salt level

[Firstman]

were new to this what should the salt level be for a 90 gal fish only tank and what about 25 gal. nano coral tank?

[aquasport24]

i usually try to keep my around 1.021-1.025 .

[coraline79]

your salt level doesnt change with tank size. If you have corals it seems that the higher side of the safe spectrum is where you want to be. 1.025-1.03.

The main thing to keep in mind is stability moreso than the actual number as long as it is in perimeters.

[Zoofan]

Ok, this is my second attempt to post on this. First didn't go through.

There are two ranges to consider.

1.018-1.019 People with fish only tanks feel that a lower salt level lowers parasite load and lessen chance of infection. This is important to know when you buy a fish what S.G. the tank is. I have not read any data on this but it seems to make sense. Some species are very sensitive to S.G. some Star fish will die at 1.018. I don't know if the low salt stresses the fish our not. It would seem that it would require more metabolic energy of fish to keep osmotic gradients inside the fish tissue balanced but I don't know.

1.024-.1025 This is what most would keep a reef around and is a more natural level. This is what I keep my tank at.

You will find people using values at all points in between.

So if you are just getting started this is my advice for what ever it is worth. Go slow and remember stress kills fish. Don't pack your tank and what ever inch per gallon rule you use cut it in half until you start to get a feel for all this. All sound advice that I didn't listen to when I got started and had to learn the hard way.

Good luck, welcome to the MAAST and a great hobby.

Mike

[SoLiD]

Search for "Salinity" in the forums. :thumbs_up:

http://www.maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=44031

-David

[p00num3lli]

yes, with the reef, try to keep it 1.024-1.025. like the fella above me said, corals like it on the higher side.

and you might wanna think of making the 90 gallon the reef tank and the 25 a refugium:lmao2:. trust me, in the future i bet you'll wish u did that. its best to have a bigger tank than 50 for a begginer, because the smaller the tank is, the faster your levels change(ammonia,nitrate,nitrite,ph, ect)

and as me being in this hobby for a lil over a year, i still need to learn lots. but the guys on here will help you and leed you in the right way, just like they did me.

dont rush, go slow, be carefull, and ASK QUESTIONS!!!

o yea, WELCOME TO MAAST!

ps: fish only tanks are boring... well.. for most people.

[pagan.n.damaged]

My tank's both sit at 1.020 -1.021 but thats where they've been since I set them up. I have noticed the anemone isn't very fond of it being that low and thats why currently he's been babysat by a dear friend of mine. Once we set up our 60 our goal is 1.023-1.025. We don't keep any corals currently so with our level being that low its not a major concern.

[coraline79]

Ed told me that they keeps there tanks around 1.030 at Wolf.

[papijames]

Welcome to Maast Firstman. May I say that You remind me of myself when I started a few months ago, except that I didn't know about MAAST, and had to experiment things on my own. I have a 55gal I started with the instant ocean bag which doesn't explain the 1/2cup/1gal or 1cup/2gal ratio, and all my fish got icks and lost several of them because of that (SG was high @ 1.028). Oh talking about salt, different people will also give you their own opinion of the type of salt to use.I made the switch to "red sea coral pro salt" have a 1.022-1.023 SG, and my fish couldn't be any happier.
Last note, Watchout for people like "p00num3lli" (if you like to live in denial) because they will corrupt your mind. I started with a FOWLR and because of people like him I've realized my tank was "boring" and went on a frag shopping spree. now my 55gal is a mix tank with only 5fish and about 20 different types of frags.

[p00num3lli]

Welcome to Maast Firstman. May I say that You remind me of myself when I started a few months ago, except that I didn't know about MAAST, and had to experiment things on my own. I have a 55gal I started with the instant ocean bag which doesn't explain the 1/2cup/1gal or 1cup/2gal ratio, and all my fish got icks and lost several of them because of that (SG was high @ 1.028). Oh talking about salt, different people will also give you their own opinion of the type of salt to use.I made the switch to "red sea coral pro salt" have a 1.022-1.023 SG, and my fish couldn't be any happier.
Last note, Watchout for people like "p00num3lli" (if you like to live in denial) because they will corrupt your mind. I started with a FOWLR and because of people like him I've realized my tank was "boring" and went on a frag shopping spree. now my 55gal is a mix tank with only 5fish and about 20 different types of frags.

corupt your mind.....what..?

[ErikH]

you should swap the 25g coral and make that a FO. Use the 90 for corals as the levels will remain more consistent in the larger water volume.

"Watchout for people like "p00num3lli" (if you like to live in denial) because they will corrupt your mind. I started with a FOWLR and because of people like him I've realized my tank was "boring" and went on a frag shopping spree. now my 55gal is a mix tank with only 5fish and about 20 different types of frags" ".......what?"

Sounds like he said you made him go buy corals!! :)

[p00num3lli]

o, lol. im not good at noticing sarcasm when its written out. i thought he was insulting me:bigsmile:

[SoLiD]

LOL... :lauging:

[Firstman]

thanks to everyone for your help on response on the salt level.my next problem I had was last night (black out) I have no fish yet I ve been running my tank for four months now. I got water all over my wood floor. what do I do to avoid this again? next time I dont want to kill my fish or destroy my floor.

[Zoofan]

So you mean your power went out and your sump over flowed? If that is the case then you need a bigger sump. Also how do you get water out of your sump to your tank? When power goes out water flows in reverse. You can put a small hole in your return tube just at the water level which will brake the suction. Several ways to approach it.