How often do you check salinity?

Ou8me2 · 11/14/2016, 03:18 PM

I'm not really much of an automated guy. I was wondering how often you guys/gals check salinity in your tanks? Do you use an auto top-off? Do people use probes to constantly monitor salinity?

I currently just top off by hand, but it seems it's getting to be a pain in the backside of a task and I currently have close to a gallon a day of evaporation. I'm thinking an auto top-off would help at least make the task of adding fresh RO/DI water less painful and maybe make it easier to keep the salinity more stable.

I've never used a controller or auto top-off in my many years, but I guess I'm coming to a crossroads of making things more simple for my tank.

DarkSkyForever · 11/14/2016, 03:21 PM

I use an ATO, I don't have a probe (yet) for my Cerebra. I test when I do water changes, both the water going in and the tank.

Potatohead · 11/14/2016, 03:31 PM

I use an ATO, I really only check it about once a week, and new water going in to match, obviously.

NYCBOB · 11/14/2016, 03:32 PM

every 2 weeks.

MiddletoM · 11/14/2016, 03:46 PM

before every water change just to make sure im adding the same salinity water. So once a week. I use an ATO so it doesnt change but no harm checking.

Silly clownfish · 11/14/2016, 03:49 PM

I lived without an ATO, or any automation for about 15 years. I used the water level (target right at the bottom of the tank frame) to gage that my manual topoff was on track.

With my upgrade to a bigger tank I added an ATO(hydor smart level) and it certainly makes life easier. No other controllers, probes, etc.

I check salinity when I do water changes (both tank and change water).

Ou8me2 · 11/14/2016, 04:01 PM

Thanks for the replies so far. So I see most are using auto top-off to keep salinity stable. Any recommendations on a good auto top-off?

Potatohead · 11/14/2016, 04:18 PM

I have the Hydor as well and the thing is awesome.

DivingTheWorld · 11/14/2016, 04:23 PM

I use an ATO and check once a week. I skim fairly wet so usually need to add a little salt once a week. So my standard practice is to check once a week and add salt as necessary.

CrayolaViolence · 11/14/2016, 04:53 PM

I used to check salinity weekly. But I missed my usual and fell behind. Had some extra evaporation due to running the AC and my salinity spiked. Damaged some corals but was quick to catch it so hopefully the worst is passed. but I fear I've lost color on some of my really nice zoas. We'll see. I will go back to checking it daily I guess to keep it from happening again. As for topping off I do that every 2-3 days normally. Just a pitcher here and there for each tank.

scar79 · 11/14/2016, 07:18 PM

I would never run a reef tank without an ATO, especially a small tank where salinity is going to swing more rapidly.

Personally I test my salinity every other week when I do a water change. I skim maybe a half a gallon of skimmate in that amount of time, which will hardly affect 130ish gallons of system volume

Ifeelsick · 11/14/2016, 08:12 PM

Just put a mark or a sticker on your sump and don't have to worry. Just top off when the water level drop's. I only check when doing waterchange's

ntropics · 11/14/2016, 09:30 PM

I have a Genesis automatic water changer. So I check the water going into the tank, but rarely check the salinity of the tank itself. Sort of lazy, but I figure with a 15% water change each week, as long as I am putting 1.025 SPG into the tank, it will even out over time.
Bruce

Ou8me2 · 11/14/2016, 09:49 PM

I've been doing it at least once a day for the past 6 months. The way my sump is set up it goes in a U shape and my return in right under my corner overflow for the tank since it is RR tank. Not easy to mark, so I have picked out a spot on the return pipe from the plumbing. I have a 75gallon with 25gallon sump, it's literally 100 gallons total as I can add 2 50 gallon bags and be spot on at 1.026 spot on when I filled it the first time.

I guess I really get paranoid but even from my test I've never been lower than 1.025 or higher1.027 on any day and I keep it at 1.026. I'm not sure that would really make much difference as I always top off at the same time every day. I guess what got me thinking was If I wanted to take a trip and wouldn't be around for 2-3 days that I could have peace of mind, other than worrying and having someone try to match what I explain.

