hydrometer ? specific gravity? salinity?

M

mike6969n

Guest
hello,
i know that this is a stupid question, but my hydrometer didn't really come with many instructions and i have read several threads about it, but i am not sure how to increase or decrease my salinity i assume to increase i need to add more salt, but i am not sure. my tank is at 80 degrees and i am doing a coral reef tank my hydrometer shows 1.016/22 what do i need to do to get it right and what would be the ideal number for me to shoot for with a coral reef aquarium
 
viper_930

viper_930

Active Member
Instead replacing the evaporated water with fresh water, top off the tank with saltwater until you reach 1.025/34.
 
masala4080

masala4080

Member
For a reef tank you want your specific gravity (SG) to be around 1.024 or higher. Yes, to increase silinity pre-make a batch of slightly higher SG water and add it in. To decrease you need to do the opposite. add a slightly lower batch of SG water. If you need to take water out before doing it then do so, so you dont have your tank overflowing everywhere. Remember though when the water evaporates it leaves the salt behind, so top off with plain water. 80º sounds good.
 
shep77

shep77

Member
Is it all kind of trial and error to begin with, how much salt you add and the increase it gives? I just do not want to change the SG too quickly but I do not want to sit there and guess itty bits at a time. With evaporation let's say you lose 5 gallons. The SG in the tank rises from 1.025 to 1.026 Woul;dn't just adding the 5 gallons drop the SG too much? Or let's say your SG is too low to begin with. Do you add premixed water at a slightly higher SG and keep measuring with your hydrometer until you get it right? Because if you do not add enough you will just be scooping out water to start it over again. Does this make any sense? :nope:
 
bigarn

bigarn

Active Member
For a reef tank a specific gravity of around 1.025 and a temperature of 80-82 should give you a salinity of 35ppt, which is perfect for a reef. :D
 
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