Topping off???

ReadyRock

New member
Hi all I am currently in the process of fine tuning my tank and need a little help with topping it off without raising or lowing my salinity I have currently just added fresh water into my sump until it is at the appropriate level is this correct or is there an easier way??
 
Yes that's correct. Mark your sump and fill to that line daily. The only easier way is with automation(ATO = Auto top off). You top off with fresh RO/DI and not salt water. Water evaporates and not the salt. When water evaps your salinity raises(why you add FW), and without adding FW every day, you will get wild salinity fluctuations which is not good for your inhabitants.
 
Do yourself a favor and invest in an auto top off. No matter what size tank this is almost a must have for me. Makes your life much easier and keeps your tank much more stable.something like the jbj are affordable and work great.
 
Gravity fed ATO can be done fairly cheap. If you have room above the sump for a gallon or so of water.

Otherwise get an ATO that is redundant to make sure you dont flood the house. The Tzune Osmolator seems to be the favorite around here.
 
Just be sure to monitor your salinity levels weekly. With either method, using a full level line on the sump and adding RODI water daily by hand, or using a ATO, as your skimmer pulls some water out with it, over time if you keep adding top off water to the full level line, your salinity will slowly decrease.
 
Just be sure to monitor your salinity levels weekly. With either method, using a full level line on the sump and adding RODI water daily by hand, or using a ATO, as your skimmer pulls some water out with it, over time if you keep adding top off water to the full level line, your salinity will slowly decrease.

Agree with this. I also believe I lose some salt to creep over time as well. I test water weekly when I do water changes with my calibrated refractometer. I may boost the change water a tad higher when I see my display drop .01 every few changes or so.

I also find its good practice to test both at water change time for consistency. Unlikely a calibrated refractometer would be off by more than .01 or so but I feel keeping the change water consistent with the DT is important and a nice safety check.
 
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