CindyK · 11/14/2016, 10:10 PM

I have the Hydor ATO and it has worked really well for me. Make sure you buy a small pump, I read in reviews that using too large a pump causes overfill and constant alarms. I paired mine with an aqualifter and haven't had any problems at all.

tkeracer619 · 11/14/2016, 11:18 PM

Once per super moon or about once a month.

mpderksen · 11/15/2016, 12:37 AM

Monthly when I make a new Brute can that feeds the AWC DOS unit. I've seen creep, and mix my new saltwater to get it back in check.
I use a simple Oceanic hydrometer, and verify with a real refractometer annually. It's never been been wrong.

homer1475 · 11/15/2016, 09:05 AM

Tunze ATO, set it and forget it. Tried and true for many years. Thats not to say there haven't been failures, but with anything mechanical, it can and eventually will fail.

I check my salinity once a week when I do WC's so I can match my water to my tank, or adjust it as needed.

Kevin Guthrie · 11/15/2016, 06:36 PM

Shoot, I only check it about every 3 months. As long as the water level in the sump is the same I don't worry about it. AFAIK the only salt export is the skimmer waste water.

Zalick · 11/15/2016, 06:55 PM

I have a salinity probe, so rarely. Maybe once a month. I check my new saltwater so I know it matches for water changes. I have an ATO as well. Everything stays constant.

When I used to do it manually like you, I only measured before and after a water change. No need to really measure in between because it stays relatively constant.

If you go with an ATO, make sure to use a high level switch to turn it off! An ATO comes with its own worries until you have it setup right. When I first setup an ATO, I made the mistake of not turning it off during a water change.....

Ou8me2 · 11/15/2016, 09:59 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

I'm probably going to use a 10gallon ATO container. My sump is close to 40 gallons total if it filled to the very top with water. I only use 25 gallons when it's running with the pump. Once a week sure sounds a lot better than every day to me as I do my weekly water change on Sunday.

11/14/2016, 03:18 PM	#1
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	How often do you check salinity? I'm not really much of an automated guy. I was wondering how often you guys/gals check salinity in your tanks? Do you use an auto top-off? Do people use probes to constantly monitor salinity? I currently just top off by hand, but it seems it's getting to be a pain in the backside of a task and I currently have close to a gallon a day of evaporation. I'm thinking an auto top-off would help at least make the task of adding fresh RO/DI water less painful and maybe make it easier to keep the salinity more stable. I've never used a controller or auto top-off in my many years, but I guess I'm coming to a crossroads of making things more simple for my tank.

11/14/2016, 03:49 PM	#6
Silly clownfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 488	I lived without an ATO, or any automation for about 15 years. I used the water level (target right at the bottom of the tank frame) to gage that my manual topoff was on track. With my upgrade to a bigger tank I added an ATO(hydor smart level) and it certainly makes life easier. No other controllers, probes, etc. I check salinity when I do water changes (both tank and change water). __________________ 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair with RBTA Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair

11/14/2016, 04:23 PM	#9
DivingTheWorld Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: San Ramon, CA Posts: 1,963	I use an ATO and check once a week. I skim fairly wet so usually need to add a little salt once a week. So my standard practice is to check once a week and add salt as necessary. __________________ Current Tank Info: LeeMar Rimless (40x24x22), ATI 8x39 Dimmable w/Reefbrite XHO, 2x Vortech MP40w QD w/ Battery Backup, Apex Gold, Trigger Systems Ruby30S, Reef Octopus POV-DC1 w/Auto Waste Collector

11/14/2016, 10:10 PM	#15
CindyK Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 268	I have the Hydor ATO and it has worked really well for me. Make sure you buy a small pump, I read in reviews that using too large a pump causes overfill and constant alarms. I paired mine with an aqualifter and haven't had any problems at all. __________________ Taking "there is no such thing as a stupid question" to a whole new level. Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef under construction, 32 gal Biocube softies

11/14/2016, 11:18 PM	#16
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Once per super moon or about once a month. __________________ 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.

11/14/2016, 03:21 PM	#2
DarkSkyForever Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 92	I use an ATO, I don't have a probe (yet) for my Cerebra. I test when I do water changes, both the water going in and the tank.

11/14/2016, 03:31 PM	#3
Potatohead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,596	I use an ATO, I really only check it about once a week, and new water going in to match, obviously.

11/14/2016, 03:32 PM	#4
NYCBOB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 1,768	every 2 weeks.

11/14/2016, 03:46 PM	#5
MiddletoM Registered Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 147	before every water change just to make sure im adding the same salinity water. So once a week. I use an ATO so it doesnt change but no harm checking.

