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07/06/2014, 05:30 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 899
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Mystery Salt Creep
I've got some salt creep on the top of my 20g quarantine, and i'm a little confused as to where it's coming from. It's like actual salt crystals, maybe like 1/8" thick? This is my first time with a salt tank. My FW tanks never did this (obviously), and i'm confused as to where it's coming from. I haven't noticed any water on top of the glass, but I guess I haven't been looking THAT hard, either. The front and back pane are separated (the little black "joint" is totally broken, so they are completely 2 pieces of glass now, but they also have been pushed up against each other, as well. Does anyone have any ideas as to what i need to take a closer look at to stop this? Or is this just standard SW tank stuff? It's been maybe 5 days since i last really gave it a thorough looking over. I attached a picture below of what i'm talking about.
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07/06/2014, 05:52 PM
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#2 |
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biggliest cofveve champ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert
Posts: 3,506
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salt creep is just part of the hobby. i wipe it off with a damp paper towel every few days and when i do a water change, i take the tops of and get as much as i can with a wet rag. there doesn't have to be "splashing" for salt creep to happen. it just does.
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of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!! |
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07/06/2014, 05:56 PM
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#3 |
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Usually confused...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,091
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Dried salt, or "salt creep" is normal anywhere salt water splashes or leaks and and dries. So, if those areas are places water might be splashing and then sitting, it is probably nothing to worry about.
If it is somewhere where a leak might be dripping on to, then it might be a sign of something above it needing to be investigated. I can;t tell from the picture exactly what is going on, but it looks like there is water drops all around, so I imagine it is a case of salt water drying and forming a crust, which probably means it is not a major concern, but probably worth investigating why the water is collecting there...
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John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system! |
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07/06/2014, 05:57 PM
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#4 |
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Usually confused...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,091
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Nina sure types fast...
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John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system! |
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07/06/2014, 06:03 PM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 8
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Yeah I just looked behind my tank and found salt creep all up and down the wall and its only been set up for a few months. Don't think I will be setting up another saltwater tank with an open back...
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07/06/2014, 06:28 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 899
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It's the top glass lid. All the water in the pic is underneath. Hmmm
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07/06/2014, 06:35 PM
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#7 |
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Usually confused...
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,091
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Okay, pic makes more sense now...
First off, you might want to lose the lid and just cover the tank with window screen or light cover to prevent jumpers. Evaporation = cooling, which is a good thing in salt water tanks. Just be sure to top off with RODI water, not salt water, because only water evaporates, not salt. The water splashes up between the cracks, the water evaporates, leaving the salt creep... And, yes, salt creep is a normal thing in salt tanks...... By the way, Welcome!!!!
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John Current Tank Info: Currently a 29 gallon all-in-one frag tank and a 210 gallon tank slowly becoming my dream system! Last edited by AZBigJohn; 07/06/2014 at 06:36 PM. Reason: fat fingers and small keyboard |
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07/06/2014, 06:58 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Central NH
Posts: 1,241
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Beware the Creep!
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75 gal, LR w/refugium, 79 deg, PH 8.0, sg 1.025, amm 0/nit 0/nit 0, Calcium 420, dKH 8.3, mag 1300, Phos 0 Current Tank Info: A work in progress... |
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07/06/2014, 07:02 PM
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#9 | |
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biggliest cofveve champ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert
Posts: 3,506
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Quote:
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of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!! |
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07/06/2014, 08:45 PM
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#10 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 899
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Thanks people! And thanks BigJohn, I'm excited to get in on the SW aide of things! For my 75g I'm going a mesh top, that if just came with the 20g stand I bought, so I've been using it out of laziness.
And If any of you have tips for keeping the creep to a minimum love to hear em! Do people find it gets on the floors and walls frequently? I'd like that not to happen haha. |
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07/06/2014, 09:18 PM
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#11 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 8
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Honestly this is the first time I've had a problem with it getting far outside the tank but the back of my stand is completely open and I have a high flow rate going through my sump.
Usually the salt creep stays around the tank. Like BigJohn said, a wet paper towel takes it right off
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