Help!!!!!

waterlily1072 · 08/03/2006, 02:38 PM

Ok so somehow I miscalculated and my live rock is arriving tomorrow (Friday) and my instant ocean and hydrometer isn't arriving till Monday! What do I do? Do I need to go out and buy a little pack of instant ocean? Does it have instructions as to how much to use? If I just put my live rock in plain old aged water no salt will it die over the weekend?

Please help, I'm freaking out!

m3rcury · 08/03/2006, 02:47 PM

i would just go buy a small package of instant ocean. it's not very expensive at the LFS. you will also need a hydrometer. perhaps you can send the hydrometer back to the mail order store?

but the simple answer is - no, i would NOT put LR into freshwater.

reefnetworth · 08/03/2006, 02:50 PM

you must have saltwater for the rock to live. IO come with directions on the packaging. the bag is for 50-55 gallons of water only. LR will offset the water ratio due to displacement. the 5 gallon size pail/bucket treats 160 gallons. you should be OK with measuring guesstamate. LR will withstand some offset of parameters. especially if its only a couple of days. REEF-ON!!!

Stidd · 08/03/2006, 02:50 PM

I think it's 1/2 a cup per gallon if you are using instant ocean...

Maybe get your water in a measured container and add the salt that way instead of just doing adjustments with a hydrometer... As long as you are in range you should be fine...

Stidd

reefnetworth · 08/03/2006, 02:51 PM

you may also make it up (water) and take it to your LFS and have them test it with a refractometer. REEF-ON!!!

Travis L. Stevens · 08/03/2006, 02:52 PM

Yes, if you place your rock in freshwater, everything will die on it because you have placed it in hyposalinity. The cells of all the living animals will rupture because of reverse osmosis.

Here's what you can do. Go to the store, buy enough Instant Ocean salt to fill your tank (IE 50g Bag if your tank is less than 50g), then fill a 5g bucket full and add five level 1/2 cups of salt to the mixture. This will yield roughly 1.025-1.026 specific gravity.

Then, when you get your hydrometer, throw it away

Just kidding (sort of). Find someone with a refractometer (or buy your own) and make sure that your hydrometer reads the same as a calibrated refractometer. Then, proceed from there.

waterlily1072 · 08/03/2006, 02:59 PM

Thanks

I guess I am taking a trip to the lfs tonight.

angelsj247 · 08/03/2006, 03:00 PM

just get a little package of salt and a plastic hydrometer- which would cost maybe like 6 bucks..
everything will die if you put it in just water.

08/03/2006, 02:38 PM	#1
waterlily1072 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 16	Help!!!!! Ok so somehow I miscalculated and my live rock is arriving tomorrow (Friday) and my instant ocean and hydrometer isn't arriving till Monday! What do I do? Do I need to go out and buy a little pack of instant ocean? Does it have instructions as to how much to use? If I just put my live rock in plain old aged water no salt will it die over the weekend? Please help, I'm freaking out!

08/03/2006, 02:50 PM	#3
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	you must have saltwater for the rock to live. IO come with directions on the packaging. the bag is for 50-55 gallons of water only. LR will offset the water ratio due to displacement. the 5 gallon size pail/bucket treats 160 gallons. you should be OK with measuring guesstamate. LR will withstand some offset of parameters. especially if its only a couple of days. REEF-ON!!! __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

08/03/2006, 02:50 PM	#4
Stidd Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 286	I think it's 1/2 a cup per gallon if you are using instant ocean... Maybe get your water in a measured container and add the salt that way instead of just doing adjustments with a hydrometer... As long as you are in range you should be fine... Stidd __________________ Be like a sponge when it comes to each new experience. If you want to be able to express it well, you must first be able to absorb it well. ~ Jim Rohn Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon All-Glass-Aquarium, Current USA Orbit 36" 2x96W with MoonLights. LifeReef Overflow into a Custom Compact Berlin Sump w/ VS2-24 Skimmer

08/03/2006, 02:51 PM	#5
reefnetworth Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 3,810	you may also make it up (water) and take it to your LFS and have them test it with a refractometer. REEF-ON!!! __________________ GIVE A MAN A FISH, YOU FEED HIM FOR A DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH, HE FEEDS HIMSELF FOR LIFE. (NEVER, underestimate another man's greed) Current Tank Info: SPS dominated barebottom display with BB sump since 2005, most consistant parameters in 19+ years of reefkeeping.

08/03/2006, 02:52 PM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Yes, if you place your rock in freshwater, everything will die on it because you have placed it in hyposalinity. The cells of all the living animals will rupture because of reverse osmosis. Here's what you can do. Go to the store, buy enough Instant Ocean salt to fill your tank (IE 50g Bag if your tank is less than 50g), then fill a 5g bucket full and add five level 1/2 cups of salt to the mixture. This will yield roughly 1.025-1.026 specific gravity. Then, when you get your hydrometer, throw it away Just kidding (sort of). Find someone with a refractometer (or buy your own) and make sure that your hydrometer reads the same as a calibrated refractometer. Then, proceed from there. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/03/2006, 02:47 PM	#2
m3rcury Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 325	i would just go buy a small package of instant ocean. it's not very expensive at the LFS. you will also need a hydrometer. perhaps you can send the hydrometer back to the mail order store? but the simple answer is - no, i would NOT put LR into freshwater.

08/03/2006, 02:59 PM	#7
waterlily1072 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 16	Thanks I guess I am taking a trip to the lfs tonight.

08/03/2006, 03:00 PM	#8
angelsj247 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 866	just get a little package of salt and a plastic hydrometer- which would cost maybe like 6 bucks.. everything will die if you put it in just water. __________________ 2 perc clownfish, 2 peppermint shrimp, astrea, turbo, & nassarius snails, 20 lbs Live Rock Current Tank Info: 20gal FOWLR