Specific gravity in tank is 1.028

[Johnic]

I haven't checked in a while but did today and noticed it's 1.028.
Is this too high ? If so how should I drop it?

I use Reef Crystals and also noticed how much brown stuff is in the mixing 50 gal container. Corals look great but should I clean the mixing tub ?? I hate to screw up a good thing right now. All is good with the corals.

 

[ThRoewer]

I had tanks at 1.040 and none of the inhabitants looked as if they would mind it. Added RO to adjust it to 1.026 and again no fish, shrimp, or coral took offense.
Things like that actually happen in the wild quite often. In tide pools, lagoons, atolls, and other bodies of water that get frequently or occasionally cut off from the ocean sun and wind can cause significant evaporation and drive the salinity up within hours. How extreme it gets depends on the size of the water mass and the duration it is cut off from the ocean.
When the connection is reestablish by the incoming tide or a spring tide, the incoming ocean water adjusts the salinity down again.
Most lifeforms in the ocean can handle quite a bit of variation in salinity.

BTW 1.028 is just about right for a Red Sea biotope.


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[Johnic]

Gotcha. I guess I'll leave it but as I mix new Salk I'll drop it the incoming down to bring the tank down.

Should I clean my mixing tub ?


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[Vinny Kreyling]

Can't hurt to have a clean tub.
Do it when you have time.

 

[Johnic]

Can't hurt to have a clean tub.
Do it when you have time.

Ya.
Soooo
I'll confess. I put trust in my Milwaukee digital specific gravity device but I haven't calibrated in some time and it was off by 1.002. Uggggg. I tested with my Sybon old school refract and the tank is 1.026.
[emoji848]


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[Uncle99]

I stopped using RC because of the "brown stuff".
Using Red Sea Pro, mixes clean, barrel stays clean, I hate cleaning buckets.
Worth the extra cash IMM, Tropic Marin Pro mixed fast and clean as well.

 

[Johnic]

I stopped using RC because of the "brown stuff".

Using Red Sea Pro, mixes clean, barrel stays clean, I hate cleaning buckets.

Worth the extra cash IMM, Tropic Marin Pro mixed fast and clean as well.

Ya I agree. But I hate to change something that's working and corals look good. Changing salts is a big move. I get the rc on Amazon delivery to front door to for great price.


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[bertoni]

I'd probably lower the SG to 1.0264, but I agree that 1.028 is safe enough. For a 75 g tank, maybe replacing ½-1 g of tank water with fresh RO/DI once a day for a while should fix the situation quickly enough.

 

[ThRoewer]

... Red Sea Pro, mixes clean, barrel stays clean, ...

That's not my experience with Red Sea salt. If you don't clean the barrel every few mixes it encrusts quite a bit.
Tropic Marine is probably the cleanest, but definitely not the cheapest.


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[Johnic]

That's not my experience with Red Sea salt. If you don't clean the barrel every few mixes it encrusts quite a bit.
Tropic Marine is probably the cleanest, but definitely not the cheapest.


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I used to use tropic marine and it's def not cheap but very good.


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[hkgar]

Ya.
Soooo
I'll confess. I put trust in my Milwaukee digital specific gravity device but I haven't calibrated in some time and it was off by 1.002. Uggggg. I tested with my Sybon old school refract and the tank is 1.026.
[emoji848]


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Why do you think the Sybon is correct? Have you calibrated it?

 

[Johnic]

Why do you think the Sybon is correct? Have you calibrated it?

Yes. And I calibrated the digital one too now.


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[jd371]

Gotcha. I guess I'll leave it but as I mix new Salk I'll drop it the incoming down to bring the tank down.

Should I clean my mixing tub ?


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I use IO and clean the Brute trash can after every 5th mix. I'd switch to something cleaner but at $35 for a 200g box I'd rather take the 20 minutes to clean than spend a lot more money for a clean trash can.

 

[bertoni]

Oops, missed the part about the mixing tub. You can clean it when it gets gunky, but the precipitates are unlikely to cause any problems. It's mostly an esthetic issue.

 

[Johnic]

Oops, missed the part about the mixing tub. You can clean it when it gets gunky, but the precipitates are unlikely to cause any problems. It's mostly an esthetic issue.

Gotcha. I haven't cleaned it for years and it seems that it doesn't affect the tank. One thing I realize in reef keeping is.... leave well enough alone.

Still wonder what the heck that stuff is.


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[bertoni]

It might be a mix of calcium carbonate and some organics, but that's just a guess. The calcium carbonate would fizz if an acid like vinegar were added.

 

[Uncle99]

That's not my experience with Red Sea salt. If you don't clean the barrel every few mixes it encrusts quite a bit.
Tropic Marine is probably the cleanest, but definitely not the cheapest.


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Truly happy with RedSea, have not cleaned get barrel in over a year now as it does not require it.

Then again, I mix only what is needed and deploy in 24 hours, I don't need to store salt water, since I have not stored, maybe this is where it encrusts? Strange, never encountered this problem.

I did note that parameters became very predictable with Red Sea, each and every batch I make mixes clean, and so, so on point, no variances in over 2 years now.

I am sure everyone has their favorite, one thing I have learned is you get what you pay for for most things, most, not all.