Hydrometer off

mattix · 02/03/2014, 04:20 PM

Well up until now I've been using a hydrometer and it's been off almost every time. Sometimes it will read full and sometimes it won't read a thing. So I've been guessing once I get around 1.024 a couple times with a few readings of high and low I'd assume it was ok.

I picked up a refractometer with calibration fluid, just to take out the guessing. I'm reading at 1.019, How should I bring up the salinity? Plan on keeping it at 1.025-1.026. Can I just add a cup or two of salt directly in the tank everyday?

mattix · 02/03/2014, 04:23 PM

or add it to about a gallon of ro/di water so the salt will disolve into a bucket first.

it's a 75g tank.

Mhay · 02/03/2014, 04:49 PM

Never add salt directly to a tank. I would recommend upping the salinity with water changes. Just make sure you up it slowly. Anything more than .002 can shock your critters. You may have to do a little math to figure out how much will up your whole tank based on how much water you are planning to change. Also, when you make the salt use RO/DI water and make sure you let it fully dissolve. I usually give it 24 hours with a power head and heater in the bucket.

nlgill13 · 02/03/2014, 04:51 PM

Do you have saltwater already made at 1.025 SG? If so use this to top off your tank for the next couple of days.

ska d · 02/03/2014, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlgill13

do you have saltwater already made at 1.025 sg? If so use this to top off your tank for the next couple of days.

+1

mattix · 02/03/2014, 05:40 PM

good idea, usually I get about 2-3 gallons of evaporation a week.

Probably going to switch to smaller more frequent wc until it's up to 1.026. I have a blood red fire shrimp and 1 hammer coral frag along with other fish. Hopefully it won't swing too much with the wc ontop of topping it off with sw.

Mhay · 02/03/2014, 06:19 PM

That's what the refractometer is for. If you decide to do wc and top off with higher sg check it to make sure it isn't going to be too much

igot2gats · 02/04/2014, 10:42 AM

I would get rid of your hydrometer, and get a refractometer.

Hydrometers are notoriously known for being 'off the mark.'

You'll be much happier with a refractometer.

snorvich · 02/04/2014, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlgill13

Do you have saltwater already made at 1.025 SG? If so use this to top off your tank for the next couple of days.

That is what I would do.

Spyderturbo007 · 02/04/2014, 11:21 AM

I do the same thing with my QT after matching the LFS salinity which is normally about 1.018. It takes about 2 weeks to bring up the salinity from 1.018 to 1.025 using salt water instead of RO/DI for top off. I think going that slow is probably a good thing and allows everything to adapt.

mcgyvr · 02/04/2014, 11:27 AM

I just throw a cup of salt into the sump every day till I get to where I want.. Never had a problem.

02/03/2014, 04:20 PM	#1
mattix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 152	Hydrometer off Well up until now I've been using a hydrometer and it's been off almost every time. Sometimes it will read full and sometimes it won't read a thing. So I've been guessing once I get around 1.024 a couple times with a few readings of high and low I'd assume it was ok. I picked up a refractometer with calibration fluid, just to take out the guessing. I'm reading at 1.019, How should I bring up the salinity? Plan on keeping it at 1.025-1.026. Can I just add a cup or two of salt directly in the tank everyday?

02/03/2014, 04:49 PM	#3
Mhay Crazy Cat Lady Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 468	Never add salt directly to a tank. I would recommend upping the salinity with water changes. Just make sure you up it slowly. Anything more than .002 can shock your critters. You may have to do a little math to figure out how much will up your whole tank based on how much water you are planning to change. Also, when you make the salt use RO/DI water and make sure you let it fully dissolve. I usually give it 24 hours with a power head and heater in the bucket. __________________ Maggie Current Tank Info: Coralife Biocube 29 Last edited by Mhay; 02/03/2014 at 04:51 PM. Reason: fixing typos

02/03/2014, 04:51 PM	#4
nlgill13 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Boulder,CO Posts: 1,291	Do you have saltwater already made at 1.025 SG? If so use this to top off your tank for the next couple of days. __________________ 90G DT w/ 30G sump, 2 Apollo SolarBlast Dimmable LEDs, 160 Reef Octopus Extreme, Neptune Apex, Mag 7, MP10 & MP40

02/03/2014, 06:19 PM	#7
Mhay Crazy Cat Lady Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 468	That's what the refractometer is for. If you decide to do wc and top off with higher sg check it to make sure it isn't going to be too much __________________ Maggie Current Tank Info: Coralife Biocube 29

02/04/2014, 10:42 AM	#8
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	I would get rid of your hydrometer, and get a refractometer. Hydrometers are notoriously known for being 'off the mark.' You'll be much happier with a refractometer. __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

02/03/2014, 04:23 PM	#2
mattix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 152	or add it to about a gallon of ro/di water so the salt will disolve into a bucket first. it's a 75g tank.

02/03/2014, 05:40 PM	#6
mattix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 152	good idea, usually I get about 2-3 gallons of evaporation a week. Probably going to switch to smaller more frequent wc until it's up to 1.026. I have a blood red fire shrimp and 1 hammer coral frag along with other fish. Hopefully it won't swing too much with the wc ontop of topping it off with sw.

02/04/2014, 11:21 AM	#10
Spyderturbo007 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,564	I do the same thing with my QT after matching the LFS salinity which is normally about 1.018. It takes about 2 weeks to bring up the salinity from 1.018 to 1.025 using salt water instead of RO/DI for top off. I think going that slow is probably a good thing and allows everything to adapt.

02/04/2014, 11:27 AM	#11
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I just throw a cup of salt into the sump every day till I get to where I want.. Never had a problem. __________________ Who me?