Effects of high salinity

[swhaley40]

I've been getting a reading of 1.25 on my hydrometer...Bought a refractometer and after calibrating(using the provided instructions) my salinity is measuring 1.29-1.30. Anybody know of negative effects on SPS corals this can cause. Will be bringing it down over the next few days....

 

[shaggy14]

i had high salinity ( 1.034) and it would cause rtn on my sps. they would do fine for a week or so, then overnight they would die. Your level isnt quite as drastic, but i would lower it some

 

[Capt_Cully]

In a 24 hr period ALL of my SPS simultaneously went from nice neon colors to a pale pastel color. I FREAKED!!!! Thought my tank was about to crash. I checked ALL parameters and everything was fine EXCEPT SG. My crappy swing arm was reading 1.025. I checked it with a calibrated refractometer and found the actual SG to be 1.031.

I have never touched the swing arm again. I corrected SG slowly over the next few days by changing out a gallon or 2 of SW with FW once or twice a day. It took the corals about 2 weeks to get their color back.

High SG is BAD NEWS IME!

 

[JosefDevaty]

Same here. Hydrometers are crap. Spend the money and get a decent refractometer. Mine was up at 1.030 when I first checked with a refractometer. No terribly ill effects.....but I wouldn't take any chances

 

[Rouselb]

I agree, you need a refractometer. Make sure you re-test all of your other parameters. When you change salinity, your test kits will show a different Mg.

 

[DaveG99]

I just went through the same issue. Was using a hydrometer and then got a refractometer and I had 1.029 water in my tank. Now it at 1.025 after several water changes. Get a refractometer people!

 

[tmb22]

I honestly don't know why hydrometers are still on the market. You can get a very decent refractometer for $30... Just a little more than a hydrometer. One important thing to remember with refractometers; calibrate with calibration fluid and not with ro/di water. I've made this mistake before and my readings were way off. Also, calibrate often. Refractometers can become very uncalibrated randomly for seemingly no apparent reason in a relatively short amount of time.

 

[BuckeyeTodd]

1.029 isn't that bad...I usually keep 1.026 or .027....Just do your water changes with water at 1.025 and it'll come right down

 

[MammothReefer]

I've had issues with high salintiy before it's not pretty. Make sure to re-calibrate your new refracto several times to make sure it can hold it's calibration I've owned 3, 1 needed to be recalibrated after every couple uses. It cause me to really throw off my salinity until I found out it was faulty.

 

[Alex T.]

I really think it depends. if you keep Red Sea fish like a Sohal, Purple Tang and even a Regal Angel and Lyretail Anthias it could be beneficial. Red Sea salinity sometimes reaches 1.030 in spots. Pocillopora and Stylophora seem to thrive in this region as well. You'll also skim a lot more with a higher salinity.