Low salinity

Roger30 · 05/30/2014, 11:57 PM

I have a AIO rimless 30 gallon that has up and running for 9 months now. My goal is to get keep my salinity at around 1.025. However for the last few months my salinity has been around 1.023. I buy my water and do a 50% water change every other week. I tested the water I purchase and it's salinity is 1.025. I have ato system with a 5 gallon reservoir that last me 15+ days. Any ideas why my salinity level keeps dropping?

bnumair · 05/31/2014, 12:57 AM

how r u measuring salinity?
salt creeps?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 05/31/2014, 06:55 AM

Skimming will remove salt water and if you top off with fresh, that lowers salinity.

Roger30 · 05/31/2014, 06:33 PM

I use a hydrometer. I am running a skimmer. I guess that could be it. How do I keep my salinity up?

acabgd · 05/31/2014, 06:35 PM

Why would you change 50% water every two weeks??

Roger30 · 05/31/2014, 06:42 PM

To keep my ca and alk levels high and nitrates low? Avoid dosing until I am more experience. Should I do less of a water change?

grant778 · 05/31/2014, 06:58 PM

Its probably what Randy Holmes-Farley said thats lowering ur salinity. I try to keep my tank at 1.024. If I do a water change every other week my salinity goes to around 1.0235, if I do a water change every week, like I do now, the drop in salinity due to the skimmate being replaced with fresh water is minimal since the minor drop in salinity is corrected during my water change every week.

mshanej · 06/01/2014, 12:03 AM

I keep mine at 1.026...I thought I read that was best. Was I wrong on this?

Scorpius · 06/01/2014, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mshanej

I keep mine at 1.026...I thought I read that was best. Was I wrong on this?

If you're reefing then 1.026 is good.

mshanej · 06/01/2014, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpius

If you're reefing then 1.026 is good.

Ah...Good thank you! I had a panic moment! lol

Randy Holmes-Farley · 06/01/2014, 05:54 AM

When you empty the skimmer cup, you can just add about that amount of salt water to prevent salinity loss.

The explanation may also just be salinity error. Hydrometers can easily vary a bit day to day unless it is a high quality glass floating hydrometer.

05/30/2014, 11:57 PM	#1
Roger30 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 339	Low salinity I have a AIO rimless 30 gallon that has up and running for 9 months now. My goal is to get keep my salinity at around 1.025. However for the last few months my salinity has been around 1.023. I buy my water and do a 50% water change every other week. I tested the water I purchase and it's salinity is 1.025. I have ato system with a 5 gallon reservoir that last me 15+ days. Any ideas why my salinity level keeps dropping?

05/31/2014, 12:57 AM	#2
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	how r u measuring salinity? salt creeps? __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

05/31/2014, 06:55 AM	#3
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Skimming will remove salt water and if you top off with fresh, that lowers salinity. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

06/01/2014, 05:54 AM	#11
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	When you empty the skimmer cup, you can just add about that amount of salt water to prevent salinity loss. The explanation may also just be salinity error. Hydrometers can easily vary a bit day to day unless it is a high quality glass floating hydrometer. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

05/31/2014, 06:33 PM	#4
Roger30 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 339	I use a hydrometer. I am running a skimmer. I guess that could be it. How do I keep my salinity up?

05/31/2014, 06:35 PM	#5
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	Why would you change 50% water every two weeks??

05/31/2014, 06:42 PM	#6
Roger30 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 339	To keep my ca and alk levels high and nitrates low? Avoid dosing until I am more experience. Should I do less of a water change?

05/31/2014, 06:58 PM	#7
grant778 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 145	Its probably what Randy Holmes-Farley said thats lowering ur salinity. I try to keep my tank at 1.024. If I do a water change every other week my salinity goes to around 1.0235, if I do a water change every week, like I do now, the drop in salinity due to the skimmate being replaced with fresh water is minimal since the minor drop in salinity is corrected during my water change every week.

06/01/2014, 12:03 AM	#8
mshanej Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 35	I keep mine at 1.026...I thought I read that was best. Was I wrong on this?