Please help!!- How do I safely bring my salt level up?

Econ · 05/09/2014, 06:34 AM

Hi guys,

I started to cycle my new tank 11 days ago. I have a 34 gallon with skimmer, uv, sump with ceramic and carbon, 25 pounds of live rock and 15 pounds of dry sand. My water parameters for the last 3 days have been:

PH - 7.5
Nitrites -0
Nitrates - 20
Ammonia - .5

I know that the tank is cycling and the ammonia should go down to zero. The problem is that my water salinity has been 1.019. I havent done any water changes, but on day 8 of the cycle I added some top off water with salt. even with that, my water salinity wont go past 1.019.

What should I do? I tested the water using a hydrometer and also re-tested the water in my LFS. I use RO water.

Any advice on how to solve this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!,,

snorvich · 05/09/2014, 06:39 AM

Easiest way is to mix up some top off water at 1.025/6 and replaced evaporated water with that.

scott3569 · 05/09/2014, 06:42 AM

for one take out the carbon and ceramic while you are cycling it's not needed..and there is another reason why I just don't remember right now...

as far as your water goes, What are you using to test your gravity? hydrometor or and refractometer?

if your not using the refractor before you do anything take a sample of water to you LFS and have them check it.. and see what they read..if it is still low, then mix up a 5 gal bucket to the correct level(1.026 or at least close to that) and start adding it in slowly..us it to top off.you might need to do a couple of buckets to get it where you want it...

I hope I am not to far off on my answer..I don't think I am

Econ · 05/09/2014, 10:14 AM

Thanks you guys for your recommendations. The thing is that the evaporation in my tank is really minimal right now. At the moment, I dont have room to add any water. The only way would be to do a water change, and I'm sure that is not needed at this point, since my tank is still cycling.

This is possibly a stupid question, but what would happen if I added salt directly into the tank? Right now there are no fish or corals in the tank. Just the live rock and the dry sand.

I have taken my water to the LFS for testing and they are getting the same results I get. Perhaps it is time to buy a refractometer.

GT350pwns · 05/09/2014, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott3569

for one take out the carbon and ceramic while you are cycling it's not needed..and there is another reason why I just don't remember right now...

as far as your water goes, What are you using to test your gravity? hydrometor or and refractometer?

if your not using the refractor before you do anything take a sample of water to you LFS and have them check it.. and see what they read..if it is still low, then mix up a 5 gal bucket to the correct level(1.026 or at least close to that) and start adding it in slowly..us it to top off.you might need to do a couple of buckets to get it where you want it...

I hope I am not to far off on my answer..I don't think I am

No harm in running carbon during the cycle. Ceramic filter medias become nitrate factories IIRC.

+1 to topping off with saltwater and not RO to bring up salinity.

Pife · 05/09/2014, 12:26 PM

You should definitely buy a refractometer a And calibration fluid.

ReEfErAdDiCt86 · 05/09/2014, 12:49 PM

Your salinity being at 1.019 right now is not a big deal at all. Even if you had fish in there it would be fine. I treat fish in my quarantine tank at a super low salinity of about 1.010-1.013.

To raise it simply top off with saltwater until you reach the desired salinity level. It might take a few days but like I said, nothing to worry about.

05/09/2014, 06:34 AM	#1
Econ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 72	Please help!!- How do I safely bring my salt level up? Hi guys, I started to cycle my new tank 11 days ago. I have a 34 gallon with skimmer, uv, sump with ceramic and carbon, 25 pounds of live rock and 15 pounds of dry sand. My water parameters for the last 3 days have been: PH - 7.5 Nitrites -0 Nitrates - 20 Ammonia - .5 I know that the tank is cycling and the ammonia should go down to zero. The problem is that my water salinity has been 1.019. I havent done any water changes, but on day 8 of the cycle I added some top off water with salt. even with that, my water salinity wont go past 1.019. What should I do? I tested the water using a hydrometer and also re-tested the water in my LFS. I use RO water. Any advice on how to solve this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!,,

05/09/2014, 06:39 AM	#2
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Easiest way is to mix up some top off water at 1.025/6 and replaced evaporated water with that. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

05/09/2014, 06:42 AM	#3
scott3569 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Middletown,VA Posts: 929	for one take out the carbon and ceramic while you are cycling it's not needed..and there is another reason why I just don't remember right now... as far as your water goes, What are you using to test your gravity? hydrometor or and refractometer? if your not using the refractor before you do anything take a sample of water to you LFS and have them check it.. and see what they read..if it is still low, then mix up a 5 gal bucket to the correct level(1.026 or at least close to that) and start adding it in slowly..us it to top off.you might need to do a couple of buckets to get it where you want it... I hope I am not to far off on my answer..I don't think I am __________________ I'm in a fishy situation!!! Current Tank Info: 56 gallon 30 x 18 x 22 with a 40gal sump, SCA 302 skimmer, 10 gal QT tank, a hydror 600 power head, 2 enhiem 150 heaters, 49#'s of dry rock, 12#'s of life rock, 40#'s of sand

05/09/2014, 12:26 PM	#6
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	You should definitely buy a refractometer a And calibration fluid. __________________ Brandon I'm not saying let's get rid of all the stupid people.* I'm just saying let's remove all the warning labels and let the problem work itself out. Current Tank Info: 150g DT plumbed to an 80g frag tank and 220g sump in the basement. ~6-MP40s ~ 12 ATI powered t5s ~ Reefbrites and Radions supplementing ~ Custom GEO Skimmer ~ GEO CA Reactor 6x24~ Iwaki 70 Return ~

05/09/2014, 10:14 AM	#4
Econ Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 72	Thanks you guys for your recommendations. The thing is that the evaporation in my tank is really minimal right now. At the moment, I dont have room to add any water. The only way would be to do a water change, and I'm sure that is not needed at this point, since my tank is still cycling. This is possibly a stupid question, but what would happen if I added salt directly into the tank? Right now there are no fish or corals in the tank. Just the live rock and the dry sand. I have taken my water to the LFS for testing and they are getting the same results I get. Perhaps it is time to buy a refractometer.

05/09/2014, 12:49 PM	#7
ReEfErAdDiCt86 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 60	Your salinity being at 1.019 right now is not a big deal at all. Even if you had fish in there it would be fine. I treat fish in my quarantine tank at a super low salinity of about 1.010-1.013. To raise it simply top off with saltwater until you reach the desired salinity level. It might take a few days but like I said, nothing to worry about.