Reef Salt

B

boxerbill77

New member
Hi All.. Yes im new to the salt systems. Just purchased a biocube 32.. Had it up and running for about 2.5 weeks now. Was purchasing reef and RO water from local fish store. I have been noticing my salinity level is 1.021-1.022. So I purchased IO Reef Crystals. Decided to mix my own to get Salinity to 1.025.. No matter how many water changes, I cannot get my salinity up.. Im told to go to Red Sea CLP as the mix is more accurate, faster and can use in a couple hours and mixes at 1.025 vs RC mixes at 1.021.. Any help as I did order a 55 gallon bucket of redsea.

Thank You, Im Billy
 
The salinity level in the freshly mixed water is only dependent on the amount of salt you add to your RO water, not on the brand of mix. Just keep dissolving salt in the water until it's at the salinity you want.

As far as increasing salinity in the display, the most popular way is to top off with saltwater instead of RO until the level is where you want it.

Any livestock? is the tank cycled? If not you can increase the salinity very quickly, if you want.
 
No the tank hasn't fully cycled as of yet, but I do have a damsel and shrimp in it. Just testing purposes really. Im waiting until all my numbers are accurate before adding corals and the fish I want. Im doing 5 gallon water changes. One on Saturday and one last night. Im thinking that's too little, do a 10 gallon change?

Also if im at 1.022 then I want to mix a batch of like 1.027 to balance to 1.025 give or take correct?
 
I'm always a little confused about statements regarding using the salt in a few hours, or next day...or whatever. I pour the salt into the bucket full of water and stir. When it's clear I test it. When salinity is correct I pour it in the tank. Usually 15 minutes.

I have had no issues at all that I am aware of. Is there supposed to be some benefit to letting the water sit for a specific period of time?
 
From what I have researched. Im told when using RC you need to circulate/ aerate the water for 24 hrs..

When using RedSea they say you can use it within a couple hours.. Im told RedSea mixes more accurately also. But hell If I know as im new to this game also lol. Fun but frustrating a bit.
 
What are you using to measure the salinity? Refractometer or hydrometer?

As others have suggested, top off with salt water mixed up to 1.025 instead of plain RO/DI.
 
You do not need to be doing water changes during the cycle. This is going to slow down or halt the biological processes that need to occur. Using a fish and shrimp in a cycle is not the best of practices. It is pretty cruel. In the future, now you know. In regards to raising the salt, I would make sure you have a refractometer like stated above. Then, I would test the water with that. Mix up some 1.025 salt water with your reef crystals. And top off your tank with that water until you reach the desired level. You should be at 1.025 within a couple days, and won't harm the inhabitants at all.
 
In regards to some questions about mixing salt water, it depends. I believe you should mix it for at least 2-3 hours with a powerhead before adding. I normally mix mine over night. If any undissolved salt gets into the system, it technically could burn inhabitants. You want to mix it thoroughly enough to know it is all dissolved, Doubt it will all be dissolved in 15 minutes.
 
kevin21 said:
You do not need to be doing water changes during the cycle. This is going to slow down or halt the biological processes that need to occur. Using a fish and shrimp in a cycle is not the best of practices. It is pretty cruel. In the future, now you know. In regards to raising the salt, I would make sure you have a refractometer like stated above. Then, I would test the water with that. Mix up some 1.025 salt water with your reef crystals. And top off your tank with that water until you reach the desired level. You should be at 1.025 within a couple days, and won't harm the inhabitants at all.
Click to expand...

Exactly what im trying to do. I did purchase the ReSea Refractometer. Im a little anal with it when calibrating it. I check to make sure its at 0 by testing with zephryhills water. seems I have to recalibrate everyday for some reason but sure tests the salinity at 1.022 everytime. Im also told to leave the tank alone for a couple days and allow the salt to elevate? Im not really needing to ever top off as my water doesn't evaporate really in this Biocube.
 
boxerbill77 said:
Exactly what im trying to do. I did purchase the ReSea Refractometer. Im a little anal with it when calibrating it. I check to make sure its at 0 by testing with zephryhills water. seems I have to recalibrate everyday for some reason but sure tests the salinity at 1.022 everytime. Im also told to leave the tank alone for a couple days and allow the salt to elevate? Im not really needing to ever top off as my water doesn't evaporate really in this Biocube.
Click to expand...


You should be calibrating with a solution that is closer to what your trying to measure(even though most directions with refractometers say to calibrate to 0 with RO/DI). There is a reason they sell calibration fluid. Your calibrating with water that is no where near pure(RO/DI) which more then likely is throwing off your readings.

You do realize most bottled water uses municipal water sources and not RO/DI water? It would be like trying to calibrate your refractometer with your tap water.
 
homer1475 said:
You should be calibrating with a solution that is closer to what your trying to measure(even though most directions with refractometers say to calibrate to 0 with RO/DI). There is a reason they sell calibration fluid. Your calibrating with water that is no where near pure(RO/DI) which more then likely is throwing off your readings.

You do realize most bottled water uses municipal water sources and not RO/DI water? It would be like trying to calibrate your refractometer with your tap water.
Click to expand...

Ok, I will go to my lfs today and purchase some calibration fluid. I wasn't aware of doing this. thank you sir:)
 
IORC, but I mix up 35G at a time and it sits for a couple weeks with powerheads in my mixing barrels. I do get a little of the brown stuff, but have noticed that since I moved one of the PH's to the very top(keep the surface agitated) I get very little of it now.

Knowledge is power, and there is no better source of power for this hobby then right here!
 
homer1475 said:
IORC, but I mix up 35G at a time and it sits for a couple weeks with powerheads in my mixing barrels. I do get a little of the brown stuff, but have noticed that since I moved one of the PH's to the very top(keep the surface agitated) I get very little of it now.

Knowledge is power, and there is no better source of power for this hobby then right here!
Click to expand...

Im guessing your barrels are sealed with a lid while your water mixes for a couple weeks to avoid evaporation?
 
I will not comment on the Fractometer . my opinion on them are much different then many .. Glass Hydrometer.... Glass Hydrometer..

As far as salt mixes.. It seems that some of the more expensive brands need to be mixed and used withing x amount of time. often a hour or so.
I use a mix of IA IA-RC And Kent Marine.. Kent Marine is My Salt of Choice. its crystals are much finer it does not clump in the bags or leave residue in my 55 gallon mixing tanks... I will make 100 gallons at a time and use it up over time.. Sometimes i do this twice a month.. I always let it mix for at least 24 hours before i use it right after i make salt.. when im using pre mixed salt i will turn on the pump about 10 minutes before i need to move it to one of the tanks or pond... I do it all automated with valves.or it would be a lot of buckets...


To get your salinity up... Mix some high concentrated salt water in a gallon jug with ro/water Pour a small amount into your tank say 12 oz. and check salinity . Do this each day until you reach your target... Since you have a uncycled tank you should be ok to do this ..
 
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