what specific gravity do you keep your tank at?

sjfishguy · 02/09/2006, 05:22 PM

Just read the tank of the month thread and I thought his salinity (specific gravity essentially) was a little on the high side. Just wondering if mine is a little low at 1.025. Was wondering what everyone keep there's at. Feel free to write a note to bump it to the top so we can get lots of replies.

zimmy1979 · 02/09/2006, 06:13 PM

I think 1.025 or 1.026 is perfect.

Paintbug · 02/09/2006, 07:03 PM

i keep mine at 35ppt or 1.026.

sjfishguy · 02/10/2006, 04:51 PM

Looks like 1.025 is about right. That is what I keep mine at so that makes me happy!

hawkfish21 · 02/10/2006, 04:52 PM

1.025 here as well!

cato · 02/11/2006, 12:11 AM

Ditto!

StinkinTuna · 02/11/2006, 12:18 AM

Mine around 1.027

Heres some interesting excerpts from an RK Mag article about perms.....

For reference, natural ocean water has a salinity of about 35 ppt, corresponding to a specific gravity of about 1.0264 and a conductivity of 53 mS/cm.

It appears to be common practice to keep marine fish, and in many cases reef aquaria, at somewhat lower than natural salinity levels. This practice stems, at least in part, from the belief that fish are less stressed at reduced salinity.

Ron Shimek has discussed salinity on natural reefs in a previous article. His recommendation, and mine as well, is to maintain salinity at a natural level. If the organisms in the aquarium are from brackish environments with lower salinity, or from the Red Sea with higher salinity, selecting something other than 35 ppt may make good sense. Otherwise, I suggest targeting a salinity of 35 ppt (specific gravity = 1.0264; conductivity = 53 mS/cm).

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

integlikewhoa · 02/11/2006, 12:21 AM

I dont even know. My floating plastic arm cant possibly be telling me the truth. He was born a lier.

StinkinTuna · 02/11/2006, 12:40 AM

Beware that plastic arm

, once you compare what its telling you to what a refractometer tells you on the same tank; you just might nitrate your pants !

c. dawg · 02/11/2006, 12:41 AM

1.025

integlikewhoa · 02/11/2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by StinkinTuna
Beware that plastic arm , once you compare what its telling you to what a refractometer tells you on the same tank; you just might nitrate your pants !

I know thats why i just try to keep it consistant and clean. Who knows where its actually at. Hopefully its not to far off and its reading the same every time.

stewie24 · 02/11/2006, 01:20 AM

I keep mine at 1.026.
integlikewhoa - if you're keeping a 120 gallon tank with all that equip listed in your sig, i'd say you could afford a refractometer. Mine's one of the best investments i've ever made!
Stewie

sjfishguy · 02/20/2006, 03:21 PM

My refractometer should be here by the end of the week. I will let you know how off my swing arm is

seanliston · 02/20/2006, 03:26 PM

i'd been using a swing arm , and compared it to my refractometer, turns out my good 1.025 .. was really 1.031 :S

mybug · 02/20/2006, 03:34 PM

A little discipline goes a long way though.

Even with a crude measure of gravity it should be possible to stay near target simply by being careful in your measuring of salt for your PWC's.

Mix a gallon at 1.25 and a gallon at 1.3x and multiply that by the size of your tank and to be off that much one must have been sloppy with PWCs.

Quit trying to scare everyone. :-)

Reefjunkee · 02/20/2006, 03:51 PM

1.024

Gooli · 02/20/2006, 03:53 PM

just use the water parameters "Bible"
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

View Poll Results: What salinity do you keep your tank at?
<1.023	3	2.36%
1.023	11	8.66%
1.024	16	12.60%
1.025	56	44.09%
1.026	35	27.56%
1.027	4	3.15%
1.028	1	0.79%
>1.028	1	0.79%
Voters: 127. You may not vote on this poll

02/09/2006, 05:22 PM	#1
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	what specific gravity do you keep your tank at? Just read the tank of the month thread and I thought his salinity (specific gravity essentially) was a little on the high side. Just wondering if mine is a little low at 1.025. Was wondering what everyone keep there's at. Feel free to write a note to bump it to the top so we can get lots of replies.

