evaporating salt??

[rslinger]

Ok I know its not suppost to happen but what the heck where does my salt go. I am trying to keep it around 35 with my refracto and I check it at the level where I have to top off a half gallon same everytime. Lately I seem to be using salt? It was down around 32 the other morning so I topped off with saltwater for a couple days get it back up switch back to rodi. Well today is I think two days later and I am back down to 31. Any ideas? O my asm g3 is being a pain in the butt to skim wet then dry all with out touching the gate valve. Do you think when its skimming wet its taking out salt?

 

[btldreef]

Do you just add top off or do you have a ATO?

 

[rslinger]

I am just adding it right now to the return section of my sump. Just really never felt like a skimmer was pulling out salt is that possible?

 

[jerth6932]

Yes, it is possible. It is a "disolved" substance in the water and it can be skimmed out. "Note" it should not be high concentrations of salt unless you are skimming really wet.

 

[flower]

Skimming wet will indeed remove your saltwater, I used to skim wet to do water changes. Also saltcreep can do it, but nothing as quick as skimming wet will do.

 

[btldreef]

it's possible, but unlikely. If you're just randomly and manually adding RO instead of actually knowing how much to add (using an ATO), this could be the issue and more likely is the issue. Certain days are more humid than others, so your rate of evaporation should be slightly less, etc. If you're just adding 1G or 1/2 G of RO daily without knowing exactly how much was lost, you're going to get a swing in salinity.

 

[rslinger]

Oh no i know how much evaporation i have, the last baffle in the return side is my gauge. I always fill it just to or just past the top of it.... I was skimming pretty wet so maybe but really i think i get about a gallon of this "wet" a day... I don't know i am so confessed about this.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/385404/evaporating-salt#post_3379554
it's possible, but unlikely. If you're just randomly and manually adding RO instead of actually knowing how much to add (using an ATO), this could be the issue and more likely is the issue. Certain days are more humid than others, so your rate of evaporation should be slightly less, etc. If you're just adding 1G or 1/2 G of RO daily without knowing exactly how much was lost, you're going to get a swing in salinity.
HHMMM....I don't mean any insult but I am going to disagree with you...If evaporation were the issue his SG would climb not drop. Surely OP knows to top off at a certain water level. His SG drops because each time he removes a cup of water from his skimmer he is removing a cup of saltwater. I used to wet skim really fast using a tube attached to my HOB skimmer that fed into a 5g jug. I had the ATO set up on my new mixed saltwater and that is how I did my water changes.
Every 5g removed was replaced with 5g of new saltwater. If OP is removing his wet skim and only replacing RO water he is going to see the slight drop he has been getting on his SG level.

 

[rslinger]

You know I bet the skimmer is the answer....I just gotta figure out how to get that thing dialed in better.... I have an asm with the gate valve mod and it seems just the smallest touch and it goes from wet to nothing I can't seem to find the happy middle.

 

[jerth6932]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/385404/evaporating-salt#post_3379554
it's possible, but unlikely. If you're just randomly and manually adding RO instead of actually knowing how much to add (using an ATO), this could be the issue and more likely is the issue. Certain days are more humid than others, so your rate of evaporation should be slightly less, etc. If you're just adding 1G or 1/2 G of RO daily without knowing exactly how much was lost, you're going to get a swing in salinity.
That can be the case, but it depends on how big the tank is, BUT HIGHLY UNLIKELY. If its a larger tank the flex will be less likely due to Volume vs concentration. Also Rslinger is probably doing as most of us do, and fill it to OUR level, the same level.
So with that said, there has to be another factor. Top off really isn't your problem. You are losing it through some "removal" process. Salt creep, skimmate, ect.

 

[jerth6932]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rslinger http:///forum/thread/385404/evaporating-salt#post_3379566
You know I bet the skimmer is the answer....I just gotta figure out how to get that thing dialed in better.... I have an asm with the gate valve mod and it seems just the smallest touch and it goes from wet to nothing I can't seem to find the happy middle.
NOW with that statement, BTL has the answer with the Auto Top Off unit, because it will hold your levels at a better level, giving you a more "dialed in" setting, due to less water fluctuations. Also as a tip on Skimmers, small adjustments with time will tell were they actually are, because they take time to build up to where they should be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rslinger http:///forum/thread/385404/evaporating-salt#post_3379560I was skimming pretty wet so maybe but really i think i get about a gallon of this "wet" a day... I don't know i am so confessed about this.
That is a lot to pull a day, I have my 55 g and I get 1 cup a week..... You are taking SALT water out with a gallon out a day, and adding RO back..... That is probably your MAJOR problem!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rslinger http:///forum/thread/385404/evaporating-salt#post_3379566
You know I bet the skimmer is the answer....I just gotta figure out how to get that thing dialed in better.... I have an asm with the gate valve mod and it seems just the smallest touch and it goes from wet to nothing I can't seem to find the happy middle.

Set the dial where the foam is just at the cone to start going up but not doing so...wait an hour and recheck. if you have any foam going up the tube to the cup leave it alone eventually it will skim. Then after you find the happy place...unplug it to clean the cup and never mess with the dial.

 

[rslinger]

Yeah you guys are right...I am skimming to wet. Flower when you talk about the cone your talking about the the bottom of the tube where it goes into the cup not the part where the skimmer gets smaller on the way up right. I want water right to the bottom of the cup right? This skimmer is new to me and I have not seen it work right yet.

 

[geoj]

Did you check for a slow leak?

 

[jerth6932]

Just above the black ring in the middle was my sweet spot for my set up! The skimmate that you can see in the cup is since Sunday of last week, if that gives you a clue as to how much it does.

 

[rslinger]

Yeah I gotta figure this asm g3 out. My last skimmer was a berlin and it was easy hooked it up to a mag 9 and it would pull out a skimmer cup full of the nasty slime stinks junk...wish I never sold that thing anyways I just guess I expect my asm to do the same. I have a drain line on it to..it runs to a jug for easy cleaning..atleast that's what I was thinking. Maybe tomorrow I will make a new thread with pictures for help on getting this thing dialed in better.

 

[jerth6932]

Good luck!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerth6932 http:///forum/thread/385404/evaporating-salt#post_3379654
Just above the black ring in the middle was my sweet spot for my set up! The skimmate that you can see in the cup is since Sunday of last week, if that gives you a clue as to how much it does.

Drop the foam to the black ring not just above it, and wait to see how high the foam goes after waiting an hour...if any foam climbs leave it alone and watch it for a day. There is too much water in the cup.... It should be just some dark thick yuck

 

[rslinger]

That's not my skimmer that's jarths lol. I will post picks of mine in the morning thanks for all your help.

 

[jerth6932]

Yup it is, and its the only way I get anything is on this setting. I think when I was moving the pumps around and stuff I raised my water level and got extra water in there cause that is actually a lot for my 1/2 week total...... I didn't really pay attention to it, just photoed it. Temperamental bounders.....