I'm confused!

[snatchbuddha]

Ok, I getting ready to do my water change, (I have really been spoiled because bullet has been mixing my water for me) I just checked my salinity of my tank, and it is @ 1.031. I know it is supposed to be @ about 1.025, so in my first 5 gal. of change water I mixed up to make the water @ about 1.02, my next question is do I mix the rest of my change water to that to or do I not mix salt in it at all, I need to add 5 more gal. at least!! Sorry for such a stupid question, but like I said....I'm confused!

 

[got2lb]

First of all how come your salinity is so high? Are you putting salt in your topoff water? (you shouldn't be) Or is the sump low due to evaporation?

If the water is at the right level in the sump then I would mix the first bucket about 1.020 then the next bucket at 1.025 and then test the tank water again to see where it's at. It's not a good idea to change things too fast.

 

[Sk8r]

This is dangerous. Change your salinity slowly, no more than .001 per hour. Fish kidneys and shelled inverts can't take that kind of shock if delivered suddenly. Draw off some water and start adding a cup of fresh ro/di every 15 minutes or so. This may take a lot of hours to fix safely. Don't add the 1.02 water. Add pure ro/di fresh water very gradually. This may take well into tomorrow to correct back to 1.025...I'm taking for granted you have no autotopoff unit that could deliver fresh water all night to make up evaporation, and I'm assuming this 1.031 situation didn't happen in an hour. If your fish/etc have been living in it for a while, it's important to make slow changes.

 

[snatchbuddha]

i was stupid and i added 1 1/2 gallon of topoff water, that was accidentally salt water! And my sump is alos a little low due to evaporation!

 

[got2lb]

Just start adding RO water to the sump slowly like Sk8r said and get it back down to normal. I was thinking you had a bigger tank than a 30gal. before. It will change pretty fast in that.

 

[snatchbuddha]

thanks for all the help, I was really very confused, now I think I will be ok! I really appreciate it!

 

[Sk8r]

Test a lot! Give each bit time to circulate and test again. Just don't go too fast, if the fish have been in this situation a few days. If it's a recent event, like an hour ago, you can change it much more rapidly, as a transient oops; but if they've been living in it and their body tissues have already adjusted to a bad situation, then the change needs to be much slower.

 

[snatchbuddha]

now if I test when I am done and my salinity is too low, then what do I do, do I add salt directly to my tank, or do I add mix water to bring it up?

 

[got2lb]

Just keep testing until it's right on. NEVER ADD SALT RIGHT TO THE TANK! Just slowly bring it back up with change water.

 

[got2lb]

What are you testing salinity with? Hydrometer or Refractometer?

 

[snatchbuddha]

refractometer

 

[phishcrazee]

The salt in your tank water will never evaporate, just the water does. So the more water you lose, the saltier your tank water becomes. Always add just plain old RO water to top-off. When you need to do a water change (weekly or bi-weekly) then you will mix up some saltwater and let it aerate or circulate at least overnight. Even though the mix may say you can add it right away, it is better to let it circulate overnight. If your house is cold, you may have to heat the SW up too before adding it. If you have a lot of evaporation going on, you will need to check your alkalinity, and pH at least once a week, until you know what your tank need and how often. You will need to add a buffer to the RO water occasionally, or use kalkwasser dripped slowly into your tank to maintain alkalinity and pH and calcium. Good luck

 

[snatchbuddha]

thanks, I am happy to report that my salinity level is right about right...1.024 after one hell of a scary night, my xenia look a little stressed but they are still responsive, everything else looks great! But I was really scared lastnight! thanks for everyone's help it is very greatly appreciated!