Salinity for SPS

[bfam4t6]

What do you all keep your salinity at for healthy SPS? If I remember correctly, my friend keeps his at 1.024 and keeps mostly SPS. I have a 10 gal. so it does swing slightly, but I try to top off at the same time every day and keep it just above 1.024. Out of my nine SPS frags, only one has lost its color (though only the skin bleached. Polyps still bright green and the base, despite being white, is still growing) and I believe that is due to letting my father watch the tank for a week. He WAAAAY overfed and algae went NUTS!! Thus, I know my params were screwed.

However, I keep reading posts where people keep there specific gravity at 1.026. Is 1.026 better? Or does it really matter as long as I'm consistent? Like I said, eight out of my nine SPS frags are basing out and look fine.

 

[OneReef]

On a related note, does anyone see a change of moving from 1.025 to 1.026 of is that .001 negligible to SPS.

 

[nvdiz]

I'm no expert, but I think sps are capable of tolerating that small of a change. When I used to top off manually I accidently went from 1.024 to 1.027 without any ill effects.

 

[OneReef]

I am talking not talking about a fluctuation, but a permanent change of .001. Is there benefit of going to .026 from .025 if you can keep it there, is my question I guess.

 

[bfam4t6]

I am talking not talking about a fluctuation, but a permanent change of .001. Is there benefit of going to .026 from .025 if you can keep it there, is my question I guess.

+1

That's a better way to word what I'd like to know...

 

[gofor100]

My understanding is that inverts/corals prefer a slightly higher salinity, whereas fish prefer a slightly lower slalinity... I regularly keep mine at 1.026, and everyone seems to be happy as a clam (including the clams that I keep).

I think the main thing is just trying to make sure it is somewhat stable at whatever level you keep it at... having said that a .001 change is probably negligible, as long as it is not constantly changing .001 everyday.

 

[Bill Nye]

I always kept my tank at .026 and my corals seem to like it.

 

[GhostCon1]

You can have your SG at 1.024-1.027 for fish/inverts/corals. Many try to aim for 1.026 as that is NSW params.

Fish can tolerate the lower levels of SG (around 1.019 I think) in Fish Only tanks (no inverts/corals).

 

[bfam4t6]

Thanks everyone!

I think I'm going to slowly let my salinity creep up over the next week or so.

Out of curiosity, what does NSW stand for? I googled it before asking but couldn't figure it out.

 

[GhostCon1]

Natural salt water. Also, when used in conjuction with WC (water changes), it means new saltwater.