I may have just nuked my reef, but don't know

[tur4k]

I have a relatively new (couple of weeks) aquarium that I've been setting up to be a reef. It's a 90 Gallon with Wet/Dry sump and skimmer.
I was just changing the floss for the first time. This has seemed to have caused my specific gravity to jump from 1.023 to 1.032+ (the limit of my plastic hydrometer).
The floss was present in the sump when I originally was dissolving the salt. Is it possible for a floss change to cause a massive salinity spike in a 90 Gallon with 95lb of live rock? Is my cheap plastic hydrometer just not reading right for some reason.
I checked it right before I changed the floss because I also added a gallon or two of fresh RO water. I checked it. Added a small amount of fresh water. Changed the floss. Then tested again.
I'm freaking out a little because I don't know if I should try a massive change to bring it back down or if I should just hope that the hydrometer is wrong and wait it out. I don't want what life I have in there to die. Three small fish, a couple of stars, bunch of snails, crabs and a couple of small coral frags that came on my rock.

 

[meowzer]

Hydrometers are not very reliable.....If yo ucan get a refractometer
I have never heard of changing floss causing a salinity swing like that....rinse your hydrometer out in warm water....then when you test again...tap it on the counter to be sure there are no bubbles messing with the arm
then get a refractometer

 

[tur4k]

The change in floss has seemed to cause a lot of micro bubbles in my water. I can't seem to get the plastic arm free of all of them. Do you think this could be what is causing it to read so high?

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by tur4k
http:///forum/post/3232271
The change in floss has seemed to cause a lot of micro bubbles in my water. I can't seem to get the plastic arm free of all of them. Do you think this could be what is causing it to read so high?
Could be.....as I said...Hydrometers are NOT reliable......Just tap it on the counter....hopefully all the bubbles will release
OH....WELCOME TO SWF

 

[tur4k]

I put the hydrometer on the counter and beat it like a rented mule until bubbles came off. Most of the bubbles came off and it dropped it 1.026. I feel much better
Going to the LFS first thing tomorrow to get a refractometer. Thanks. I was completely freaking out and ready to start doing a massive water change.

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by tur4k
http:///forum/post/3232289
I put the hydrometer on the counter and beat it like a rented mule until bubbles came off. Most of the bubbles came off and it dropped it 1.026. I feel much better
Going to the LFS first thing tomorrow to get a refractometer. Thanks. I was completely freaking out and ready to start doing a massive water change.
LOL...Before you totally freak out...next time just come here....we are good at helping people

 

[tur4k]

I noticed. You saved the day. I'm glad that I stumbled upon these forums in my panic. It seems like they will be a great resource and I always have a ton of questions.

 

[jstdv8]

Meo to the rescue!
I have one of the glass hydrometers that floats and has a thermometer in it that seems to be fairly accurate. I bring it to the LFS that has a refractometer once a month to make sure its still on, 4.5 months in all good

 

[gill again68]

Glad you got that figured out! Yes the refractometers are worth the money. Buy the best one you can afford.
Just curious, how old is your set up? Also do you premix your salt before you add it to your tank? I only ask because I wouldnt think that the floss would take salt out of the water and you said that the floss was in there from when you first put the salt in the tank? If your not doing so, always premix your salt 24 hrs before you plan to use it. This allows the salt to mix on the molecular level. I keep enough water premixed at all times for a 30% change for my 90 just in case. I also keep some good ole RODI ready as well.
Anyway you may not have needed any of that but I cant sleep and you can always ignore it!!

 

[tur4k]

I only used the salt mix for the initial fill. All future water changed will be with sea water. I didn't premix because there was nothing in there when I initially filled it. The aquarium is only a few weeks old. I started with just cured live rock and live sand. About a third of that rock came from a well established aquarium.
My LFS told me that since I'm reading 0 Ammonia and 0 Nitrite that I could add a few fish. So I have two clowns, a royal gramma and a cleaning crew.

 

[florida joe]

we are good at helping people
speak for yourself.
to answer your original question changing the filter media will absolutely NOT change your salinity. For my own benefit why would you think it might

 

[tur4k]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3232586
speak for yourself.
to answer your original question changing the filter media will absolutely NOT change your salinity. For my own benefit why would you think it might

I didn't think it would either, but my cheap hydrometer was reading off the charts specific gravity after I changed it. It seemed very unlikely that it could have caused a swing like that in a 90 Gallon, but I retested like 6 times.
It turned out to be air bubbles on the plastic needle that were causing it to read way too high. I now know better then to trust a hydrometer.

 

[florida joe]

we all live and learn

 

[noah's nemo]

Floating glass ones are a bit better.I used one for a couple years before i got a refractometer.It was only .002 off....

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by tur4k
http:///forum/post/3232574
I only used the salt mix for the initial fill. All future water changed will be with sea water. I didn't premix because there was nothing in there when I initially filled it. The aquarium is only a few weeks old. I started with just cured live rock and live sand. About a third of that rock came from a well established aquarium.
My LFS told me that since I'm reading 0 Ammonia and 0 Nitrite that I could add a few fish. So I have two clowns, a royal gramma and a cleaning crew.
Do you own your own test kits?

 

[tur4k]

Originally Posted by meowzer
http:///forum/post/3232611
Do you own your own test kits?
Yes. I'm currently testing for PH, Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, Carbonate Hardness and Calcium.
As of yesterday:
PH - 8.4
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - closer to 0 then 5 in color
Carbonate - 9 or 161
Calcium - 520

 

[meowzer]

Sounds good....are you going to add your clean up crew (cuc) now?

 

[tur4k]

I currently have 35 snails and 20 hermit crabs. I added them when I started getting some rust colored algae growth. A few days later I added a few stars on the recommendation of the guy at the LFS to turn over the sand.
This has seemed to have brought the algae growth under control. I used a magnetic scraper to clean the front and sides. I left the back covered with algae for the snails.
I am a bit concerned after reading the 101 tips thread about the stars. I'm not sure exactly what kind of stars they are and the tips thread seemed to indicate that stars need special care. I guess I need to do more research instead of just trusting the LFS to tell me what I should get when.
I don't know if you can tell what kind of stars these are from this picture or not. I can recharge my camera a take a better picture later.
http://www.lizandscott.com/gallery2/...2_itemId=19887
I've been trying to document this whole process with that photo gallery.

 

[meowzer]

They look like sand sifting stars....sorry to say, but will more than likely starve to death. There is nowhere near enough food in a new tank to feed these. If at all possible I would bring them back
You are CORRECT....NEVER take the work of a LFS....they are in it (most are) for the sale....
We are here for our love of the hobby...we have nothing to gain by offering you advice....just remember, not everyone has the same outcomes. READ READ and READ lots of threads. You will learn a lot
what kind of snails do you have? Nassarius are really good at sand sifting

 

[tur4k]

My gear so far:
- 90 Gallon glass perfecto with overflow
- Wave Point T5 216w with default 2 blue and 2 white bulbs
- Mega Flow model 3 wet/dry sump
- ASM mini G in-sump skimmer
- Supreme Classic model 18 (1800GPH) pump
- 60 lbs of Carib Sea fiji pink aragonite live sand
- 72 lbs of pre-cured live rock from LFS
- 23 lbs of live rock that was traded in from established reef aquarium to LFS. Completely covered in purple coralline. Full of critters (good and bad).
- Marine Land 400w heater
I'm currently reading about refugiums and trying to figure out how to squeeze one under my tank since my sump is taking up most of the room.