Water Changes Question

yzfr6 · 03/20/2009, 06:23 PM

I am filling a 32 gallon garbage can with RO/DI water. Then I am adding the salt to get the salinity up to 1.023. i add a heater to keep it warm to 78 degrees plus a power head to circulate the water and salt. so heres my question i change about 10 percent a week and i noticed that the salinity was at 1.027. What am i doing wrong should i be mixing the salt in the tank instead? Please help!!!!

davewbush · 03/20/2009, 06:51 PM

Make sure you tank is full when you do the water change. If there is evaporation and you take out 10 gallons, and ad 12 or 13 to fill it back up, then your adding to much salt. Next time check your tank before you do the water change to see where it is at. If you need to bring the sal down mix the new water a little low and this will bring it down.

What do you have in your tank?

yzfr6 · 03/20/2009, 07:32 PM

i have 125 lbs of live rock, sps and lps, and a few fish...

Jason Donohoe · 03/20/2009, 07:40 PM

To maintain a consistent salinity in my tank I top up daily with fresh water and remove and replace the same amount of water with each water change. I measure the salinity after each water change to be sure.

Don't worry about your current salinity, 1.0264 is the most commonly quoted value for reef tanks.

IslandCrow · 03/20/2009, 08:02 PM

Also, make sure the salinity in your mixing container isn't rising. If it's not sealed well, water will start to evaporate, raising the salinity. My first guess would be what davewbush suggested. Also, I'm assuming you're replacing evaporated water in your tank with fresh water on a regular basis.

yzfr6 · 03/20/2009, 08:04 PM

i have an automatic top off with RO water. So good there . I have a lid o nthe garbage can and yes evaporation is happening. Didn't take that into consideration thanks.

davewbush · 03/20/2009, 08:45 PM

Your not to high but if you like it lower, do it slow. You don't want to stress the things in your tank.

yzfr6 · 03/20/2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davewbush
Your not to high but if you like it lower, do it slow. You don't want to stress the things in your tank.

If 1.026 is good for reefs than i will keep it there. I thought i read that 1.023 was where you wanted to be for reefs. So I will keep it at 1.026. Thanks for everyone's help.

03/20/2009, 06:23 PM	#1
yzfr6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 111	Water Changes Question I am filling a 32 gallon garbage can with RO/DI water. Then I am adding the salt to get the salinity up to 1.023. i add a heater to keep it warm to 78 degrees plus a power head to circulate the water and salt. so heres my question i change about 10 percent a week and i noticed that the salinity was at 1.027. What am i doing wrong should i be mixing the salt in the tank instead? Please help!!!!

03/20/2009, 07:40 PM	#4
Jason Donohoe Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada Posts: 638	To maintain a consistent salinity in my tank I top up daily with fresh water and remove and replace the same amount of water with each water change. I measure the salinity after each water change to be sure. Don't worry about your current salinity, 1.0264 is the most commonly quoted value for reef tanks. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bowfront softie tank

03/20/2009, 08:02 PM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Also, make sure the salinity in your mixing container isn't rising. If it's not sealed well, water will start to evaporate, raising the salinity. My first guess would be what davewbush suggested. Also, I'm assuming you're replacing evaporated water in your tank with fresh water on a regular basis. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

03/20/2009, 06:51 PM	#2
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Make sure you tank is full when you do the water change. If there is evaporation and you take out 10 gallons, and ad 12 or 13 to fill it back up, then your adding to much salt. Next time check your tank before you do the water change to see where it is at. If you need to bring the sal down mix the new water a little low and this will bring it down. What do you have in your tank?

03/20/2009, 07:32 PM	#3
yzfr6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 111	i have 125 lbs of live rock, sps and lps, and a few fish...

03/20/2009, 08:04 PM	#6
yzfr6 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 111	i have an automatic top off with RO water. So good there . I have a lid o nthe garbage can and yes evaporation is happening. Didn't take that into consideration thanks.

03/20/2009, 08:45 PM	#7
davewbush ... Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: California Posts: 739	Your not to high but if you like it lower, do it slow. You don't want to stress the things in your tank.