How Salty do you prefer?

[chrisbenavides]

I know we will find many opinions as well concerning this issue. Whats your preference? We know stability is key, but why else do you choose this SG?

I have been told that for the most part higher salinity is better, but why? Now I want to know what most people keep their tanks at (at average). I'm at 1.026 for the reef tank and at 1.022 for the seahorse tank.

What do you keep your tank at and why? What are the benefits to the SG you choose?

Thanks and hope we can get enough votes, like last time's "Fasting Vote". I did learn from there and hope this will be the same.

 

[swims withthe fishes]

1.025 for the reef
1.022-1.021 for FO

 

[chrisbenavides]

So do reef tanks have higher SG's and the fish-only tanks? I know that I was told to keep my tank (reef) at 1.026 or even higher at 1.0275 and to keep my seahorses at the low end of 1.021-22.

Do we know why?

Thanks for your response swims withthe fishes!

 

[AIMFish]

Nothing lower than 1.020?! It depends on the tank but I take care of ones from 1.017-1.024or5.

 

[chrisbenavides]

Maybe the RC people can change my poll to make way for lower salt levels since I cannot edit it.

I personally did not think saltwater tanks went lower than 1.020. I guess I'm learning!

 

[lvpd186]

I keep my tank at 1.025. From what I have read a FO system can usually be kept at a lower SG, but a reef tank is usually kept higher due to the corals.

 

[ACBlinky]

I like to keep my tanks (all reefs) at NSW levels. 35ppt on my refractometer is ~1.026, so that's what I aim for

 

[Amphiprion]

Usually between 1.026-1.027 (35 PSU)

 

[chrisbenavides]

Like said before...it seems like most people keep their salt level higher. Why is that though? Why is it good for the reef tank to have higher salts? Why is it good for FO tanks to have it lower?

 

[bertoni]

I don't think it is good to run FO lower. It does save some money on salt, though, I guess. The canonical "average ocean water" SG is about 1.026-1.027, so that's what I target.

 

[Agu]

used to have 1.026 when I had larger tanks, with smaller tanks 1.025 gives me more margin for error.

 

[Btboy2004]

1.025 for me

 

[bjonesjr1]

1.026 for me sometimes 1.027 but never any lower than that or higher

 

[Reef_|<eeper]

I keep mine at a constant 1.023

 

[Pete1399]

I am keeping mine at 1.026. It is right at the middle of the range I want so it gives me some cushion up or down.

 

[stewie24]

My vote went out for 1.025. Its easy to read on my refract and a good level to keep it at IMO.
Stewie

 

[chrisbenavides]

I can see that most keep it at a bit higher salinity (1.025-26), but why? In other words, why is higher salt levels better than lower salt levels?

 

[ohioreef]

I don't even pay attention to SG. I keep my tank at a salinity of 35ppt as measured on a refractometer.

 

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7028628#post7028628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisbenavides
In other words, why is higher salt levels better than lower salt levels?

I aim for 1.026 as that's what NSW measures in the South Pacific where most of my livestock comes from.

I guess I don't know of a reason not to keep my tank at 1.026, so that's what I do.

 

[Brandon's Reef]

I thought that for FO tanks the reason for the salt level being lower was because it is more dificult for the parasites to attach. Just what I thought. I run my sps dominated 54 at 1.025