Salinity (Again!)

dap42 · 05/31/2006, 12:37 PM

I know this has been discussed to death, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I've had my tank up & running for about 2 weeks, with just 40lbs of live sand & a skimmer. Before I start putting rock & critters in, I decided to take a water sample to one of my LFS's (the close one, not the good one) and get a set of baseline measurements.

She did a salinity test first (with a hygrometer!) and told me that my salinity was way too high at 1.024. It's actually 1.025 by my refractometer. She said there was no point in doing the other tests 'cause it was so high!

She said that fish are shipped at 1.018 and they don't run anything above 1.021 in the store. Also said I would have trouble acclimating any of their fish to my tank.

Is it common for LFS's to run so low? Would I have trouble if I bought from them?

Thanks!

jtemple42000 · 05/31/2006, 12:43 PM

I run mine at 1.024. My lfs runs theirs at 1.024. We both have corals, fish, inverts, no problems. I think the general rule is 1.020-1.025. I would maybe think about taking that drive to the "good one!"

James77 · 05/31/2006, 12:55 PM

One of my LFS run theirs real low, for disease reasons. You would have no problem acclimating any fish to your salinity, if done correctly-just slowly acclimate them ovewr the course of about an hour(depending how much of a difference). The lower salinity is OK for fish, but if you are keeping corals/inverts, 1.023-1.026 is best.

kraze3 · 05/31/2006, 01:57 PM

I would second that drive. You are way ahead of that LFS if you have a refractometer and she is still using a hydrometer. As far as running your alinity lower for disease reasons the only thing salinity can kill is ich and it needs to be down to 1.009 to kill it off. Fish are fine is this salinity for short periods of time but if exposed for too long can develop problems.
If you acclimate properly, maybe even a 2 hour acclimation, your fish shouldnt have any problems.

dap42 · 05/31/2006, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the replies....I'll definitely make the drive.

Doh! Thanks for the correction Kraze3, I'm betting a hygrometer would say the humidity was pretty high underwater.

bertoni · 05/31/2006, 02:15 PM

I run my tanks at around 1.026-1.027, which is about average natural ocean waters. 1.024 is a bit hyposaline, but lots of animals will still do well enough. The chemistry forum has more information on this subject. I would avoid advice from that LFS in the future.

Amphiprion · 05/31/2006, 02:30 PM

I agree with bertoni.

05/31/2006, 12:37 PM	#1
dap42 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: earth.us.texas.austin Posts: 52	Salinity (Again!) I know this has been discussed to death, but I thought I'd ask anyway. I've had my tank up & running for about 2 weeks, with just 40lbs of live sand & a skimmer. Before I start putting rock & critters in, I decided to take a water sample to one of my LFS's (the close one, not the good one) and get a set of baseline measurements. She did a salinity test first (with a hygrometer!) and told me that my salinity was way too high at 1.024. It's actually 1.025 by my refractometer. She said there was no point in doing the other tests 'cause it was so high! She said that fish are shipped at 1.018 and they don't run anything above 1.021 in the store. Also said I would have trouble acclimating any of their fish to my tank. Is it common for LFS's to run so low? Would I have trouble if I bought from them? Thanks! __________________ Livestock: 1 Sixline wrasse & two True Percula's in Quarantine Interests: Computers, Reefs, Snorkeling Current Tank Info: 58G + sump

05/31/2006, 12:43 PM	#2
jtemple42000 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Granger, IN Posts: 416	I run mine at 1.024. My lfs runs theirs at 1.024. We both have corals, fish, inverts, no problems. I think the general rule is 1.020-1.025. I would maybe think about taking that drive to the "good one!" __________________ Jim If anything absolutely can NOT go wrong, it will anyway. Current Tank Info: 210 in wall mixed reef

05/31/2006, 12:55 PM	#3
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	One of my LFS run theirs real low, for disease reasons. You would have no problem acclimating any fish to your salinity, if done correctly-just slowly acclimate them ovewr the course of about an hour(depending how much of a difference). The lower salinity is OK for fish, but if you are keeping corals/inverts, 1.023-1.026 is best. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

05/31/2006, 02:01 PM	#5
dap42 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: earth.us.texas.austin Posts: 52	Thanks for the replies....I'll definitely make the drive. Doh! Thanks for the correction Kraze3, I'm betting a hygrometer would say the humidity was pretty high underwater. __________________ Livestock: 1 Sixline wrasse & two True Percula's in Quarantine Interests: Computers, Reefs, Snorkeling Current Tank Info: 58G + sump

05/31/2006, 02:15 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I run my tanks at around 1.026-1.027, which is about average natural ocean waters. 1.024 is a bit hyposaline, but lots of animals will still do well enough. The chemistry forum has more information on this subject. I would avoid advice from that LFS in the future. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/31/2006, 01:57 PM	#4
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	I would second that drive. You are way ahead of that LFS if you have a refractometer and she is still using a hydrometer. As far as running your alinity lower for disease reasons the only thing salinity can kill is ich and it needs to be down to 1.009 to kill it off. Fish are fine is this salinity for short periods of time but if exposed for too long can develop problems. If you acclimate properly, maybe even a 2 hour acclimation, your fish shouldnt have any problems.

05/31/2006, 02:30 PM	#7
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	I agree with bertoni. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO