hi and i'm new

vtfishies

vtfishies

Member
just started the hobby a week ago sat..and i must say i think this is the best other than fw tanks..i would like to say thanks to everyone who has said throw a few raw shrimps in to the tank it does work wonders. my tank cycled in 9 days. my lfs is in awe after takeing trites and trates..states they will start to tell more about this way..the only problem ive had is level of salt..always low..fixed and now that i have done 50% change i am sure it will be low again..not sure why but its fixable..anyways wanted to say hello and thanks..
 
vtfishies

vtfishies

Member
yes i have a hydrometer..mine is always low..and the lfs is a bit above mine..they use the good one..not sure the name tho..but we always get it to normal..
 
vtfishies

vtfishies

Member
yes..thats why i take water sample to them..their close enough to do that due to there are not many sw fish stores in my area..
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
yeah, but are you going to do this before every water change? When you do a water change, your salt level has to be exactly what your salt level is in the main tank or you will really stress out your fish.
 
vtfishies

vtfishies

Member
at this point i dont have fish in the tank..water changes will be done as often as necessary..some people say 2 wks some monthly etc...i've only done the 50% last eve..and only have clean up crew with in the tank now..but i do plan on getting the tester..soon as this lfs gets one in..and its only a 20 min drive to there so i could go each time if needed
 
sweetdawn

sweetdawn

Active Member
ok now im confused the water i add to my tank is suppossed to be the same salinity as the water in my tank. but if im using the water im adding to my tank to correct my salinity does that count. and i wanted the something besides the hydrometer but cant get one around here. someone needs to tell my fish they are suppossed to be dead
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Well, if you email me, I will send you the link to get a refractometer online.
And if you always put the same salinity in for your water changes, your salinity will never need to be adjusted as long as you are topping off the tank properly after evaporation.
If you need to correct salinity, you should always do it very slowly, over the course of a few weeks to a month. For example, if your salinity is 1.022 and you need to get it up to 1.025, you put your water change salinity at 1.023 for a matter of several weeks until your tank reads 1.023. Then, you make up your water change water at 1.024, and continue adding 1.024 water and you will have it where you want it. Continue the process until you get it where you want it. This way, it will be nice and slow for the fish.
My email is Ry84@msn.com
 
sweetdawn

sweetdawn

Active Member
see i just pour the water in and there it is. see looking over at my tank can see water. sea horse being silly twirling around on the plant like gymnist on the bars. other seahorse thinks the clam is his hitching post . and i cant find my credit card so i cant order online.
 
vtfishies

vtfishies

Member
lion..i also added you to msn hope thats ok..i agree just dumping the water in is not a good idea..and yes we are getting the salinity up little by little its not off that much..its reading..1.019 but less than that on the one i have here at home..
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Well 1.019 is very low if you ask me.
Also, I do not use my MSN messenger but you can send me an email and I will give you my AIM screenname if you would like.
 
vtfishies

vtfishies

Member
there is a norm on the hydrometer..we are just under that.. other than that i am not sure..other than is there a difference between what u would sell in ur state to ours...i know something vary other than that i am going by out lfs that has nothing but sw..for 6ish years now..needless to say we are taking it slow raising to a steady level..i dont have aim..only msn and yahoo..
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Refractometers/hydrometers are all the same. I say 1.019 is low because, even though it is only .02 below the low of the "norm" 1.021, that is still a little low. The closer your salinity is to the natural ocean, 1.025, the better. I keep mine at 1.025.
 
coachklm

coachklm

Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Refractometers/hydrometers are all the same. .
not last time I checked ...they have the same purpose but.........accuracy is key in this hobby

sorry to butt in on ya, but dont want anyone getting wrong idea
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
no, you misunderstood what I said. NEVER, and I mean never, would I compare refracto's to hydrometers. I was saying that individually they are all the same. All hydrometers are designed the same way and will give you about the same results, and all refractometers look the same and will give you the same results.
This comment came after VT said: other than that i am not sure..is there a difference between what u would sell in ur state to ours...
That is when I said all hydrometers and refractometers are the same, meaning, the hydrometers in PA are the same as hydrometers in VT, as well as refractometers. If I were to go to Vermont and ask for a refaractometer, they will give me the same thing that I would get in PA.
You can look at my posts. I have never recommended that anyone ever purchase or rely on a hydrometer. Even in this post, I said in post #4: "refractometer is the one that is always accurate. It is an invaluable tool to saltwater aquarists."
But thank you for the concern. I can see how it might come off sounding that way if you had not read the entire thread and just that post.
 
coachklm

coachklm

Active Member

Originally Posted by lion_crazz
But thank you for the concern. I can see how it might come off sounding that way if you had not read the entire thread and just that post.

you got me ....
 
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