Salinty??? Is mine too low?

[RRafael]

I was doing some reading and I keep my salinity at around .25 is it too low?

http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/Images/salinity.gif

It is a reef set up with softies and some SPS.

 

[jeemann99]

25 is perfect for your application

 

[svb57]

Mines at 1.025 and I have mixed reef.

 

[Sk8r]

I use .24 and keep corals. (Small sump, lot of evaporation: it's that way for the leeway.)

 

[Sullyman]

You're fine, don't want to go above .26 though.

 

[Poppy828]

I keep mine at 35ppt

 

[Rod Buehler]

NWS is 35 ppt which is about 1.026-1.027. The red sea runs around 1.030. If I couldnt maintain 1.026 and had to choose between1.024, and 1.028, Id choose the 1.028 every time for my reef.

 

[Pufferpunk]

How important is it not to let the SG fluctuate? I usually wait till my water level is down about 1", before topping off. That would fluctuate the SG from 1.025-1.026 or so. Topping off every other day. That's about 1g of RO.

 

[Rod Buehler]

Some animals handle salinity changes with no problems, and others dont tolorate them very well. With thye ones that dont tolorate changes verywell, Starfish are the first thing that comes to mind. The fluctuations that you are talking about probably wouldnt make a difference, but would it be that much harder for you to top off 1/2 gal every day, vs 1 gal every other day?

Are you just dumping in a gallon, or is it being added (somewhat) slowly?

A few observations that I have made receintly.. I have a much higher mortality rate in my juvie clowns with a salinity that is lower than NSW than I do when I have elevated salinity levels. I dont sweat it when its high. I havent checked in a day or 2, but I am betting that my salinity on my grow out tank is above 1.030, and it wouldnt surprise me if it was 1.035.

 

[Rod Buehler]

just checked.. 40 ppt (or 1.030) . I am not recommending for anyone to keep theirs that high, but UI would rather see them run it a little high vs a little low . Just aim for NSW (35 ppt)

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yes, I'll try to remember to top off daily. I do have a Pink Linkia star & a Croacea clam too. I hear they are sensitve creatures. Doing quite well so far. (had it about a month).

 

[sellout007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7029108#post7029108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Rod Buehler
NWS is 35 ppt which is about 1.026-1.027. The red sea runs around 1.030. If I couldnt maintain 1.026 and had to choose between1.024, and 1.028, Id choose the 1.028 every time for my reef.

I get flack every time I suggest this to people. And every time I talk to an extremely knowlegable person, they reinforce it. For some reason people have it engraved into their brains that a low salinity is best for a tank. I have people (customers) that tell me they keep their tanks at 1.020 when I am at work.

 

[yahutch]

I keep my reef tanks at 1.026-1.027 . I do run my seahorse/pipefish tanks lower at 1.022 . I have had to leave my tanks in the care of others and have come home to both extremes , the reef tanks deffinately tolerated the higher salinity better IME .