Increase Salinity

rinconmike · 10/04/2014, 01:11 PM

I have a 150 gallon FOWLR and the salinity is at 1.0215 (around total volume of 135 gallons after rock and sand). I want to get it up to 1.024. I ready I can just top off with salt water, but that seams it will take a while.

I can also do water changes with the desired salt level or higher. What is the max that I should raise it with a water change. For example, if I want to change 25% of water (around 30 gallons), with the current water at 1.0215, if I remove around 30 gallons and add in 30 gallons at 1.0270, the increase should be to around 1.0227. Is 0.0012 Change to much or could I actually do more and be safe such as have an increase of 0.0015 to go from 1.0215 to 1.023 in one water change?

thanks,

Mike

Sk8r · 10/04/2014, 01:15 PM

If there are fish or corals, you can topoff, as you know, with salt water. You can also supersaturate the water you are using for topoff, with a mixing pump. Just don't overdo it. Creatures tolerate a rapid lowering of salinity pretty well; but a rapid INCREASE can rupture organ tissues and kill, not necessarily immediately, but due to organ failure. Kidneys are particularly vulnerable, so IME fish tend to suffer more than corals do.

SFish · 10/04/2014, 01:24 PM

Do u have fish in the tank or anything else right now? If no then I would just take some water out and raise it up to where u want it in one shot. If yes then I would do it a bit slower bust it up over a few days. I keep my tank at 1.026. To get your SG up you will have to over shoot by a few numbers. I've done this with a 10% water change before. Also if u get close lets say 1.023 or 1.0235 then u could just not top off and the SG will go up by it self.

cloak · 10/04/2014, 05:13 PM

If everything looks ok now, don't worry about it. Just mix up your next batch of saltwater to the proper level, and over time things will balance themselves out. IME, salinity doesn't necessarily have to be spot on. These corals are a lot more durable than one might think. Just as an example, those plastic swing arm hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate, yet there's a lot of hobbyists out there that use them & still have beautiful reef tanks. JMO, GL.

JavyJaverson · 10/04/2014, 09:41 PM

i have in the past added salt directly to the sump of my 180g sps reef with no ill effects, but never more than 3-4 cups. i should also note that i have a 75g sump.

tmz · 10/05/2014, 08:55 AM

I use mixed salt water at higher sg up to around 1.035 to raise aquarium sg., limiting increases to 0.001 per day to insure against osmotic shock.
Fish including marine fish have a natural internal sg of around 1.008. They must maintain that internal sg to avoid a loss of homeostasis and the proper fuctioning of their internal chemistry and organs. Marine fish have evolved to thrive in 1.0264 sg on average. They drink a lot and pee a little excreting urea packed with concentrated salts and wastes to stay hydrated. Raising sg too fast stresses them ,they need time to adjust to keep up..

Corals and invertebrates are different they can't osmoregulate like fish can and need the water outside them to be close to their internal sg around 1.0264. The op has a fish only tank.

rinconmike · 10/05/2014, 09:27 AM

thanks. I do have fish. The tank has been running for around 5 years. I am just going to top off with salt water.

thanks,

Mike

10/04/2014, 01:11 PM	#1
rinconmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: by NYC Posts: 659	Increase Salinity I have a 150 gallon FOWLR and the salinity is at 1.0215 (around total volume of 135 gallons after rock and sand). I want to get it up to 1.024. I ready I can just top off with salt water, but that seams it will take a while. I can also do water changes with the desired salt level or higher. What is the max that I should raise it with a water change. For example, if I want to change 25% of water (around 30 gallons), with the current water at 1.0215, if I remove around 30 gallons and add in 30 gallons at 1.0270, the increase should be to around 1.0227. Is 0.0012 Change to much or could I actually do more and be safe such as have an increase of 0.0015 to go from 1.0215 to 1.023 in one water change? thanks, Mike

10/04/2014, 01:15 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If there are fish or corals, you can topoff, as you know, with salt water. You can also supersaturate the water you are using for topoff, with a mixing pump. Just don't overdo it. Creatures tolerate a rapid lowering of salinity pretty well; but a rapid INCREASE can rupture organ tissues and kill, not necessarily immediately, but due to organ failure. Kidneys are particularly vulnerable, so IME fish tend to suffer more than corals do. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/04/2014, 09:41 PM	#5
JavyJaverson Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 41	i have in the past added salt directly to the sump of my 180g sps reef with no ill effects, but never more than 3-4 cups. i should also note that i have a 75g sump. __________________ SPS Dominated, 180g (6x2x2), 80g sump, 4 Kessil A360we, SRO 3000 ext skimmer, Speed Wave 10,000 DC pump, Cal Reactor, Macro Algae

10/05/2014, 08:55 AM	#6
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I use mixed salt water at higher sg up to around 1.035 to raise aquarium sg., limiting increases to 0.001 per day to insure against osmotic shock. Fish including marine fish have a natural internal sg of around 1.008. They must maintain that internal sg to avoid a loss of homeostasis and the proper fuctioning of their internal chemistry and organs. Marine fish have evolved to thrive in 1.0264 sg on average. They drink a lot and pee a little excreting urea packed with concentrated salts and wastes to stay hydrated. Raising sg too fast stresses them ,they need time to adjust to keep up.. Corals and invertebrates are different they can't osmoregulate like fish can and need the water outside them to be close to their internal sg around 1.0264. The op has a fish only tank. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals. Last edited by tmz; 10/05/2014 at 09:28 AM.

10/05/2014, 09:27 AM	#7
rinconmike Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: by NYC Posts: 659	thanks. I do have fish. The tank has been running for around 5 years. I am just going to top off with salt water. thanks, Mike Last edited by rinconmike; 10/05/2014 at 09:35 AM.

10/04/2014, 01:24 PM	#3
SFish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 2,062	Do u have fish in the tank or anything else right now? If no then I would just take some water out and raise it up to where u want it in one shot. If yes then I would do it a bit slower bust it up over a few days. I keep my tank at 1.026. To get your SG up you will have to over shoot by a few numbers. I've done this with a 10% water change before. Also if u get close lets say 1.023 or 1.0235 then u could just not top off and the SG will go up by it self.

10/04/2014, 05:13 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If everything looks ok now, don't worry about it. Just mix up your next batch of saltwater to the proper level, and over time things will balance themselves out. IME, salinity doesn't necessarily have to be spot on. These corals are a lot more durable than one might think. Just as an example, those plastic swing arm hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate, yet there's a lot of hobbyists out there that use them & still have beautiful reef tanks. JMO, GL.