Big mistake!!

[aznnutty]

I was in a hurry and dumped some salt into my sump because my levels were low.. Gone for a day and a friend read the level at 1.034!! I told him to pour some or water in the sump but is everything going to b ok?! Mostly softies and lps some fish

 

[markviiisvt4]

I had a crap swing box and ran my tank at around those levels for a few months. I lost a few nems but i still cant keep them alive so i don't atribute them to the SG.

 

[Kreeger1]

Never trust those plastic hydrometers

 

[markviiisvt4]

yeah i was new and stupid. I do have one as a back up, but I always chec witht the refracto and the swing box to make sure it's ok.

 

[aznnutty]

so will anything die? Is this serious?

 

[fambrough]

I think you'll be absolutely fine. Let us know, for sure. But I really don't think you're going to have any losses. There is a lot of leeway in this parameter. According to greenbean, reefs in the red sea are routinely at 1.028. I would be more worried about swings to the lower end of the spectrum than the higher end. Are you away from the tank?

 

[aznnutty]

yeah untill tomarrow, it's at my work place

 

[AD87]

Are you using a refractometer that has been calibrated? You will want to bring down the Salinity slowly and rapid changes will just make matters worse.

 

[djtonton]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13234700#post13234700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kreeger1
Never trust those plastic hydrometers

I hate those plastic hydrometers! What would you prefer to use instead??

Thanks

 

[brad]

Most people prefer refractometers.

Problems exist for both refractometers and hydrometers. In a recent test, I found the hydrometer I use to brew beer is more accurate than the refractometer I use for my reef. I would get a refractometer and calibrate it once a year.

When this happens, how fast do you lower salinity? I have heard people say to get back to 1.025 (or whatever is normal for you) as fast as possible, and others say to lower by no more than 0.0005 a day.

 

[AD87]

Just follow the same steps if you were going to do hypo(ick treatment). put just skip to where you start brining it up(I will try to find the link).
And yes your equipment is only good if you calibrate. Just like an orp probe or ph probe you need to check it every so often, I check mine once a quarter with the pinpoint solution.