Help! Specific gravity 1.020

[Edward Smith]

I have a 210g FOWLR with 30 in the sump. Something must of happened with the tapoff pump because the sump now has about 40 in it. I keep my specific gravity usually at 1.024, its now 1.020.

I'd prefer to let evaporation fix the problem but it will take about three days for it to return to normal volume and salinity.

Is that too long or should I start draining out water and slowly add salt?

Thanks

 

[dynamixone]

Take a deep breath. .020 is ok for fowlr.

what are you measuring with.

 

[Edward Smith]

Refractometer....(sigh)....Thank you

 

[Growurown]

I would do a series of water changes thoughout the day with a higher specific gravity, say 10 to 20 gallons at a time in the sump with a SP of 1.030 or higher. just monitor it closely and it should come up safely where you want it in the tank

 

[dynamixone]

make sure the refract is calibrated. you can replace evaporation with higher salinty water to slowly bring it up.

 

[RichardS]

My reef has gotten down to 1.020 and I didn't have problems. So you'll be fine, just let it evaporate.

 

[JustinReef]

I have kept FOWLR tanks at 1.018 in the past. It will be fine. Inverts and corals would not be as happy but fish don't care. Just let evaporation take care of it if you want. Thats the easiest and best way to deal with it. Don't start doing a bunch of water changes though unless you need to do them. You can just top off with some saltwater if you want, like mentioned above.

 

[jda]

Just use saltwater for evaporation for a while.

 

[spamin76]

Yeah, so long as the change happened slowly, I highly doubt that it will cause any problems at all.

I have run as low as 1.012 before due to parasites and what not, and the fish never showed any sign of trouble, though I prefer to keep things in the 1.020-1.024 range. I know people who have run 1.010 long term with no problems at all.

 

[aquaman67]

I would do top offs with 1.024 water instead of fresh water until the tank gets back to 1.024.