Salinity & Specific Gravity Question

[roxy6684]

I just checked my water using the hydrometer, and it said my water salinity is 40 and Specific Gravity at 1.030. How do I get it down to what it should be? thanks

Jen

 

[meco65]

Take out about 5gals of water and add RO\DI. 1\2 gal. at a time about 30 min. apart till the reading is where you want it to be. You may want to go longer between adding water if you have corals so they dont go into shock.

 

[roxy6684]

Well I dont have anything in there yet. But what exactly is RO\DI? sorry I'm kinda new, not up with all the lingo yet thanks

 

[Andrew]

RO/DI - Reverse osmosis, followed by deionisation, type of water purification


You can lower the SG of your tank by taking some SW out and adding FW to the tank. ( RO/DI water ) Add the freshwater and dump it slowly in front of a powerhead or ect only because FW is less dence then SW.

More Reefkeeping Acronyms:

http://www.reefcentral.com/modules.php?s=&name=Encyclopedia&op=terms&eid=2&ltr=all

 

[bertoni]

I would try to limit the SG change to 0.001 units every other day. Also, hydrometers can be inaccurate. This article might be useful:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php

 

[dastratt]

To reduce the measured SG from 1.03 to a 1.026 measurement you could replace 13% of your 1.030 water with fresh water (at an SG of 1). If there's literally nothing in the tank I don't see the harm in just changing it out.

Most everybody posting here uses RO/DI water to avoid the undesireable "features" in tap water and well water. Usually they buy a unit, or some of us are still lugging home from stores that sell it.

I had three hydrometers that all read consistent with each other, and they were *all* off by about 0.003, as I found out once I got a refractometer

 

[roxy6684]

so i should get a refractometer?

 

[Lv2_play]

Absolutely,

prices have gone down on them considerably. Around $40 for the least expensive. Check ebay or here is

marine depot