Passion of the Sea saltwater - salinity WAY off!!!

[yoyoyoo123]

I just got back from the Passion of the Sea fish store, picked up some saltwater, I pop a drop into my refractometer, and WOW it's at 1.012

i'm glad I always check salnity of saltwater with my refractometer before dumping it into the tank.

btw it's fine if I mix different brands of salt into RO water correct?

 

[laverda]

It is a very good idea to check the salinity and probably the PH of the water any new arrivals come in. That being said I only check the salinity myself. I do acclimate them over a pretty long period, over an hour from when I walk in the door to I release them.
Some LFS keep the salinity low to help prevent the spread of ICH and other possible parasites. Also it is a little less stressful for the fish. Most people feel you should never add water from LFS to your tank. I agree completely! Often they also have copper or other medications in their water that you do not want in to your tank.
Rig up some sort of drip system to slowly acclimate your fish or corals. I have a clear plastic cookie container with a piece of aline tubing and a plastic air valve. After floating a new fish I but it in the container with it about half full of water the fish came with. I but the container in the tank and stick the hose in a return line. Now I have my tank water slowly dripping into the container. Set a timer, so you don't forget. When the water level gets close to the top, I dump about half the water down the toilet and continue dripping. I do it one more time then I usually just reach in with my hand and gently scoop the fish out into the tank. I use variations or this for everything that goes in my tanks. You need to drip at a slower rate if the salinity is much lower then your tank.
One nice thing about this method is your new arrival gets to meet their tank mates from the safety of the clear container. You can observe and makes sure their is no serious sign of aggression from any of you current inhabitants.

 

[GTR]

Yes you can add more salt, different brand is fine. Always good to check anything you put in your tank. I use a 50-50 mix of oceanic and IO as my regular salt.

I'd also give Anthony a call this morning and let him know how low it is. Doubt it's intentional.

SteveU

 

[SkinyChinaMan]

hi yoyoyoo, first off, I really appologize for the low level on the saltwater that you have purchased. I always use a refractometer to check the salinity after i mix the salt water in our store bin, I also have a salinity meter that is on that tub. I realized the same issue last night when i was closing and glanced at the salinity meter and it was reading alittle low.. 1.019! I was like huh? and then i found out that my store employee had took about 100 gallon of saltwater the day before (when i was not in the store, I was attending a business matter) and refilled my tank with RO but only had added one bag of salt (50 gallon mix) and not realizing that my RO system does at least 100 gallon per day. Therefore, there is a problem. Also i was upset that he didnt tell me in advance, I NEVER sell fresh mixed saltwater, I always let it settle and mixed for at least 24 hours before it it for sale, to make sure all the salinity level and PH are correct. I even turn my customers away becuase of the new mixed saltwater.

Again, I really appologize for this and not knowing in advance to warn you. Afterall, it is my fault and i will be glad to replace 5 more gallon of SW for you for free the next time you come in. Please just mention this to me. Thanks again for the support and believe me, this is not intentional. I am not trying to save on salt, if you look in my store, what do I have the most?? its the salt..lol
oh, for those that doesn't know, I use nothing but OceanPure PRO salt for my saltwater, and so far, it has been great for all my customers's tanks.

 

[laverda]

I misunderstood I thought it was water in a bag with a fish or something.