matching salinity

JMorris271 · 07/26/2016, 02:08 PM

Hi RC
I have two tanks that I am trying to get matched salinity wise. I got some fish today and they came in with a 1.018 ppm level
The tank I want to transfer them to is now reading 1.023.

What would be the best way to merge these levels and when can I do it.?
Should I wait until after the TTM is complete and just carry it out at 1.018?
Then during QT, ease the level up to 1.025 using to offs?
Thanks

mcgyvr · 07/26/2016, 03:58 PM

Well.. I'm not a good example of proper information here.. I've never done a QT.. Acclimation..TTM..salinity match or anything on any fish or coral I've ever purchased...
And I've never lost one either or had an infection..pest,etc..

I'm LUCKY..

degibson84 · 07/26/2016, 04:13 PM

Fish can handle a drop in salinity better than a jump up.

I have always done an hour per .001. I just got a powder brown that came in so low it was crazy. It took me about 6 hours of drip acclimation

JMorris271 · 07/26/2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMorris271

Hi RC
I have two tanks that I am trying to get matched salinity wise. I got some fish today and they came in with a 1.018 ppm level
The tank I want to transfer them to is now reading 1.023.

What would be the best way to merge these levels and when can I do it.?
Should I wait until after the TTM is complete and just carry it out at 1.018?
Then during QT, ease the level up to 1.025 using to offs?
Thanks

Yep. You are.

thegrun · 07/26/2016, 05:42 PM

I would top off the tank with the lower salinity with water that was 1.023. It will take several days for the water to slowly reach the desired salinity.

scooter31707 · 07/27/2016, 06:49 AM

take out some of the saltwater and just add RO/DI. I always keep my QT at 1.025 (same as DT), so I match my first TTM tank to the vendors salinity (most of the time it's like 1.018-1.023. Once in there I do not top off the TTM tanks as evaporation will raise the salinity. So by time I am done with TTM, my salinity matches my QT and just dump the fish in there.

lespaul339 · 07/27/2016, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter31707

take out some of the saltwater and just add RO/DI.

This

JMorris271 · 07/27/2016, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooter31707

take out some of the saltwater and just add RO/DI. I always keep my QT at 1.025 (same as DT), so I match my first TTM tank to the vendors salinity (most of the time it's like 1.018-1.023. Once in there I do not top off the TTM tanks as evaporation will raise the salinity. So by time I am done with TTM, my salinity matches my QT and just dump the fish in there.

Their current tank is 1.018.
The next transfer tank where they are suppose to go Friday is reading 1.023
If I remove some water from this tank the level will still be 1.023 which is still quite a jump from 1.018.
Should I lower the 1.023 tank some and if so, how much?
Thanks Scooter

scooter31707 · 07/27/2016, 12:00 PM

So, if I am understanding this correctly, the next TTM tank is set at 1.023? Ok, get 2 cups/pitchers and fill one up with regular RO/DI water and with the other one you will take out water from the tank. Then pour some of the RO/DI water in to bring the salinity down. Just do little by little so you won't overshoot your target. If you go under .018 then you do vice-versa, add the saltwater that you took out. This won't hurt anything, because you don't have nothing in the tank.

homer1475 · 07/27/2016, 12:10 PM

I typically get my fish around 1.018 also. What I do is set my first TTM tank at that salinity, then topoff with 1.025. My next tank will typically be 1.020, then just keep topping off with 1.025. Match salinity with each transfer and keep topping off with 1.025. By the last transfer I'm usually at 1.025.

JMorris271 · 07/27/2016, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

I typically get my fish around 1.018 also. What I do is set my first TTM tank at that salinity, then topoff with 1.025. My next tank will typically be 1.020, then just keep topping off with 1.025. Match salinity with each transfer and keep topping off with 1.025. By the last transfer I'm usually at 1.025.

It looks like you are increasing the salinity by .0233 every 3 days assuming you are doing the every 3 day option?

homer1475 · 07/27/2016, 12:56 PM

Never actually did the math. Your only raising the SG by .007, so I think your math is slightly wrong. I don't evap much in my TTM tanks(roughly a couple cups in 3 days), so its more like .002 increase by the end of the transfer.

Remember to not transfer them to a higher SG tank. You want to match salinity with the previous tank, then slowly raise it while in said tank.

You just have to do it slowly. While the fish can handle a sudden drop, a sudden increase can cause osmotic shock.

