need some advice guys

[wampuscat]

I have let my tank get away for a bit and am wanting to get everything back in order. My salinity is down to 1.022 and I would like to get back up to 1.026, what is the best way to go about this?

CAL is 340-350
MAG is 1050
ALK is at the low level of acceptable

Tank is 150 gallons BTW.

I have made up 40 gallons of make up water at 1.022. Now if I test parameters before doing the water change and the cal, alc and mag are not at sea water parameters how to I dose to bring them up?

And if I want to make the water higher in cal, alk and mag than natural sea water what is the best way to this?

I will be using kents mag, brightwell aquatics code a and b for cal and alk.

 

[reef_doug]

I wouldn't use any additives until you correct the salinity. Your numbers are low due to the low salinity.

This calculator shows how to correct salinity:
http://www.saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/SalinityAdjust.php
I would recommend to raise the salinity with two water changes at 30 gal ea over the next week or two. Each water would be approx 30 gal of 1.035. After two of these you should be close to 1.026.

Alternatively you could use 1.035 salinity water inplace of your top off water. This will take quite a while though but is a safe way to raise salinity if you have delicate corals.

Then retest parameters and post findings.

 

[bertoni]

I'd just let evaporation move SG back to the reasonable range. Top off with part or all saltwater at 1.026 and let SG rise maybe 0.0005 units every other day or so.

 

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13980986#post13980986 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
I'd just let evaporation move SG back to the reasonable range. Top off with part or all saltwater at 1.026 and let SG rise maybe 0.0005 units every other day or so.

Bertoni,

I agree, When I make new water change water If the salinity is too low I just let it sit with a few power heads in the water & wait a day or so for the evaportion to bring it back up.

However, what about the calcium levels...Alk levels ?? do these levels change with the evaporation ??

It seems that when I test the cal...alk...ect the levels dont really change from the first ( low salinty ) level....to the Higher salinity level.......???? is my test kit crapped out.

 

[bertoni]

I would keep dosing alkalinity and calcium as the test indicates the need. If there were no corals consuming them, they'd rise with evaporation. The others should rise about 20% as the salinity rises 20%.