02/09/2006, 07:03 PM	#3
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	i keep mine at 35ppt or 1.026. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

02/10/2006, 04:51 PM	#4
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	Looks like 1.025 is about right. That is what I keep mine at so that makes me happy! __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

02/11/2006, 12:11 AM	#6
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	Ditto! __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

02/09/2006, 06:13 PM	#2
zimmy1979 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: City of Angels Posts: 405	I think 1.025 or 1.026 is perfect.

02/10/2006, 04:52 PM	#5
hawkfish21 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,968	1.025 here as well!

02/11/2006, 12:18 AM	#7
StinkinTuna Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA, CA Posts: 616	Mine around 1.027 Heres some interesting excerpts from an RK Mag article about perms..... For reference, natural ocean water has a salinity of about 35 ppt, corresponding to a specific gravity of about 1.0264 and a conductivity of 53 mS/cm. It appears to be common practice to keep marine fish, and in many cases reef aquaria, at somewhat lower than natural salinity levels. This practice stems, at least in part, from the belief that fish are less stressed at reduced salinity. Ron Shimek has discussed salinity on natural reefs in a previous article. His recommendation, and mine as well, is to maintain salinity at a natural level. If the organisms in the aquarium are from brackish environments with lower salinity, or from the Red Sea with higher salinity, selecting something other than 35 ppt may make good sense. Otherwise, I suggest targeting a salinity of 35 ppt (specific gravity = 1.0264; conductivity = 53 mS/cm). http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

02/11/2006, 12:21 AM	#8
integlikewhoa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arcadia, CA Posts: 1,381	I dont even know. My floating plastic arm cant possibly be telling me the truth. He was born a lier. __________________ I think of one later. Current Tank Info: 28G JBJ Nano for sale

02/11/2006, 12:40 AM	#9
StinkinTuna Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: LA, CA Posts: 616	Beware that plastic arm , once you compare what its telling you to what a refractometer tells you on the same tank; you just might nitrate your pants !

02/11/2006, 12:41 AM	#10
c. dawg Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 485	1.025

02/11/2006, 01:20 AM	#12
stewie24 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northwestern PA Posts: 824	I keep mine at 1.026. integlikewhoa - if you're keeping a 120 gallon tank with all that equip listed in your sig, i'd say you could afford a refractometer. Mine's one of the best investments i've ever made! Stewie

02/20/2006, 03:21 PM	#13
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	My refractometer should be here by the end of the week. I will let you know how off my swing arm is __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

02/20/2006, 03:26 PM	#14
seanliston Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 158	i'd been using a swing arm , and compared it to my refractometer, turns out my good 1.025 .. was really 1.031 :S

02/20/2006, 03:34 PM	#15
mybug Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Quivira, KS Posts: 31	A little discipline goes a long way A little discipline goes a long way though. Even with a crude measure of gravity it should be possible to stay near target simply by being careful in your measuring of salt for your PWC's. Mix a gallon at 1.25 and a gallon at 1.3x and multiply that by the size of your tank and to be off that much one must have been sloppy with PWCs. Quit trying to scare everyone. :-)

02/20/2006, 03:51 PM	#16
Reefjunkee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Evans,Georgia Posts: 633	1.024 __________________ "It was only 20 dollars honey (yeah right)and when it grows bigger I can frag it sell it and triple my money!!!" Current Tank Info: 92 corner bow,160lb`s Figi,SPS,LPS and a few softies,EuroReef CS8-3 skimmer,MRC dual reactor,OM supersquirt on Iwaki MD30rlxt w/4 returns,2 Tunze 6055`s w/multicontroller,poseiden auto top off,aqualogic 1/3 chiller,blah,blah,blah,blah

02/20/2006, 03:53 PM	#17
Gooli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 3,746	just use the water parameters "Bible" http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. " - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 180g SPS