JMorris271 · 07/27/2016, 01:56 PM

Thanks to you both for the help.
I am going to do the ttm using 1.018 as a starting point and add 2 cups of 1.025 each day the rest of ttm.
After matching that ending ttm level with the Qt. I can then Top off the QT with 1.0256 until I get the salinity to the 1.025-6 range. KIS
I hope that works.

gmcpickup66 · 07/27/2016, 05:45 PM

Where is the best place to get information on ttm?

JMorris271 · 08/23/2016, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmcpickup66

Where is the best place to get information on ttm?

There is a great sticky on top of this topic that is no doubt, the most observed and the best one in the world.

CindyK · 08/23/2016, 09:08 PM

JMorris, do you plan to quarantine after doing TTM?

My plan (no experience yet, brand new) is to go through TTM at whatever salinity my fish arrive at, although a gentle increase during TTM probably is fine. I intend to observe them in QT for around a month prior to moving them to the DT, which should be more than enough time to gradually bring the salinity up.

Does anyone see any potential problems ?

scooter31707 · 08/24/2016, 08:02 AM

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388428

07/26/2016, 02:08 PM	#1
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	matching salinity Hi RC I have two tanks that I am trying to get matched salinity wise. I got some fish today and they came in with a 1.018 ppm level The tank I want to transfer them to is now reading 1.023. What would be the best way to merge these levels and when can I do it.? Should I wait until after the TTM is complete and just carry it out at 1.018? Then during QT, ease the level up to 1.025 using to offs? Thanks __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....

07/26/2016, 03:58 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Well.. I'm not a good example of proper information here.. I've never done a QT.. Acclimation..TTM..salinity match or anything on any fish or coral I've ever purchased... And I've never lost one either or had an infection..pest,etc.. I'm LUCKY.. __________________ Who me?

07/27/2016, 12:10 PM	#10
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I typically get my fish around 1.018 also. What I do is set my first TTM tank at that salinity, then topoff with 1.025. My next tank will typically be 1.020, then just keep topping off with 1.025. Match salinity with each transfer and keep topping off with 1.025. By the last transfer I'm usually at 1.025. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

07/27/2016, 12:56 PM	#12
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Never actually did the math. Your only raising the SG by .007, so I think your math is slightly wrong. I don't evap much in my TTM tanks(roughly a couple cups in 3 days), so its more like .002 increase by the end of the transfer. Remember to not transfer them to a higher SG tank. You want to match salinity with the previous tank, then slowly raise it while in said tank. You just have to do it slowly. While the fish can handle a sudden drop, a sudden increase can cause osmotic shock. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

07/27/2016, 01:56 PM	#13
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	Thanks to you both for the help. I am going to do the ttm using 1.018 as a starting point and add 2 cups of 1.025 each day the rest of ttm. After matching that ending ttm level with the Qt. I can then Top off the QT with 1.0256 until I get the salinity to the 1.025-6 range. KIS I hope that works. __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....

07/26/2016, 04:13 PM	#3
degibson84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Youngstown, OH Posts: 2,393	Fish can handle a drop in salinity better than a jump up. I have always done an hour per .001. I just got a powder brown that came in so low it was crazy. It took me about 6 hours of drip acclimation

07/26/2016, 05:42 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would top off the tank with the lower salinity with water that was 1.023. It will take several days for the water to slowly reach the desired salinity.

07/27/2016, 06:49 AM	#6
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	take out some of the saltwater and just add RO/DI. I always keep my QT at 1.025 (same as DT), so I match my first TTM tank to the vendors salinity (most of the time it's like 1.018-1.023. Once in there I do not top off the TTM tanks as evaporation will raise the salinity. So by time I am done with TTM, my salinity matches my QT and just dump the fish in there.

07/27/2016, 12:00 PM	#9
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	So, if I am understanding this correctly, the next TTM tank is set at 1.023? Ok, get 2 cups/pitchers and fill one up with regular RO/DI water and with the other one you will take out water from the tank. Then pour some of the RO/DI water in to bring the salinity down. Just do little by little so you won't overshoot your target. If you go under .018 then you do vice-versa, add the saltwater that you took out. This won't hurt anything, because you don't have nothing in the tank.

07/27/2016, 05:45 PM	#14
gmcpickup66 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Whitsett, NC Posts: 151	Where is the best place to get information on ttm?

08/23/2016, 09:08 PM	#16
CindyK Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 268	JMorris, do you plan to quarantine after doing TTM? My plan (no experience yet, brand new) is to go through TTM at whatever salinity my fish arrive at, although a gentle increase during TTM probably is fine. I intend to observe them in QT for around a month prior to moving them to the DT, which should be more than enough time to gradually bring the salinity up. Does anyone see any potential problems ?

08/24/2016, 08:02 AM	#17
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388428