Salinity

bishop_gideon · 03/11/2006, 09:52 PM

Newbie here... quick question...

So I'm setting up my tank, finally got the filter going and such and I'm checking my salinity... I just put salt in last night and my salinity is at 1.025...

I think that's too high... right? How do I bring it down? I've tried increasing the temp from 76 degrees to 77.5 degrees... I think that's the way you do it... right?

Thanks in advance!

Ehgemus · 03/11/2006, 10:02 PM

1.020-1.024 is good. 1.025 is ok for now. temp will not bring it down. If you want to bring it down some take some water out and replace with RO water.

dots · 03/11/2006, 10:11 PM

1.025 is fine, most that keep a SPS tank keep it about that. I believe it may have to due with minimizing bacterial infections, but can't remember exactly why.

1.025 is on the high end of the range, if you have evaporation it will increase. So depending on your top off schedule, ie:daily, versus waiting as some do(not recommended), it will increase to too high. Until you get use to the set up, I would recommend 1.023 to give yourself a little wiggle room. To bring it down take some water out and top off with fresh water. FYI-top off water is ALWAYS fresh water and never salt water, salt does not evaporate. Sometimes people forget about that.

The temp is in the range of 78 to 80 degrees. Try to keep it within that range day and night.

Get into a routine now of checking the salinity weekly, temp as much as possible, Alkalinity daily, tops offs and water changes on a regular schedule and you will have fewer problems down the road.

mg426 · 03/11/2006, 10:12 PM

1.025 is a good number if you are planning on running a reef. if its your first time and you are using a swing arm type hydrometer, it might not be a bad idea to double ck the SG. If you are using a refractometer you are AOK.

Mariner · 03/11/2006, 10:25 PM

In overly simplified terms, SG reflects the percentage of salt in the water. To decrease the number, add more water, to increase it, add more salt -- if we're talking about making up a new batch of water. Never add salt directly to a tank with critters in it. If you need to increase SG there, let evaporation take its course (water evaporates, salt doesn't).
1.025 is NOT high SG -- it is actually lower than ocean water in the vast majority of places. I would not run it much lower than that if you're planning on keeping corals. But you do need to make sure that your reading is accurate. Hydrometers are notorious for measuring a little lower than actual -- occasionally a lot lower.
HTH,
Mariner

bishop_gideon · 03/11/2006, 10:26 PM

Ok.. sounds like I'm going to take some water out tonight and replace it with freshwater...

Any idea how much? a gallon? a little less? a little more? 2 gallons and check it again tomorrow?

Amphiprion · 03/11/2006, 10:36 PM

Why are you still intent on lowering this level? You are shooting for a natural reef salinity of 35 ppt, which at usual temperatures translates into a SG of 1.026-1.027. What you have is fine, and like mariner said, it is actually in the lower range of where it should be. I don't even like to keep lower salinities in fish only tanks. Most evidence for lower salinity is anecdotal at best. If fish and inverts prefer a lower salinity, then they would be living (not considering certain juvenile reef fish) in estuaries instead of oceanic reefs

.

03/11/2006, 09:52 PM	#1
bishop_gideon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 116	Salinity Newbie here... quick question... So I'm setting up my tank, finally got the filter going and such and I'm checking my salinity... I just put salt in last night and my salinity is at 1.025... I think that's too high... right? How do I bring it down? I've tried increasing the temp from 76 degrees to 77.5 degrees... I think that's the way you do it... right? Thanks in advance!

03/11/2006, 10:11 PM	#3
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	1.025 is fine, most that keep a SPS tank keep it about that. I believe it may have to due with minimizing bacterial infections, but can't remember exactly why. 1.025 is on the high end of the range, if you have evaporation it will increase. So depending on your top off schedule, ie:daily, versus waiting as some do(not recommended), it will increase to too high. Until you get use to the set up, I would recommend 1.023 to give yourself a little wiggle room. To bring it down take some water out and top off with fresh water. FYI-top off water is ALWAYS fresh water and never salt water, salt does not evaporate. Sometimes people forget about that. The temp is in the range of 78 to 80 degrees. Try to keep it within that range day and night. Get into a routine now of checking the salinity weekly, temp as much as possible, Alkalinity daily, tops offs and water changes on a regular schedule and you will have fewer problems down the road. __________________ ~Doug

03/11/2006, 10:12 PM	#4
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	1.025 is a good number if you are planning on running a reef. if its your first time and you are using a swing arm type hydrometer, it might not be a bad idea to double ck the SG. If you are using a refractometer you are AOK. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

03/11/2006, 10:25 PM	#5
Mariner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,952	In overly simplified terms, SG reflects the percentage of salt in the water. To decrease the number, add more water, to increase it, add more salt -- if we're talking about making up a new batch of water. Never add salt directly to a tank with critters in it. If you need to increase SG there, let evaporation take its course (water evaporates, salt doesn't). 1.025 is NOT high SG -- it is actually lower than ocean water in the vast majority of places. I would not run it much lower than that if you're planning on keeping corals. But you do need to make sure that your reading is accurate. Hydrometers are notorious for measuring a little lower than actual -- occasionally a lot lower. HTH, Mariner __________________ DESIGN DEMANDS A DESIGNER. ~The perception is that perception is reality, but the reality is that it isn't. Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef; 135g mixed reef

03/11/2006, 10:36 PM	#7
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Why are you still intent on lowering this level? You are shooting for a natural reef salinity of 35 ppt, which at usual temperatures translates into a SG of 1.026-1.027. What you have is fine, and like mariner said, it is actually in the lower range of where it should be. I don't even like to keep lower salinities in fish only tanks. Most evidence for lower salinity is anecdotal at best. If fish and inverts prefer a lower salinity, then they would be living (not considering certain juvenile reef fish) in estuaries instead of oceanic reefs . __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/11/2006, 10:02 PM	#2
Ehgemus Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central City Ky Posts: 1,585	1.020-1.024 is good. 1.025 is ok for now. temp will not bring it down. If you want to bring it down some take some water out and replace with RO water.

03/11/2006, 10:26 PM	#6
bishop_gideon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 116	Ok.. sounds like I'm going to take some water out tonight and replace it with freshwater... Any idea how much? a gallon? a little less? a little more? 2 gallons and check it again tomorrow?