Salinity

[timrandlerv10]

what levels do people maintain for salinity?
what lives in that tank?


what would you recommend for me?
rbta w/gsm, zoos, crabs, dendro, frogspawn/hammers


how many people have ATO?

if not, how often do you add water?

thanks,
tim

 

[edwar050]

I keep mine in both tanks at 1.025 almost exactlly. Though sometimes due to salt creep it tends to swing a bit though fish can handle a gradule change from what I have seen all the way to 1.05

ATO rocks and I even have one in my 12 nano DX so I dont have to top off every other day.

http://www.top-off.com/viewitem.php?it_id=17

I have the Delux high low and basic-

 

[Siffy]

Auto top-offs are worth the money. And I'll second the 1.024-1.026 range for anyone keeping corals. The box/bucket/bag recommendations of 1.020-1.021 are fine for fish only tanks but upping your salinity a few points is fine for the corals and more typical of their natural environment. Also it reduces your need/cost of additives. The how often add water depends on your evaporation rate. Basically you want to keep the system's parameters as constant as possible. Instead of a whole lot rarely, very little often is preferred.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Ditto the above two.

I have two very simple DIY auto top off units which I put together using float switches from floatswitch.com.

Tomoko

 

[timrandlerv10]

i got an ato kit, but i havent put it together yet--it will fit better with new tank setup/space.

for some reason, i have had my salinity in the 28-30 range...i dont know where i got those numbers, but thats what i've been maintaining for the last few months...

 

[Tomoko Schum]

28 to 30 ppt or 1.028 to 1.030?

Tomoko

 

[timrandlerv10]

1.028 to 1.030

 

[Siffy]

I'd leave it at that since it's not absurdly high. Again consistency is what you're looking for. You'd likely do more harm than good trying to lower it even a few points. If you lowered it 2 points in say a week's time you'd have almost no stress placed on your corals. As long as they look happy, I wouldn't meddle with things much.

 

[8BALL_99]

All my tanks stay at 1.025... Up to 1.027 is pretty normal for a Reef tank... 1.027-1.030 is a little on the High side IMO. I would drop it down.. Just take a gallon or so of SW out then add Fresh back.. Do that over a couple days till its a little lower.. Your alot better off keeping your salinity in the middle range then way high or way low.. If your at the upper or lower limits you don't have much room for Error..

I use ATO's also.. I have a few different kinds on my tanks.. I even have an Extra JBJ ATO unit in my Equipment room if your interested.

 

[ensignpc]

My corals like 1.026...........