Desired Salinity and Why

[markaren]

I wanted to start this thread as a general and informative base of discusion for casual readers outside of beginners. I am certain that salinity is an issue for beginners and the tenured, not on a permanent basis. What I mean is, I see from time to time others address salinity over time derived from learning a reasoning for their tank verses another.

Example: I recently had an issue with my 9 month tank with MG. I posted about it and received some VERY experienced advice about ways to address it. I decided that one of the easiest and best ways to accomadate my needs with my experience (less than many) and with no cost was to do so by slightly changing what I was all ready doing. It is interesting that my problem was fixed by not "That" I was doing something...it was by "How " I was doing something.

I changed my water slowly from 1.023 to 1.026. Simple and free...while doing a change I had, and did do anyway on a regular basis.

HOLD ON!!! what I did not expect was what happened in the tank. It has only been a week and I have noticed more life. i had a hitch hiker cup coral for example that came out a couple times and would mostly look dead and hidden. Now...it is out full time like crazy. that one tiny example confirmed by observation told me everything. yes my MG went from 1170 to 1290 and my calcium sits a tad high at 540/PH @8.0 nice combo. My DKH went from 7.7 to 8.75.

Simple good results carried from the mix to my tank with a slight change. I should also note the importance of refraction calibration with a constant base prior to each and every reading session.

Anyone else have this kind of change after time with salinity.


....................................................this could be in Chemistry but I thought this being more about discusion

 

[Froggy]

35 ppm/1.026 for me. I used to run a lower salinity and saw much better results with running at 1.026. My calcium/alkalinity run more consistent as there can be more of each in solution with a higher salinity.

35 ppm/1.026 is also what is seen in nature for the most part ( except the Red sea ). I would target 1.026 for this reason unless I had a Red sea biotope tank.

Here is a good article supporting the target of 35 ppm/1.026 by Randy.

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

- Joe

 

[r-balljunkie]

here's some testing with NSW i did awhile ago.

water parameters are regional specific..some areas read much lower SG

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18983078&postcount=168

 

[vitz]

any time you match the natural conditions the life you keep evolved to live in more closely, the more successful the life will be, whether it be reef tanks, snakes, frogs, or whatever

other than hypo, etc., there's absolutely no reason to keep a sw reef tank at anything other than nsw values. (though fo tanks may have an argument for slightly lower sg values, due to higher dissolved O2 levels and increased hydration

alot of the 'low sg' husbandry practice prob'ly started as a result of shippers exporting fish in sg values approaching 1.017-1.019, for the reasons mentioned above (along w/salt cost savings?) imo

 

[Palting]

I don't think you'll get much discussion or argument here in this forum. 35ppt or 1.026 salinity for reef tanks.

 

[grcforce327]

35 ppm/1.026 for me. I used to run a lower salinity and saw much better results with running at 1.026. My calcium/alkalinity run more consistent as there can be more of each in solution with a higher salinity.

35 ppm/1.026 is also what is seen in nature for the most part ( except the Red sea ). I would target 1.026 for this reason unless I had a Red sea biotope tank.

Here is a good article supporting the target of 35 ppm/1.026 by Randy.

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

- Joe

I'm sure you mean 35 ppt.

 

[Froggy]

I'm sure you mean 35 ppt.

Yes :thumbsup:

 

[markaren]

At times I read issues on the forum regarding a persons quest for proper elemental levels and then see that their salinity is @ 1.024 for example. It seems the correct approach would be to acquire a properly desired salinity and then see where the elements are at.

Meaning, at times a person try to acquire elemental readings that would be thin place if they simply raised their salinity. (not accounting inhabitant depletion)

 

[Barro777]

Interesting observation.