Salinity

[CodeBlueMedic]

So, I'm waiting on my display and QT to cycle and I've started doing some water testing. I have noticed that the SG in my display is at 1.022 (using a refractometer). This water I purchased premixed from my LFS. The stuff I have in my QT is at 1.023 (I mixed it myself according to directions on instant ocean bucket). So, my question is this....Should I try to increase either of them?

 

[Mike Ordner]

Fish stores often run their tanks on lower salinity to save on cost, so I am guessing that is what you got from them. I would slowly bump up salinity to 35 ppt which is considered normal sea water concentration.

 

[EPRuss]

Your salinity may fluctuate somewhat due to evaporation (keep up with your top-offs).

My understanding is 1.022-1.023 is okay for fish only, but you want 1.025-1.026 for reef.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

Your salinity may fluctuate somewhat due to evaporation (keep up with your top-offs).

My understanding is 1.022-1.023 is okay for fish only, but you want 1.025-1.026 for reef.

Gotcha...I'm wanting to add corals to this tank ASAP, so I should go ahead and start raising it up. Right now, there is nothing but live sand and LR in it..What is the best way to raise it up? Mix a small amount of water that is concentrated and then dump it in?

 

[EPRuss]

This is probably not recommended by most, but because you have no livestock, I'd just add a little salt at a time to the tank until I you get it how I want it.

 

[EPRuss]

If you need to bring it down, remove some water and top off with RODI.

 

[CodeBlueMedic]

Thanks for the tips! I'll probably just sprinkle a little in there and see what kind of raise I can get

 

[Fallling]

I'd bump it up a bit to 1.025 - 1.026. When I've needed to increase salinity, I've done it with water changes that have slightly higher salinity than the tank. Since you don't have livestock, you can do a couple of decent size water changes over course of a few days to bring it up. I'm not sure I'd add any salt directly since you do have live rock. On another note, once it's set right, just use RO water to top off. If you lfs has lower salinity and you're getting water from them, make sure you raise it some before any water changes. One last note, when you QT fish, the water the fish come in likely will be lower (test to see exactly)... the QT salinity should be lowered before adding the fish to match that bag water and then raised slowly to DT levels over the course of a few days.

 

[shesacharmer]

For the fish changes in salinity are difficult. They fare better going from normal to lower than they do going from lower to higher. In other words, any time you need to raise the salinity for fish go SLOWLY.