what in the...?

[bhb1034]

last night i mixed some water for todays water change and now there is a white chalky film in the container. i used instant ocean and relatively hot water, and a small powerhead. is this water safe to use?
if i take out the powerhead the chalky stuff just lies on the bottom of the mixing container but refuses to desolve.
thanks

 

[Len]

I wouldn't recommend you mix salt with hot water. I'm not sure if that's what caused the precipitate, but some chalky leftover on the bottom is normal. FYI: The new IO formula has a lot less leftover then older stuff. If you used an older batch, expect a lot more residue. Also, if the bag wasn't sealed tight, the salt may have absorbed some elements from the air which caused increased precipitation.

My guess is it's safe to use. Just use the top portion.

 

[bhb1034]

thanks just wanted to make sure im not going to kill anything.

 

[bashcraft]

Calcium will not dissolve in hot water. It must be relatively cold for best results.