerals besides sodium chloride. I believe the directions suggest waiting 24 hours before adding (but who does) to tank as some minerals dissolve slower than others. Dont use hot water to dissolve it quicker as hot water may have a higher ammount of copper (i could be completely wrong) in it than cold tap water. I use ro water or you could use distilled water.

Long story short I would not be too concerned. Also and more importantly water changes are not necessary. Please just top off with ro or distilled.

Ken

[Mech]

I had the same thing with my instant ocean, I added mine to the tank directly as there were no shrimps in it yet, and I too got some white powder on my sand, I just mixed a stick in the sand for a few seconds and the sediment vanished, I wouldn't be worried, a lot of people mix their instant ocean and pour it in right away with out waiting.

I'm sure your shrimps will be fine.

[Carolina]

The salts used for salt water fish have other minerals besides sodium chloride. I believe the directions suggest waiting 24 hours before adding (but who does) to tank as some minerals dissolve slower than others. Dont use hot water to dissolve it quicker as hot water may have a higher ammount of copper (i could be completely wrong) in it than cold tap water. I use ro water or you could use distilled water.

Long story short I would not be too concerned. Also and more importantly water changes are not necessary. Please just top off with ro or distilled.

Ken

Ken, I am battling a huge cyanobacteria issue and did a major cleaning on the tank... Lots of gunk floating around, which was the reason for the change. I wanted to remove as much as I could from the water column as well.
I used Distilled water, room temp, same as the tank.

[Carolina]

I had the same thing with my instant ocean, I added mine to the tank directly as there were no shrimps in it yet, and I too got some white powder on my sand, I just mixed a stick in the sand for a few seconds and the sediment vanished, I wouldn't be worried, a lot of people mix their instant ocean and pour it in right away with out waiting.

I'm sure your shrimps will be fine.

Whew! That makes me feel better! Thanks!

[Nexus6]

The salts used for salt water fish have other minerals besides sodium chloride. I believe the directions suggest waiting 24 hours before adding (but who does) to tank as some minerals dissolve slower than others. Dont use hot water to dissolve it quicker as hot water may have a higher ammount of copper (i could be completely wrong) in it than cold tap water. I use ro water or you could use distilled water.

Long story short I would not be too concerned. Also and more importantly water changes are not necessary. Please just top off with ro or distilled.

Ken

Ken, I am battling a huge cyanobacteria issue and did a major cleaning on the tank... Lots of gunk floating around, which was the reason for the change. I wanted to remove as much as I could from the water column as well.
I used Distilled water, room temp, same as the tank.

Did you have blue green algae issues? Or cyanobacteria? Is this in a opae tank?

[Carolina]

The salts used for salt water fish have other minerals besides sodium chloride. I believe the directions suggest waiting 24 hours before adding (but who does) to tank as some minerals dissolve slower than others. Dont use hot water to dissolve it quicker as hot water may have a higher ammount of copper (i could be completely wrong) in it than cold tap water. I use ro water or you could use distilled water.

Long story short I would not be too concerned. Also and more importantly water changes are not necessary. Please just top off with ro or distilled.

Ken

Ken, I am battling a huge cyanobacteria issue and did a major cleaning on the tank... Lots of gunk floating around, which was the reason for the change. I wanted to remove as much as I could from the water column as well.
I used Distilled water, room temp, same as the tank.

Did you have blue green algae issues? Or cyanobacteria? Is this in a opae tank?

Blue green on one tank, which Mustafa said it was cyano, and on the other, Bubble Algae - both opae, yes
Each algae has its own set of challenges.
The bubble, in the 5 gallon tank, is getting way better.... With a lot of work and regular manual cleaning. It reproduces extremely fast (you clean the substrate in one day, it's covered in the very next day). Nerite don't like it, nor do the shrimp.... And the brackish snails are much more interested on the wall than on the algae itself. They are not enough at all. But it's getting better nonetheless.
The cyanobacteria (blue/gree), present in my tank #2,10g, is not little patches.... It's a thick, dense carpet. Cleaning the wall is semi ok.... But the substrate.... Ohhhhh....
The brackish snails Hate it, so no help there. They hang only on the sand where it's not present. The shrimp like it, but I would need thousands of them to get rid of it.

Anyways.... I got word from my petsitter that both tanks are fine, the shrimp are all red and acting normal, no dead shrimpies, no dead snails, all seem to be fine. So far so good.... Will keep crossing fingers!

[Nexus6]

Im super careful not to introduce any bacteria into my tanks, always wash your hands thouroughly before touching the water, (and rinse well to get any soap residue off) and i keep a glass lid on covering most of the top. Do you have any cats? They might dip their dirty paws in the tank too. Sometimes i use nitrile gloves when i need to get my hands in the tank, its good to have a pair of tongs and a pipette handy as well. What kind of water do you use to do water changes/top offs? I would recommend pure RO/DI or just DI. Tap water or even just RO water can contain bacteria. I dont think the cyanobacteria is necessarily bad for the shrimp, its just ugly and looks gross. Its bad if youve got a planted tank.i hope all goes well!

[Carolina]

Im super careful not to introduce any bacteria into my tanks, always wash your hands thouroughly before touching the water, (and rinse well to get any soap residue off) and i keep a glass lid on covering most of the top. Do you have any cats? They might dip their dirty paws in the tank too. Sometimes i use nitrile gloves when i need to get my hands in the tank, its good to have a pair of tongs and a pipette handy as well. What kind of water do you use to do water changes/top offs? I would recommend pure RO/DI or just DI. Tap water or even just RO water can contain bacteria. I dont think the cyanobacteria is necessarily bad for the shrimp, its just ugly and looks gross. Its bad if youve got a planted tank.i hope all goes well!

do have cats, but my tanks are elevated and have lids, no dipping paws in them.
I also wash my hands very carefully, always with original dawn soap, rinse VERY well, and touch nothing but a paper towel before the tanks. Do have long fluval stainless steel tongs/tweezers.... Monster size. Do have pipettes. Don't have a planted tank. And last, but not least.... Use Distilled water...
I have a monster thread on the bacteria /thread issue.... I was more concerned really with the salt....
Thanks for asking

[Carolina]

It all dissolved, and everyone is doing great

[Mech]

It all dissolved, and everyone is doing great

Thats great news, i was worried about mine and looked around and apparently there is more minerals in it which takes longer to dissolve. Was your salt lumpy from liquid drawn in like mine?

[Carolina]

It all dissolved, and everyone is doing great

Thats great news, i was worried about mine and looked around and apparently there is more minerals in it which takes longer to dissolve. Was your salt lumpy from liquid drawn in like mine?

It had lumps, like big rocks.... But the salt was quite new, about 2 months old? I will just use brand new salt if I ever do another change..... But I don't believe so - the tanks are doing great!

[Mech]

It all dissolved, and everyone is doing great

Thats great news, i was worried about mine and looked around and apparently there is more minerals in it which takes longer to dissolve. Was your salt lumpy from liquid drawn in like mine?

It had lumps, like big rocks.... But the salt was quite new, about 2 months old? I will just use brand new salt if I ever do another change..... But I don't believe so - the tanks are doing great!

that was my thoughts exactly, i had to shave my salt back into grains

[Mustafa]

Did you have blue green algae issues? Or cyanobacteria? Is this in a opae tank?

That's the same thing.