Tip of the Day – 2/10/2012

When prepping for a water change, it’s a good idea to clean the mixing container before filling it with a fresh batch of saltwater. The leftover dust-like material that coats the inside of the container from your last water change can dissolve back into the new water, causing it to be dirty or throw off the delicate chemical balance of pH, calcium, and alkalinity in the newly mixed water. While most suggest cleaning the container with bleach, vinegar, or sequential cleanings by each, you really don’t have to go through all of these steps every time. By simply cleaning the walls and bottom of the bucket(s) with a damp towel, you can get the excess dust off the container without spending hours cleaning the container and rinsing it to make sure the bleach and vinegar have been fully removed. All that being said, it’s still a good idea to thoroughly soak the container in a vinegar or bleach solution to really make it shine. Just be sure to rinse it with water before using it again.