Salt Evaporation!?!?

[jerehmy]

hey reefers!

I have a 40g tank with two PC retrofit 36" x 96w 10000k and actenic. my question is that I use CATALINA REAL SEA WATER that I but from the lfs. They pull the water out a mile down and a mile out from the shore and then they filter it and do the uv sterilizer.

Now with the evaporation will the salt level in the tank continue to rise, the Catalina water has a salinity of 1.026 and the tank stays there for now but will there be any feautre problems with this water ?

THANKS FOR THE HELP!

 

[scottfarcuz]

Yes.

When the water evaportaes the salt stays behind. You will need to replace the evaporation with fresh (no salt) water.

 

[AZDesertRat]

You should be using RO or RO/DI water for make up water or evaporation replacement. If you continue to use satwater the salt level will rise. Salt does not evaporate only the water.

 

[ericbye]

what if rodi isnt an option right now do to limited money, havent set up the tank yet just figuring everythign out waitin for a paycheck. i do haev a protein skimmer and a bunch of hob filters. will be 50g fowlr

 

[scottfarcuz]

You can use additives to bind the chlorine/chloramines. You may still be adding nutrients to your tank from the top off depending on the quality of your tap water.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I would at least buy RO water from a Water & Ice store bare minimum. If you don't you will pay for it later with algae blooms and water quality problems. RO water around here is 25 cents a gallon.

 

[Sk8r]

You can get cheap ro/di at your local Walmart kiosk.

 

[ericbye]

yea, but keeping enough water on hand to top off and do water changes would be challenging woudlnt it?

 

[AZDesertRat]

A 40G should need about 4 or 5G per week for topoff and 8 gallons once a month for changes.

 

[jerehmy]

thats what I thought. Now I need to use rodi wate r for the top off and the catalina water for the changes

 

[AZDesertRat]

Yep. Or use RO/DI water and mix your own salt. Probably cheaper in the long run. You do own a hydrometer or refractometer I hope to keep the salt level correct.

 

[goda]

that water i belive is from the coast of ft lauderdale ( are they teh same ones who make the live sand bags?)

anyways.. a mile off ft lauderdale there is another type os pipe.. it releases sewage.. deffinitly would rather mix my own then risk me being right