Salinity--how high is too high?

[EvilE]

I keep my 55 at around 1.024 and my 5.5 is currently at 1.026, but the little nano's salinity gets very high easily, with evaporation, so it got me curious as to how high is lethal to corals and inverts and fish?? It was at almost 1.030 today!:eek2: I topped off the water and got it to 1.026.

 

[drummereef]

Don't know how high is too high, but quick salinity change is not good. How are you testing salinity, hydrometer or refracometer? That's going to be the hardest battle, along with temp fluxuation in a small tank.

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215854#post10215854 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Don't know how high is too high, but quick salinity change is not good. How are you testing salinity, hydrometer or refracometer? That's going to be the hardest battle, along with temp fluxuation in a small tank.

I use my refractometer---tell me more about this auto top off!!! I may need one! Thanks!

 

[drummereef]

I use one from http://www.autotopoff.com/products.html I use the double float switch for redundancy. It is basically a float switch that will turn on a pump, in a seperate reservoir, to top off your freshwater automatically.

If you want the best, get the Tunze Osmolator.

 

[EvilE]

whoa--I could have sworn you just mentioned auto top off?? Am I mistaken? Did you remove that before my post??

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215878#post10215878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
whoa--I could have sworn you just mentioned auto top off?? Am I mistaken? Did you remove that before my post??

Sorry, I re-read it and edited. Yes, I had mentioned an auto top off in the first post.

 

[EvilE]

Thanks friend!!

 

[Sk8r]

I keep my sg at 1.025, which gives me .001 leeway up or down in the safe zone.

Go slow when changing sg. Your fish's kidneys will thank you. They lived through one change; go easy on them restoring the balance.

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215884#post10215884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
I keep my sg at 1.025, which gives me .001 leeway up or down in the safe zone.

Go slow when changing sg. Your fish's kidneys will thank you. They lived through one change; go easy on them restoring the balance.

I actually have no fish currently in the nano 5.5 just a bit of kenya branch, GSP, and a small shroom. Oh, and a snail.....no fish yet, I want to get it going well first!

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215883#post10215883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
Thanks friend!!

No problem. I just didn't know if you would have enough room in your nano for an auto top off device. If you did, it would make life a lot easier for you and your fishy friends. Same for your other tanks.

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215894#post10215894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
No problem. I just didn't know if you would have enough room in your nano for an auto top off device. If you did, it would make life a lot easier for you and your fishy friends. Same for your other tanks.

I will DEFINATELY look into it!! Here in Phoenix water evaporates at an alarming rate!!!!

 

[drummereef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215902#post10215902 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EvilE
I will DEFINATELY look into it!! Here in Phoenix water evaporates at an alarming rate!!!!

Oh, I bet. But believe me, a dry heat is much more comfortable than the sticky, 90% humidity we have here in the midwest.

 

[alkataz]

I use the level controller on the reefgeek site its great

 

[greenbean36191]

There is no one lethal salinity since every animal's tolerance is different. Some start to have trouble once salinity drops below about 1.024, while others can go much lower. Generally a little high is not quite as bad as a little low. You can find reefs from 1.017-1.032, but the average range (where most reef animals will do the best) is about 1.025-1.026.

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10215911#post10215911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
Oh, I bet. But believe me, a dry heat is much more comfortable than the sticky, 90% humidity we have here in the midwest.

It gets humid here in the summer too!! Usually between July and August--monsoon season

 

[EvilE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10216965#post10216965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by greenbean36191
There is no one lethal salinity since every animal's tolerance is different. Some start to have trouble once salinity drops below about 1.024, while others can go much lower. Generally a little high is not quite as bad as a little low. You can find reefs from 1.017-1.032, but the average range (where most reef animals will do the best) is about 1.025-1.026.

Thanks!

 

[sir_dudeguy]

Here in Phoenix water evaporates at an alarming rate!!!!

UNDERSTATEMENT!!

I havent looked at the autotopoff ones, but aquahub also has one for like...40 or so that i've been considering getting.

 

[afelder]

I use the tunze osmolater. It is pretty pricey but gives a lot of peace mind due to the redundant back ups.