Salinity in a FOWLR

[Otogi]

I am sure this has been asked many times before, but I can't get the search to work for me.

What Salinity do you all keep you FOWLR/FO tanks at on average. I have been keeping mine at 1.025/1.026.

My LFS is constantly giving me flack about this, Constantly telling me I should keep it between 1.019 min and 1.023 max. I have read post of other people doing this. My LFS keeps telling me to drop the salt level because I will be less likely to get ich and other problems. Is this true? I just thought the ocean is around 1.026 why wouldn't I keep my tank at the same level and that seems to be the same thought process I see in a lot on threads here on RC. Am I wrong for doing this in a FOWLR? Is there a benefit or secret with keeping the salt levels lower?

Thanks in advance

 

[LauraCline]

I have been told the same thing but I agree with you. I see no benefit except saving a few pennies on salt maybe.

 

[Jerry W]

Most parasites won't be affected by salinities in the range your lfs recommends. True hyposalinity, used to treat ich, is 1.009 sg or 14 ppt salinity. IMO/IME, healthy fish should be maintained at NSW levels.

 

[reefergeorge]

1.025 in my fowlr

 

[Otogi]

Thats what I thought as well. I do water changes with NSW. My LFS sells NSW as well. Although I collect my own. Why would they sell something they collect direct from the ocean and recomend you dilute it down.

And I agree Jerry W the lowered levels will not do anything to ich unless it is lowered to 1.009.

Their logic didn't make sense to me and I am not sure why they preach it so hard to me. It just doesn't make sense to keep the salt at lower levels then NSW. Especially when you are selling true NSW why would you tell people to Lower it.

 

[krazykarel]

As I understand it, the higher the salinity (within normal parameters) the more stress it brings on fish (though corals love it). I can't recall the exact reason I heard (maybe has to do with oxygen level?)

 

[julianp]

I keep my FOWLR at 1.025 as well.

 

[Schweet_One]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12205980#post12205980 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by krazykarel
As I understand it, the higher the salinity (within normal parameters) the more stress it brings on fish (though corals love it). I can't recall the exact reason I heard (maybe has to do with oxygen level?)

I read in an aritcle the other day (possibly on here????) that higher salinity levels promotes more stress in fish because thier bodies are constantly having to expell higher levels of salt...

 

[GigaFish]

Thats exactly what it is. Even though fish live under water, they still drink, and they pee also. When they drink their bodies have to extract the salt from the water first before they can hydrate themselves. Lowering the salinity makes this easier for them to do just that.

 

[AquaKnight]

I don't see the point of lower salinity. The salt is taken out through a process in their gills as they drink the water. Which I'd bet a good chunk of change is 2nd nature, just like how you 'breathe.' You don't tell actually tell your lungs to expand/contract. I don't see how this could be a stressor. Marine fish actually 'pee' very little. Freshwater fish are the horses so to speak.

Regardless, the more important feature for me is the increase, or phased better, original levels of skimming output at 1.025-1.026 levels. Decrease the salt, decrease the skimming.

 

[mattsilvester]

1.025...... its not just the s.g. but buffer capacity etc. as well...... better stability and bigger margins for error are gained from having the correct s.g.

The cost savings for lower s.g. is negligible.

The health benefits for the fish are non existent.