Help! Minor emergency

[brett559]

So while I was on vacation, my ATO pump decided to act up and dump a bunch of fresh water into my tank. The joys of vacation!

A buddy came to the rescue and did what he could to help me out. Salt is currently at 1.022. I have 10 gallons of saltwater ready for a water change, those 10 gallons are at 1.025. I was thinking I could just add some more salt to that water to raise it a little. Any idea how much salt mix (IO Reef Crystals) to add to each 5 gallon jug? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[cambo123]

I would not do it that way. When this has happened to me in the past I have used salt in the ato tank to slowly raise it back up. Kept your water change schedule unchanged

 

[wildwilly1]

I will probably get beat up for saying this but I would mix in a gallon jug about 2 cup of salt mix make sure its mixed good after it is mixed good pour a little say half a qt in sump wait 30 minutes or so check salinity continue as needed till you get it where you want it .

 

[GimpyFin]

I'm assuming you want to bring it up to 1.025 from 1.022? I would just take a gallon of your tank water and add about half a cup of salt to it, mix it good, and add it back in. Do this each day for a couple more days until you are at your target salinity. Then, I would do your water change with the water about the same salinity.

 

[Cliving1]

2 things I have learned while away with an ATO. Keep it on a timer, this way it's not consistently monitoring your tank. Second I use a 5gallon bucket because I know even if it all dumps, the sump can hold it. Hope it helps for the future! Sorry these things always happen!

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Salinity can be dropped very fast going back up has to be SLOW.

 

[Reeferz412]

Be slow about raising it. Everything should be elevated or lowered slowly. If you put it back to the "adequate" level that could actually shock your livestock.

 

[TangingOut]

I'm assuming your sump or tank if no sump is overfilled then? What happened with the skimmer, did it overflow into a reservoir?

If the sump or tank is still overfilled, I would just allow evap to bring salinity back up. If levels are normal because the skimmer removed a bunch of water, then I would do the ATO with 1.025 route.