Raising salinity

[ReefingMadness]

I have heard all the horror stories of swing-arm hydrometers. Now I know why. I finally got a refractometer. What a huge difference. Swing-arm read 1.025, refractometer reads 1.022. Those swing-arms are worthless.

I am needing to raise my salinity and I don't know how to do this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Do I need to do this with water changes, or should I do it with top-off? How slowly or quickly should it be done? Is my tank in danger? Thanks in advance.

Thomas

 

[pimpinitup6969]

in my 125 if it gets a little low i add it slowly to the sump to raise the salinity...... havent had any problems. not sure how helpful that is with the nano
Matt

 

[CoralJunkieXXX]

The best way would be to use mixed salter for your top off, that way you raise it very slowly until you reach you desired level.

 

[ReefingMadness]

Should I mix my SW at the target level (1.025) and add that or a more diluted solution?

 

[crumbletop]

Make sure your refractometer is calibrated correctly. If you use RO/DI to calibrate to sea water, it will be off by about .003, so your salinity may be okay right where it is.

If you do need to raise your salinity, then raising with mixed salt water (1.025) as topoff is a good way to do it.

 

[ReefingMadness]

Should I use distilled water to calibrate it? If not what should I use? The refractometer has ATC. if that matters.

 

[crumbletop]

Pinpoint calibration solution will work. You can get it from premium aquatics. Lots of folks in the club have a tube of 1.0264 calibration solution that c_stowers made up in the lab. Those work the best.

 

[ReefingMadness]

Thanks for the info. Jack. Does anyone have some of the solution that Chris made up? I just need to calibrate it, so it won't take much. I live in Murfreesboro, but will travel. I think that it would be quicker than ordering for now. I will order some, but I would like to have it set right ASAP.

 

[fallinapart]

I have some and live in the boro, your welcome to call me and drop by and pick up some.
5one9 37two6

Norman

 

[crumbletop]

Use a bit from Norman, and I'll try and remember to bring a vial for you to the next meeting.

 

[ReefingMadness]

Will do. Thanks Norman I will give you a call this evening. And another big thanks to you Jack.

 

[Turtle77]

Ok so I havent heard about "horror stories" from using a swing arm hydrometer. I think thats what I am using. Now I'm a little worried I may not be doing it right or something. What are the horror stories?

 

[ReefingMadness]

Well, maybe " horror " is a bit strong. Very inaccurate would be better suited. Meticulous care is needed to keep them reading correctly. Proper temperature and temperature correction are the worst foes here. Maybe someone else has an opinion here though.

 

[fallinapart]

A lot depends on which corals you are keeping, some are more delicate than others and the swing arm hydrometer is not an accurate way to measure salinity hence you could be off quite a bit and not even know it. A refractometer is much better and if calibrated it is about as good as you can get, at least as a household hobby goes

But even a swing arm measurement is better than nothing, just look to change over to a refractometer in the near future as you expand into more corals.

Norman

 

[ReefingMadness]

Wow, as always Jack you were right on. My refractometer was off by .003. Thanks again.