Is low salt bad?

[jjjoey]

i just noticed that i have 1.018-1.019 salt content.
is this bad?

 

[bioneck47]

Originally Posted by JJJoey
http:///forum/post/2699981
i just noticed that i have 1.018-1.019 salt content.
is this bad?

It shouldn't be a problem. I usually keep my tanks around this salinity, just keep an eye on your ph.

 

[coraljunky]

Originally Posted by JJJoey
http:///forum/post/2699981
i just noticed that i have 1.018-1.019 salt content.
is this bad?

Reef or fish only tank????

 

[jjjoey]

at the moment its fish only
but im going to add some stuff soon

 

[mr_x]

for a fish only it's fine. for a reef it should be .025-.026, and steady.

 

[jjjoey]

shuld i fix this before i add 2 toadstools? and a lionfish
and how should i go about adding it

 

[xtreeme]

From what I read. Do WC. Mix the water with the right amount of mix measure for SG. Then add to tank. I would just do WC till its right. How much to change and how often I would wait for them to say.

 

[mr_x]

i would use salted water as top off water till it's right.

 

[coraljunky]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2700038
i would use salted water as top off water till it's right.

 

[jjjoey]

i just took a bucket out and mixed some salt with it
to 1.026 twice
its at 1.019
was at 1.018
lol

 

[coraljunky]

Don't try to raise the salinity quickly!! Patience. It should be gradual, like 4 days or so. Besides, salt mix needs 24 hrs to properly dissolve depending on the brand.

 

[mr_x]

agreed. take your time!

 

[xtreeme]

dont take water out, mix then put back. Too fast. Like said most takes while to mix. Mix 10 gallons to SG (1.024-.025). Let set for 24hours. Then remove 10% of your water.Put in the new. I would do that once a week. Normal WC. If you are getting other stuff soon raise faster. But slow is best. Fast would be 10% day. Thats just my opinion.
I raised my 55 from 1.020 to 1.025 after WC for month.

 

[flricordia]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2700038
i would use salted water as top off water till it's right.
+2

 

[jjjoey]

thanks all

 

[xtreeme]

Top off be ok if alot of evaporation. My tank looses about 1 gal every two weeks (2x15 watt). Take me a while. The reef tank will loose water from more lights. If you dont add alot of water to top off tank. Then I would just mix the right salt in new water for water changes and do them 1 week. Tropic Marin suggest 10% week.

 

[jjjoey]

so i were to buy some corals.. they would most likely die in a 1.019 salt tank?

 

[metweezer]

Yes. Get your SG where you want it (1.025) then add your corals.

 

[aztec reef]

Originally Posted by JJJoey
http:///forum/post/2700546
so i were to buy some corals.. they would most likely die in a 1.019 salt tank?

No they wouldn't, they'll have growth retardation and overal health would be depleated...same applies to any reef inhabitant except fish...
It also depends on what u use to measure the salinity..
But yes, for optimal overall health and growth, its best to keep them around 1.025.(refractometer).

 

[reefkprz]

here is a quote from Randall holmes-farley from an article on refractometers
The salinity on natural reefs has been discussed in a previous article. Based on such information, my recommendation is to maintain salinity at a natural level of about 35 ppt (abbreviated as ‰ and also as PSU, practical salinity units). If the aquarium's organisms are from brackish environments with lower salinity, or from the Red Sea with higher salinity, selecting something other than 35 ppt may make good sense. Otherwise, I suggest targeting a salinity of 35 ppt (specific gravity = 1.0264; conductivity = 53 mS/cm; refractive index = 1.33940).
Recommendations aside, high quality reef aquaria exist with a fairly wide range of salinity. Many highly successful reef aquaria have salinity in the range of 32-36 ppt, or specific gravity in the range of 1.024 to 1.027.