Need help with specific gravity

[jay&beck]

I'm in need of some help, my problem is my specific gravity is usually around 1.024-.025. But for the past month it rises on its own to about 1.035 and I will do water changes to lower it down and within a few days it rises again. I have never had this problem before and need some help as to what is causing this. I have 100lbs of live rock with a sand bottom, a few zoas and a tongue coral. 3 power heads and a Aqua C Remora Pro Skimmer. Also a few fish and crabs. I do not test any levels in the tank nor do I dose either. The tank has been set up for 6 years now and I have done nothing new to it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rcoultas]

probably the way you are mixing your water - you need to premix in advance with movement in the water to insure complete blending of the salt mix otherwise your readings are false due to solids still in suspension and as they break down in the tank your salinity will rise.

 

[rcoultas]

when you say you are doing water changes do you mean removing hypersaline water and adding fresh RO with no salt added?

 

[jay&beck]

Originally Posted by rcoultas
when you say you are doing water changes do you mean removing hypersaline water and adding fresh RO with no salt added?

Yes I remove hypersaline water and replace it with tap water then add a little salt to it. Also do the same when I replace the water that evaperates.

 

[natclanwy]

Are you saying you are adding salt when you are replacing Evaporated water too? If so this will cause your SG to rise. Also are you mixing the salt into the water in a bucket before you add it to your tank? If not you should be adding salt directly to the tank is very hard on your tankmates.
If you are using a one of the Hydrometers with the floating needle in it that could account for fluctuating readings they are not very accurate and salt build-up and airbubbles will cause the readings to vary.

 

[rcoultas]

OK you need to simply remove some water and replace with straight RO water - no salt - until it reaches the correct level. As stated when you "top off" do not add salt - salt does not evaporate - so as your water level decreases (evaporation) the salinity rises. Only when you do "water changes" do you need to add salt and always premix the solution.

 

[rcoultas]

when you do any of these things let the water circulate for 20-30min before you take any new readings to insure complete mix for accurate tests

 

[new2salt1]

Tap Water huh? You have bigger problems than SG my friend.

 

[jay&beck]

Originally Posted by New2Salt1
Tap Water huh? You have bigger problems than SG my friend.

Yes I know tap water, I have used it for 6 years now and no problems as of yet. Thanks for the information everbody I will replace with regular water and see if that works. Also I use a refractometer and not a hydrometer.