Salinty Level a little high

[1fstlightning]

I checked my salinty level earlier, cause I had to buy a new hydrometer cause my old one was messed up, and it was at 1.030. It might be a little high cause the sump was a little low, but I know it couldnt be that high. This is probably one of my reasons why my Kriptonites are not wanting to fully open. Im gonna take out water and replace it with just regular RO here in a while, cause I just added some to get the sump level right before I check the Salinty level again. How much water hould I take out and replace safely without harming my fish and corals?

[Europhyllia]

Don't panic and don't rush things. Make gradual small adjustments. It got there gradually (through evaporation). How much water do you have total?

[1fstlightning]

I have a 72g tank and a 25 gallon sump, but minus rock and sand I would say around 80-90g's maybe. I just checked it again after about 15 minutes when I added water to get my sump where it normally is, and its reading at 1.026 now. So Im gonna give it some more time(probably like a good hour to mix up good) before I check it again. I know that doing small adjustments is the key, was just curious about how much to do.

[1fstlightning]

I was gonna do 2-3 gallons every day till I got it down, but dont know if thats too little or too much.

[1fstlightning]

[QUOTE=EuroMom;727543 It got there gradually (through evaporation).[/QUOTE] Yeah I think thats what happened to mine, since my Hydrometer was broke couldnt check it.

[1fstlightning]

Also which meter is better, The CoralLife DeepSix plastic meter or the glass meter with the thermometer in it? cause I now have the galss one with the themometer

[corruption]

Glass with thermometer -- but both are ridiculously inferior to a Refractometer. Spend the $50 to get one -- you'll never look back. Truly indispensable in this hobby..

-Justin

[UTSAltwaterEnthusiast]

I use the Plastic meter but its kinda inaccurate if salt is not mix well. Other than that it works great!

[corruption]

As far as add-back is concerned -- this should be added back in small portions -- or even done by performing small water changes with correctly prepared saltwater.... You really need to invest in a refractometer, though.. You'll never get the precision or accuracy that you're really striving for otherwise.

-Justin

[corruption]

I use the Plastic meter but its kinda inaccurate if salt is not mix well. Other than that it works great!

I would not trust one if my life depended on it. Guarantee if you check it with a refractometer, you'll be shocked to find what your real salinity is :)

-Justin

[1fstlightning]

As far as add-back is concerned -- this should be added back in small portions -- or even done by performing small water changes with correctly prepared saltwater.... You really need to invest in a refractometer, though.. You'll never get the precision or accuracy that you're really striving for otherwise.

-Justin So i should add salt back to the water? Im doing about a five gallon water change tis weekend, thats why I was just gonna take saltwater out and add just RO water in to it slowly at a time and then do my water change Saturday.

[corruption]

either method will work -- if you're adding salt back, you should do it in the form of a water change -- remove a gallon, replace a gallon.. The amount of swing needs to be minimized as much as possible -- you don't want to jump from 1.030 to 1.026 overnight, could be a hefty shock on the livestock.

-Justin

[1fstlightning]

I would not trust one if my life depended on it. Guarantee if you check it with a refractometer, you'll be shocked to find what your real salinity is :)

-Justin LOL, yeah cause thats how I found out mine was broken.

[Neptune@gabesfish]

1.026 is perfect if thats where its at leave it ..

[jroescher]

"It got there gradually (through evaporation)"


Your not adding salt water in as your routine top off are you? That would definitely make you salinity rise.

[1fstlightning]

either method will work -- if you're adding salt back, you should do it in the form of a water change -- remove a gallon, replace a gallon.. The amount of swing needs to be minimized as much as possible -- you don't want to jump from 1.030 to 1.026 overnight, could be a hefty shock on the livestock.

-Justin Yeah I knew that too of a jump will for sure screw some things up.

[Europhyllia]

I just checked it again after about 15 minutes when I added water to get my sump where it normally is, and its reading at 1.026 now.

Okay so it sounds like you already added RO water to get from 1.030 to 1.026. I agree with Gabe. Leave it where it is. It does sound like you added a bunch all at once though. Hopefully you're not keeping sea stars or urchins.

[1fstlightning]

Okay so it sounds like you already added a bunch of RO water to get from 1.030 to 1.026. I agree with Gabe. Leave it where it is. It does sound like you added a bunch all at once though. Hopefully you're not keeping sea stars or urchins. I didnt take any water out yet, was just adding water like i do when it evaporates. Im sure it wil probably go back up in a little while once it mixes.

[saabtech]

i had a hydrometer for 3m. and my salinity was at 1.026.
got a refractometer from Gabe and found my real salinity was 1.020.

that is why my coral was starting to look sad. i have been raising it slowly and they are looking better.

[Europhyllia]

I did the hydrometer thing for 10 years and then got a refractometer. It's really one of those things where you wonder why you didn't get one earlier.

[corruption]

I did the hydrometer thing for 10 years and then got a refractometer. It's really one of those things where you wonder why you didn't get one earlier.

Indeed -- they're an investment... but everything in this hobby is. Why not secure your investments by spending a little bit extra to ensure things are exactly where you expect them to be?

-Justin

[1fstlightning]

Indeed -- they're an investment... but everything in this hobby is. Why not secure your investments by spending a little bit extra to ensure things are exactly where you expect them to be?

-Justin Lol, I will probably be buying one as I just accidently droped it earlier and it broke on my floor, so I dont think I will purchase another one. How much would I be looking at for the refractometer?

[corruption]

$40-80, depending on brand, sales, etc... Gabe has them for $59, I imagine its a similar price around town.. You won't regret it :)

-Justin

[allan]

You can tell its worth by the fact that no one sells them on the for sale forum unless they're getting out of the hobby permanently.

My problem is when I go to gabe's I start weighing my options, refractometer for $59... or that really boss elegance for $49... and I blame it on my business degree but $49 sounds like a better deal. :D

[1fstlightning]

You can tell its worth by the fact that no one sells them on the for sale forum unless they're getting out of the hobby permanently.

My problem is when I go to gabe's I start weighing my options, refractometer for $59... or that really boss elegance for $49... and I blame it on my business degree but $49 sounds like a better deal. :D I might have to go by there and chech these out.