Why do hobbyist have such low salinity levels

[PirateLove]

Hi RC. I picked up a frag today from a fellow reefer and his salinity was like 30ppm, maybe lower. Also happens with my LFS and other local reefers. Is this just to save salt? His corals looked very happy and healthy. I keep mine at 35 like I was told to on this site.

Thanks for any response.

[thegrun]

Fish stores often keep their salinity low to both save salt and to make acclimation easier when they bring in new fish. Nearly all importers ship their fish in water that is low in salinity because lower salinity reduces the effect of trapped ammonia on fish. Some reefers keep their salinity low on fish only systems under the false belief that lower salinity reduces the risk of parasites, it does not unless kept at very low levels. Those of us keeping corals keep their salinity close to the natural ocean salinity, 35ppt.

[PirateLove]

Strange that this local reefer had so many nice corals in his tank with such low salinity. Hmm..

[Spslvr]

Did you let him know, mabe hes refractometer needs calibrating...... or yours

[lionfish300]

Originally Posted by Spslvr

Did you let him know, mabe hes refractometer needs calibrating...... or yours

I would double check your refractometer

[Potatohead]

Also the temp matters too, unless the water is the same temp (or close) there's not much sense in comparing salinity

[2wheelsonly]

If you're reading low on coral water then i'd check your refractometer...

Fish I could understand but not corals. Your tank may be a salt sewer

[ktownhero]

30ppt salinity is low, but it's not unreasonably low... That's about 1.022 SG, which is still within the typical recommended range of a reef tank. They may just have found success with it and are trying to save on salt.

[Ron Reefman]

Maybe it's a local thing?

I have 4 tanks and I keep SG at 1.026 to 1.027 (that's 35 to 35.5 for you purists).

[jerseyboy]

Ron thanks for posting it in english first...lol

[organism]

Originally Posted by lionfish300

I would double check your refractometer

+1, my guess is your refractometer is off and your salinity might be sky high... Don't forget to calibrate with proper calibration fluid.

[mcgyvr]

I'm a hobbyist.. I maintain my tanks at 1.025-1.026..
If one chooses to do so then its to save salt or other reason (refer to post#2 by thegrun)

[heathlindner25]

1.026 here in Atlanta.

[GimpyFin]

1.025/26 here as well.

[bobbravo2]

I shoot for 1.025 here

[joshky]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

Maybe it's a local thing?

I keep mine at 35ppt, one local ruled out!

[air2mag]

The LFS where I purchase most of my livestock is 1.025 so that's where I try to keep my tank.

[Heuristic]

All of ours are around 1.025.

[Scott07]

I wish I could pay more... i mean, i would pay 20 dollars more even, to have fish shipped in 1.025. Ive done 3 rounds of ttm recently for new arrivals, and I think the most frustrating part for me has been slowly raising salinity with each transfer. I must have spent 3 hours the other day chasing 1.023. 1.025 I can hit with very little effort, as thats my DT salinity and I know how much salt to measure. 1.021 or 1.023 or so.... man.... sometimes I go crosseyed from looking through the refractometer so much lol.

[d2mini]

I never test anyone else's salinity.
I acclimate to my tank water and that's it.

[air2mag]

Scott07 if you can swing it get the digital refractometer. I know it's a little spendy, but it sure is nice. I know I check things much more frequently just because it's so easy.

[Kentech5]

Originally Posted by air2mag

Scott07 if you can swing it get the digital refractometer. I know it's a little spendy, but it sure is nice. I know I check things much more frequently just because it's so easy.

Same here. Digital refractometer is one of my favorite tank purchases.


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[Oliver Giesler]

Keep mine at 1.025/26 here

[Scott07]

Originally Posted by air2mag

Scott07 if you can swing it get the digital refractometer. I know it's a little spendy, but it sure is nice. I know I check things much more frequently just because it's so easy.

It is definitely on the wish list. I wish I could do like d2mini does... but some of these guys Ive gotten from LA have come in 1.016. I just can't see raising from that to 1.025 in 15 minutes after I open the bag. Maybe Im wrong, but I feel like that would just be a death sentence for many fish.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by Scott07

It is definitely on the wish list. I wish I could do like d2mini does... but some of these guys Ive gotten from LA have come in 1.016. I just can't see raising from that to 1.025 in 15 minutes after I open the bag. Maybe Im wrong, but I feel like that would just be a death sentence for many fish.

I've gotten fish from Diver's Den.
Again, never checked their water but I follow their directions that come in the box. It takes longer than 15 mins... more like 30+. But I haven't had one go belly up. Most fish can handle a good size salinity change.
You can also drop them in a bucket. Or for small fish you can use those quart sized plastic paint pails from Home Depot. Add just enough of your water so they have enough to move around. And start dripping. Let it go for an hour more more if you have to. Just add a little heater.