Mixing Salt: Volume vs Weighing

So I have heard of people weighing their salt to mix it instead of using measuring cups or something similar. I am going to give it a try sense I have a fairly precise scale I use for weighing my geckos. I am hoping after a few trials I can it to the point of pre measuring a bunch of baggies/containers and then just dump them into the mixing container. So is anyone else doing this? And what is your experience?

 

Another reason for me doing this is everytime I use my measuring cups the amount changes every time. Maybe my scoops vary each time.

 

No doubt weight is going to be a more accurate measurement than volume, at least when you are comparing a measuring cup with a fine scale. I am not certain that you are really going to see a "performance" difference buy would be interested to hear what you come up with.

 

I still use a measuring cu and a refractometer. Just seams to work good for me. Shaun

 

I would think that weighing the salt would be alot more effort than just doing an accurate measurement with a measuring cup.  I think you should be pretty accurate if you use a dry measuring cup - and then do it like a cook/baker does - i.e. fill the cup and then use a knife to level it off at the top (so that you have one cup of salt mix, no more, no less).  I mix 4 gallon at a time - 2 cups of mix.  After having problems with a bag of salt mix, when I opened the new bag of salt mix, I just mad sure to use my one cup measuring cup - filled it to the top, leveled it, and added.  It was dead on at 1.026

 

Jeanette,
What salt mix do you use? Shouldn't a ratio of two cups to four gallons actually give you a 1.021 SG? That is what I get out of reef crystals (sometimes 1.022 but I attribute this to temp variance). I believe it is also what the box says these ratios should come out to, although I don;t have a box to look back on right now /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/sad.gif

 

I'm using Reef crystals.  I retested my salt mix and got a reading of 1.025.  Difference could probably be due to temperature.  My first reading was after it had been mixing several hours (increased temp due to circulating pump).  My second reading was after the pump had been off overnight.
I just checked the refractometer with my calibration fluid and I get 1.026 and with R/O water 1.000.
It has a 1st set of directions (for mixing small quantities) which lists 1/2 cup per gallon - but doesn't specify salinity.  Then a 2nd set of directions on the box/bucket - which lists 1.4# for 5 gallon at 1.021 salinity.    Hmmmmmm??????

 

I use a refractometer as I never know how much water I've had to add to the mixing tank. I know that it takes about a cup of salt to increase the water .001 salinity so I can get it pretty close after doing my initial check...but I always under estimate and add smaller amounts until I hit 1.026

--AJ

 

Where did you buy your scale Gered? I want one for my ESV salt. I have heard that weighing the salt is a much better method. With ESV you also have the mag and separate liquid parts to add so there are a lot of places for error when measuring by volume.