11/14/2016, 04:01 PM	#7
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	Thanks for the replies so far. So I see most are using auto top-off to keep salinity stable. Any recommendations on a good auto top-off?

11/14/2016, 04:18 PM	#8
Potatohead Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Vancouver Posts: 1,596	I have the Hydor as well and the thing is awesome.

11/14/2016, 04:53 PM	#10
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	I used to check salinity weekly. But I missed my usual and fell behind. Had some extra evaporation due to running the AC and my salinity spiked. Damaged some corals but was quick to catch it so hopefully the worst is passed. but I fear I've lost color on some of my really nice zoas. We'll see. I will go back to checking it daily I guess to keep it from happening again. As for topping off I do that every 2-3 days normally. Just a pitcher here and there for each tank.

11/14/2016, 07:18 PM	#11
scar79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southwestern CT Posts: 534	I would never run a reef tank without an ATO, especially a small tank where salinity is going to swing more rapidly. Personally I test my salinity every other week when I do a water change. I skim maybe a half a gallon of skimmate in that amount of time, which will hardly affect 130ish gallons of system volume

11/14/2016, 08:12 PM	#12
Ifeelsick Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 199	Just put a mark or a sticker on your sump and don't have to worry. Just top off when the water level drop's. I only check when doing waterchange's

11/14/2016, 09:30 PM	#13
ntropics Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 267	I have a Genesis automatic water changer. So I check the water going into the tank, but rarely check the salinity of the tank itself. Sort of lazy, but I figure with a 15% water change each week, as long as I am putting 1.025 SPG into the tank, it will even out over time. Bruce

11/14/2016, 09:49 PM	#14
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	I've been doing it at least once a day for the past 6 months. The way my sump is set up it goes in a U shape and my return in right under my corner overflow for the tank since it is RR tank. Not easy to mark, so I have picked out a spot on the return pipe from the plumbing. I have a 75gallon with 25gallon sump, it's literally 100 gallons total as I can add 2 50 gallon bags and be spot on at 1.026 spot on when I filled it the first time. I guess I really get paranoid but even from my test I've never been lower than 1.025 or higher1.027 on any day and I keep it at 1.026. I'm not sure that would really make much difference as I always top off at the same time every day. I guess what got me thinking was If I wanted to take a trip and wouldn't be around for 2-3 days that I could have peace of mind, other than worrying and having someone try to match what I explain.

11/15/2016, 12:37 AM	#17
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	Monthly when I make a new Brute can that feeds the AWC DOS unit. I've seen creep, and mix my new saltwater to get it back in check. I use a simple Oceanic hydrometer, and verify with a real refractometer annually. It's never been been wrong.

11/15/2016, 09:05 AM	#18
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Tunze ATO, set it and forget it. Tried and true for many years. Thats not to say there haven't been failures, but with anything mechanical, it can and eventually will fail. I check my salinity once a week when I do WC's so I can match my water to my tank, or adjust it as needed. __________________ 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"

11/15/2016, 06:36 PM	#19
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Shoot, I only check it about every 3 months. As long as the water level in the sump is the same I don't worry about it. AFAIK the only salt export is the skimmer waste water.

11/15/2016, 06:55 PM	#20
Zalick My reef tanks my wallet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Portland Posts: 571	I have a salinity probe, so rarely. Maybe once a month. I check my new saltwater so I know it matches for water changes. I have an ATO as well. Everything stays constant. When I used to do it manually like you, I only measured before and after a water change. No need to really measure in between because it stays relatively constant. If you go with an ATO, make sure to use a high level switch to turn it off! An ATO comes with its own worries until you have it setup right. When I first setup an ATO, I made the mistake of not turning it off during a water change..... __________________ 300g custom acrylic from James 72x36x27, 4 Mitras Lx7 &6 a360, 2 Stream 3s, C2C beananimal. 100g sump, Jebao DCP- 8000 (Vectra M1 died) -> 114w aquauv -> SRO 5000ext , varios8 return Current Tank Info: Me v Dinos - I'm winning for now...

11/15/2016, 09:59 PM	#21
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	Thanks for all the replies. I'm probably going to use a 10gallon ATO container. My sump is close to 40 gallons total if it filled to the very top with water. I only use 25 gallons when it's running with the pump. Once a week sure sounds a lot better than every day to me as I do my weekly water change on Sunday.