ATP with RO vs. Saltwater

[Brandon0034]

Is there a particular reason that many people use RO water for ATO rather than mixed saltwater? Is this just a more cost effective solution?

Also over time if you constantly top off with RO water, lets say around 2 gallons a day for two weeks before a water change. With roughly 28 gallons of RO water without salt being added wouldn't this drop the salinity substantially? Maybe not the first or second water change but over time with the same 1.025 salinity water added in a water change this would have to drop a lot over the course of the year.

I realize you can add saltwater with a higher salinity to counter this but then would I constantly be mixing different salinity batches and struggling with parameters? I know that stable parameters are key in this hobby and just want to get this right when I set up my tank. Maybe I'm overthinking this but insight would be great.

 

[CStrickland]

The salt doesn't evaporate. If you used sw in your ato, over time the salinity would go up cause you are replacing evaporated water with salt water.

 

[Brandon0034]

That makes sense, I guess I just figured some of the salt would've went with it. Thanks for the help.

 

[CStrickland]

NP
you do lose some salt with a skimmer, or where the water splashes out of the tank and dries (salt creep). But it's usually not enough to affect anything.

 

[rsain]

^^
and will get replaced when you do your water changes.

- ryan