Dropping Salt for hypo...how fast???

Reefer2727 · 03/17/2010, 08:17 PM

I have some fish coming and I am going to QT them in hypo conditions. I know some people dont agree with treating a potentially healthy fish but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Anyway, I remember reading somewhere that a fish can be acclimated into low salinity conditions without any negative effects. I was thinking of having my QT tank around 1.014-1.015 salinity to start with. I would then fine tune it to around the 1.009 mark. Are there any potential issues with this method.

I know that the salt needs to be brought up much slower once treatment is complete but I just wanted to confirm that there will be no ill effects if I introduce the fish into fairly low salt. Of course it would be a nice long acclimation.

Thanks in advance

rayjay · 03/17/2010, 09:18 PM

I've always dropped it over several hours and never had a problem.

steelhead77 · 03/17/2010, 09:56 PM

How fast would salinity drop in the tropical lagoon in a torrential downpour? Methinks pretty fast. It can take awhile to bring it back up from incoming tides and surges, but it can drop pretty quickly. Dropping it over the course of an hour or so should be fine. Bring it back up over the course of a day or so.

tkeracer619 · 03/17/2010, 09:58 PM

No issue

Dejavu · 03/18/2010, 05:05 AM

You can drop salinity pretty fast. I have drop mine from 1.026 to 1.009 in 2 hrs without a problem. When bring it up you need to do it over a few days.

nanoedge · 03/18/2010, 05:13 AM

Yeah as the guys say you can drop it very fast over the space of an hour is ok raising it back up is when you need to take your time id do it over 3 or 4 days have done this myself

Reefer2727 · 03/18/2010, 06:57 AM

How do you guys drop the salinity over an hour? Just keep taking water out and topping up with fresh RODI?

Just wondering if there was an easy way.

Hal · 03/18/2010, 07:39 AM

Read this, about half-way down. I wouldn't do it over an hour though, nor does this article recommend it.
http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/hyposalinity.html

Dejavu · 03/18/2010, 08:07 AM

Just to add, it also good to have extra aeration while lowering your salinity too. I find that it will help reduce possibly stress.

03/17/2010, 08:17 PM	#1
Reefer2727 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 995	Dropping Salt for hypo...how fast??? I have some fish coming and I am going to QT them in hypo conditions. I know some people dont agree with treating a potentially healthy fish but I would rather be safe than sorry. Anyway, I remember reading somewhere that a fish can be acclimated into low salinity conditions without any negative effects. I was thinking of having my QT tank around 1.014-1.015 salinity to start with. I would then fine tune it to around the 1.009 mark. Are there any potential issues with this method. I know that the salt needs to be brought up much slower once treatment is complete but I just wanted to confirm that there will be no ill effects if I introduce the fish into fairly low salt. Of course it would be a nice long acclimation. Thanks in advance

03/17/2010, 09:18 PM	#2
rayjay Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,969	I've always dropped it over several hours and never had a problem. __________________ Seahorses. Culture nanno, rotifers and brine shrimp. Current Tank Info: Seahorses

03/17/2010, 09:56 PM	#3
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	How fast would salinity drop in the tropical lagoon in a torrential downpour? Methinks pretty fast. It can take awhile to bring it back up from incoming tides and surges, but it can drop pretty quickly. Dropping it over the course of an hour or so should be fine. Bring it back up over the course of a day or so. __________________ This really isn't rocket science - it's more like marine biology. Current tank info: 180 gallon AGA, 40 gallon custom sump, AquaC EV240 skimmer, PM calc reactor, 3x 250w DIY MH, PCI CL-650 Chiller, 2x Koralia 4's, 2x Koralia 2's

03/17/2010, 09:58 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	No issue __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/18/2010, 05:05 AM	#5
Dejavu ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,423	You can drop salinity pretty fast. I have drop mine from 1.026 to 1.009 in 2 hrs without a problem. When bring it up you need to do it over a few days. __________________ Brian June 2013 TOTM Current Tank Info: 270 Starphire by Miracles in GlassBK 250 InternalSequence Blackfin 1800(2) 6105 Tunzes Streams(3) 400 watt Blueline E-Ballast400w 20k Radiums(3) Lumanarc IIIGEO 624 Ca ReactorTunze OsmolotorPM SR45 and TLF PhosBan Reactor 150Apex

03/18/2010, 05:13 AM	#6
nanoedge Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 42	Yeah as the guys say you can drop it very fast over the space of an hour is ok raising it back up is when you need to take your time id do it over 3 or 4 days have done this myself

03/18/2010, 06:57 AM	#7
Reefer2727 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 995	How do you guys drop the salinity over an hour? Just keep taking water out and topping up with fresh RODI? Just wondering if there was an easy way.

03/18/2010, 07:39 AM	#8
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Read this, about half-way down. I wouldn't do it over an hour though, nor does this article recommend it. http://atj.net.au/marineaquaria/hyposalinity.html __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

03/18/2010, 08:07 AM	#9
Dejavu ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,423	Just to add, it also good to have extra aeration while lowering your salinity too. I find that it will help reduce possibly stress. __________________ Brian June 2013 TOTM Current Tank Info: 270 Starphire by Miracles in GlassBK 250 InternalSequence Blackfin 1800(2) 6105 Tunzes Streams(3) 400 watt Blueline E-Ballast400w 20k Radiums(3) Lumanarc IIIGEO 624 Ca ReactorTunze OsmolotorPM SR45 and TLF PhosBan Reactor 150Apex