Need fast help, acclimating

kettlecorn · 05/22/2010, 07:58 PM

Okay my tank hasn't been topped off in a few days I really haven't had to deal with that with a closed hood but i was repairing the hood. The salinity is 1.030 on my refractometer and this is the first time I've used it. Does that sound about right? Or is my refractometer not calibrated?

i have some shrimps, crabs and snails i got at the LFS to put in the tank and compltely slipped my mind about correcting the salinity from the evaporation.

If the salinity is 1.030, I just keep adding RO water little by little into the display tank until it reaches 1.024-1.026? Thanks hopefully someone will answer soon I dont want my livestock to die.

I should also mention that my refractometer is a little blurry, I dont know why but the numbers on top are not too clear even when pointed directly at the ceiling lamp. I added some RO water (just a little, .5 gallon) and it has come down to 1.027 or so.

Tuscaquatics · 05/22/2010, 08:04 PM

Keep adding RODI until you reach 1.026.

kettlecorn · 05/22/2010, 08:06 PM

Does it sound like my refractometer needs calibration or it sounds good?

Add RODI to display tank or the sump or either? Wait for it to circulate or I can check immediately?

pimpinitup6969 · 05/22/2010, 08:08 PM

Add water to the sump, allow a few minutes for it to circulate.

rayn · 05/22/2010, 08:15 PM

You need to calibrate it at some point using the calibrateing solution or ro water. Then you should have some way to focus the refractometer I would think.

kettlecorn · 05/22/2010, 08:26 PM

Okay thanks for the quick help everyone. I ran out and bought some RODI water thats not tainted with salt and calibrated the refractometer. Currently acclimating the livestock.

I got a fire shrimp, 3 snails and 3 hermits and the store said no need for drip acclimation, only floating. Any thoughts?

dwd5813 · 05/22/2010, 08:50 PM

you really should calibrate with pinpoint solution or the like rather than rodi water. it will calibrate to read in the range you are shooting for, as it is a pretty good approximation of seawater.

rayn · 05/22/2010, 08:51 PM

Well everyone has their own way, but I float then add some water and float some more, about a half hour. Used to do it differently, but ended up loosing some before they got out of the bag.

kettlecorn · 05/22/2010, 09:08 PM

Okay i added about a liter or 2 of RODI and yet the salinity only moved to about 1.027
Does that sound right? (I had it hood less for about 2 days, running 80-82 degrees)

Im pretty nervous about it getting too low and my refractometer not being correct or something.

MikeTR · 05/22/2010, 09:30 PM

I'd just leave it alone tonight and correct it tomorrow after you can verify your refractometer is calibrated correctly (LFS).

Lannyrx7 · 05/22/2010, 10:44 PM

shrimp and snails (some people don't acclimate snails) should be drip acclimated (hermits will have no problem), so if they are all in the same bag, I'd drip acclimate all of them at the same time.

kettlecorn · 05/22/2010, 11:16 PM

Thanks, I have been floating on and off and in between adding about a shot of my tank water into the bag. They are in 3 separate bags. A shot every 5 minutes for about 45 more minutes and I will add them in.

I think I have small aiptasia on the top of my live rock.. are fire shrimps good for that? I also am starting to have a little cyano on the rock as well.

Lannyrx7 · 05/23/2010, 09:00 AM

none of that livestock will take care of either of those problems. =\

05/22/2010, 07:58 PM	#1
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Need fast help, acclimating Okay my tank hasn't been topped off in a few days I really haven't had to deal with that with a closed hood but i was repairing the hood. The salinity is 1.030 on my refractometer and this is the first time I've used it. Does that sound about right? Or is my refractometer not calibrated? i have some shrimps, crabs and snails i got at the LFS to put in the tank and compltely slipped my mind about correcting the salinity from the evaporation. If the salinity is 1.030, I just keep adding RO water little by little into the display tank until it reaches 1.024-1.026? Thanks hopefully someone will answer soon I dont want my livestock to die. I should also mention that my refractometer is a little blurry, I dont know why but the numbers on top are not too clear even when pointed directly at the ceiling lamp. I added some RO water (just a little, .5 gallon) and it has come down to 1.027 or so.

05/22/2010, 08:08 PM	#4
pimpinitup6969 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Elmira, Ny Posts: 2,503	Add water to the sump, allow a few minutes for it to circulate. __________________ I'd rather burp and taste it than fart and waste it! Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon, 150 Gallon

05/22/2010, 08:26 PM	#6
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Okay thanks for the quick help everyone. I ran out and bought some RODI water thats not tainted with salt and calibrated the refractometer. Currently acclimating the livestock. I got a fire shrimp, 3 snails and 3 hermits and the store said no need for drip acclimation, only floating. Any thoughts? Last edited by kettlecorn; 05/22/2010 at 08:45 PM.

05/22/2010, 08:50 PM	#7
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	you really should calibrate with pinpoint solution or the like rather than rodi water. it will calibrate to read in the range you are shooting for, as it is a pretty good approximation of seawater. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
acclimating tank to new light, suggestions please	sinful	Tampa Bay Reef Club	1	05/22/2010 03:39 PM
how fast to acclimate bad sg	myfrostymember	New to the Hobby	13	06/25/2007 10:43 PM
LFS Has New FAST Acclimation Process	leebca	Fish Disease Treatment	47	02/08/2006 05:35 PM
Odd, Fast, FAST (2hrs) Growing algae, with PIC!!!	itstheantitang	Reef Discussion	5	01/29/2006 02:54 PM
Acclimating to MH too fast?	tooshay	Tridacnid Clams and other Mollusks	2	09/28/2003 01:49 AM

05/22/2010, 08:04 PM	#2
Tuscaquatics Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 1,324	Keep adding RODI until you reach 1.026.

05/22/2010, 08:06 PM	#3
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Does it sound like my refractometer needs calibration or it sounds good? Add RODI to display tank or the sump or either? Wait for it to circulate or I can check immediately?

05/22/2010, 08:15 PM	#5
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	You need to calibrate it at some point using the calibrateing solution or ro water. Then you should have some way to focus the refractometer I would think.

05/22/2010, 08:51 PM	#8
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	Well everyone has their own way, but I float then add some water and float some more, about a half hour. Used to do it differently, but ended up loosing some before they got out of the bag.

05/22/2010, 09:08 PM	#9
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Okay i added about a liter or 2 of RODI and yet the salinity only moved to about 1.027 Does that sound right? (I had it hood less for about 2 days, running 80-82 degrees) Im pretty nervous about it getting too low and my refractometer not being correct or something.

05/22/2010, 09:30 PM	#10
MikeTR Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SW FL Posts: 351	I'd just leave it alone tonight and correct it tomorrow after you can verify your refractometer is calibrated correctly (LFS).

05/22/2010, 10:44 PM	#11
Lannyrx7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha,NE Posts: 96	shrimp and snails (some people don't acclimate snails) should be drip acclimated (hermits will have no problem), so if they are all in the same bag, I'd drip acclimate all of them at the same time.

05/22/2010, 11:16 PM	#12
kettlecorn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 308	Thanks, I have been floating on and off and in between adding about a shot of my tank water into the bag. They are in 3 separate bags. A shot every 5 minutes for about 45 more minutes and I will add them in. I think I have small aiptasia on the top of my live rock.. are fire shrimps good for that? I also am starting to have a little cyano on the rock as well.

05/23/2010, 09:00 AM	#13
Lannyrx7 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha,NE Posts: 96	none of that livestock will take care of either of those problems. =\