just added the salt..

[fatmatt]

Well i just put some salt in my 20gal tank. I see some salt sitin at the bottom of the tank should i wait intill it goes away? Or can i just put the sand in now? When should i put the shrimp in? and when should i check how much salt it is i forgot to wait till the temp gets to 80 does that matter? if its like 70 and there just water and salt in there?

 

[fatmatt]

bump
Just wanted to see the salt. and everytime i do it i get something diffrent first its 1.021 and then i do it again and the thing goes to 1.30(cant go anyfurther) im useing a hydrometer and well how can i get a good reading? and theres still some salt siting at the bottom

 

[bigarn]

Are you planning on adding LR? If you are, add it now along with the sand. If it's uncured you can use it to cycle the tank with. If it's going to be cured LR you can drop a raw uncooked shrimp in to kick off the cycle. Do you have powerheads in there for water movement? (they'll help dissolve the salt also) Wait until the cycle is over and then check the salinity.

 

[fatmatt]

WAIT THE salinity doesnt matter during the cycle? wow... so i bin worried for nuthin all this time can i had LR even if the salinity is off by a lot?

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Fatmatt
how can i get a good reading? and theres still some salt siting at the bottom
I doubt there is salt at the bottom. It's probably precip[itated Calcium carbonate because you didn't mix up the saltwater before adding it to your tank.
To get a good salinity reading get a refractometer, a TDS meter with a high range, or an electronic Salinity meter (fancy TDS meter).
You hydrometer will probably not give you an accurate reading unless you compare it to one of the above devices that actually measure salinity instead of specific gravity like your hydrometer.

 

[fatmatt]

how much aree those things?

 

[scubanoah]

between $40-100 depends on what you want

 

[fatmatt]

i bought a peice of my LR from my lfs cost $16 ($7.99 for 1pound) and well will the salinity kill my LR if its off?

 

[bang guy]

All that's left on the rock at this point would be very hardy creatures. As long as the salinity and temp are close then they or their offspring will make it through. Providing you don't allow ammonia poisoning to kill them off during the cycle.

 

[fatmatt]

i think i just had to had a gal of water cuz now it points to 1.022-21ish but i dont know if its that or that its the crap scale..

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Fatmatt
i think i just had to had a gal of water cuz now it points to 1.022-21ish but i dont know if its that or that its the crap scale..
The Specific Gravity of saltwater will vary at different temperatures.
What's your temp and what specific gravity are you shooting for?

 

[vejomatic]

Fatmatt: It sounds like your salt is starting to settle more now. Take Bangs advise and post us your temp and salinity at the same tim, they do have a direct relationto each other.
I don't know if you did already but you do have at least some movement in the water (powerhead) at this point...right?
~vm

 

[fatmatt]

i have the filter goin and 1 powerhead if i have both on sand goes every where the temp is 80 and salt. is 1.022

 

[vejomatic]

:thinking: what model ph's do you have and what are the gph rating on them Fatmatt? Is your tank a 20G or 20G Long?

 

[fatmatt]

idk if its long or not its about 2ft long 17 inches high and 12 inches wide 2 maxi jet 900s only 1 is runing rite now and the filter is penguin 330 1 maxi jet 900= 230 G.P.H and the filter is 330 gph so all together that is.. 790gh put thats with everything runing... without 1 of the powerheads its 530gph