Post-Hyposalinity

[jessicarabit]

My surviving Percs have been in hypo for 30 or a bit more...& seem to bee loving it or at least very active. I finally removed that Green X (DON'T USE IT FOLKS!) from my main's system. All labs read normal & now I need to know where I should go from here?
I order & received not one (1), but two (2) glass hydrometers. The Tropic Marine brand only reads as low as .018 & the other drops as low as .001. My point being I can compare the two (2) readings once I get salinity levels up past .018. I'm finding them kinda 'touchy/picky' to make out the exact level, so maybe one of these days a digital device will be in the future.
My concern is, if I leave the salinity levels at .018 or .019 will this be acceptable to most fish (heard Tangs love this)? If so, will these levels support Blue leg Crabs, Arrow &/or Cleaner Shrimp? Or is this just not beneficial at all? I had a parasite breakout & lost most, so from what I understand higher salinity levels bring on parasite drama?

 

[jessicarabit]

Ed, besides the use of a digital, what other means of exact testing are there. I mean it's not like we have a huge choice in hydrometers. There's the digital (way expensive for most), glass (decent priced & more accurate) or acrylic (cheap & widely varied in it's reading).
Now what do you mean about 'HOLDING IT THERE FOR TWO (2) WEEKS OR MORE?'? Are you implying keeping them at the desired end salinity level & observing them for re-occurrences? Do you feel it's in my best for a healthy tank to keep salinity at .021 even with fish & is it also better off to add few crab & such (snails die to quickly & i just rather scrap the algae off)?

 

[seaguru]

Suggest you read the post on hypo by h2oski to learn a lot and read the post on refractometers, lots of good info. If you did not use a refractometer during your hypo there is no assurance you were at the 1.009 the whole time! Unfortunately the recent craze about using hypo has lead many to believe it is easy. (it is, only if you have the right equipment!) I am currently preparing to use hypo in my Q setup, but have read for hours and purchased the right equipment.
Just to illustrate the hydrometer issue... I have used an AqSystems SeaTest swing arm hydrometer for years but it only went down to 1.017. So when I decieded I would try this hyposalinity thing I just went and spent (wasted) $10 on another SeaTest swing-arm, but the current models went down to 1.001 and had dual scales SG/ppt. Thought I was doing good but noticed a .004 difference in readings from my old/new ones. Not satisfied I did more research and spent $35 on the German made Areometer type hydrometer. Was impressed with the few reviews... well it measured even further off from the other two! So which reading was correct??? So after forking out/wasting $45 I finally decided the only way was to spend $70 on a refractometer! (which I tried to avoid from the start).
Well that was the best spent $70 I have ever spent! The refractometer gives instant direct readings and is simple/easy to use, is well made, and is most of all RELIABLE. THE READING IS WITHOUT A DOUBT CORRECT!!! So now I am ready to try hypo... Oh and one more thing, I also have a pH alkalinity buffer by Kent Marine to buffer the water while at 1.009 because it is harder to maintain steady 8.0-8.4 pH at lower salinity. The last item to complete the hyposalinity kit is a pH test kit to monitor the pH along with the salinity. So yes hypo can be easy if you have the right stuff, otherwise it is debatable if you achieved true hyposalinity and kept your water parameters high/correct for the health of your fish... Just offering my experience for the record. Regards, Joe.

 

[c_bell]

Sometimes on the swing hydrometers a small air bubble will attach to the bottom of the arrow giving a false reading gentally tapping down with a pencil a few times usally helps.