grantfallon
New member
what is the optimal salinity for a fish only tank with no live rock
optimal salinity
- Thread starter grantfallon
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kau_cinta_ku
New member
1.021 would be good for a FO tank but wouldn't go much lower and all the way up to 1.026 will be good
loosecannon
New member
You should keep it at 1.021. It will help keep down the pests. 1.026 or 35% would not be to smart!
Mavrk
New member
Why would that not be smart? This is the natural environment in which they live.
Many fish stores will keep it lower because salt costs money and the fish will do fine at the lower levels. 1.021 vs 1.026 will not make a huge difference in "pests".
I actually think mg426 has a good idea with splitting the difference. That way you don't have to worry if it changes slightly with evaporation, dilution, etc.
natejonesis
New member
I read somewhere that it is a myth, propagated over time, that we should keep salinity lower. Marine life thrives at approximate SG 1.024 in the ocean so that should be fine in our tanks. Just my 2 cents.
loosecannon
New member
Salt
Salt
Salt
marv lower like you said less $. And yes it will make a BIG difference in fighting pest!
Mavrk
New member
Re: Salt
Re: Salt
IME, 1.021 is not going to make a difference in fighting pests (especially not a "BIG" one). Unless you are running the salinity well below 1.020, any parasites that might attack your fish are still going to survive. Water quality is the best preventative from parasites. If you have live rock, then the inverts will like the natural salinity. I know this is FOWLR not FO, but I just thought I would put that out there.
I would not say it is a "bad idea" to run your aquarium within the acceptable salinity range.
Re: Salt
IME, 1.021 is not going to make a difference in fighting pests (especially not a "BIG" one). Unless you are running the salinity well below 1.020, any parasites that might attack your fish are still going to survive. Water quality is the best preventative from parasites. If you have live rock, then the inverts will like the natural salinity. I know this is FOWLR not FO, but I just thought I would put that out there.
I would not say it is a "bad idea" to run your aquarium within the acceptable salinity range.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
Parasites will adapt eventually to any salinity. Just like most sea creatures.
After many years of running a FO tank, I have found 1.022 to 1.023 is a fine place to target.
The fish do well in this environment and you save a little money on salt. But thats about it.
After many years of running a FO tank, I have found 1.022 to 1.023 is a fine place to target.
The fish do well in this environment and you save a little money on salt. But thats about it.
Shagsbeard
New member
Consistancy is far more important than the number you pick... especially for FO. Pick a number and stick to it.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
There is absolutely no reason to believe that lower than natural salinities are beneficial for fish for either disease or stress reasons (unless you go down to true hyposalinity). The only known effect is organ damage. Assuming you're planning to keep a cleanup crew, lower salinities are especially hard on them. Keep it in the natural range of 1.025-1.030.
fishorcutbait
New member
Speaking of which, how much salt (by weight) per liter would these concentrations be? The salt that I bought just has instructions for volume to volume, but I think weight to volume would be more accurate.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
Psu (ppt) is roughly equal to g/L, so you can go from there. 1.025 takes a little more than .25 lb/gal. That's just a starting point though. You should always check the salinity with a hydrometer or refractometer.
