Questions about Hyposalinity for Display Tank

florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I think what needs to be understood is this. The lowered salinity does not kill the ick directly. It only has an effect on the parasite by interrupting its mechanics for division. (Osmotic pressure differential) all of the parasites have to attempt in the hypo environment to divide for a fish and QT to be ick free
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by locoyo386
http:///forum/post/3075148
Interesting, I have read in several forums that hypo at 1.009 does not always work. I was right in thinking that was the reason for it, just was not sure. I have been looking for information that can explain that. Have you seen anything about it, about if the parasite can somehow survive a low level like 1.009?
Well, yes and no. There are many instances where hyposalinity fails due to human error. People may not watch the SG closely enough. If the SG goes above 1.009 then the parasite is able to reproduce because the water is dense enough for osmosis to occur. However, there have been times when the hobbyist was meticulous about the SG level and ich re-occurs. I believe it is because a single, or maybe a few, parasites were late to reproduce and as soon as the osmotic pressure in the tank was suitable (when the SG is being raised) the parasite reproduces. This is rare, but it has happened.
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3075175
I think what needs to be understood is this. The lowered salinity does not kill the ick directly. It only has an effect on the parasite by interrupting its mechanics for division. (Osmotic pressure differential) all of the parasites have to attempt in the hypo environment to divide for a fish and QT to be ick free
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
Down to 1.010.
One more water change should bring it down to 1.009
Ammonia is 0.
PH is 8.2-8.3
This is not as difficult as I thought it would be. I think this is a lot easier on a larger system than a smaller one. Less room for error on a small tank. Plus, I'm only swapping out 44 gallons at a time...so I'm thinking not much stress on fish. A lot easier than using copper....constantly testing copper levels and re-dosing and testing and re-dosing...etc. And with the constant water changes, I'm sure my nitrates are lowering more than usual as well. And it's free. No chemicals to buy.
Fish are all eating like pigs and swimming as usual. This was not the case when I used Cupramine 3-4 months ago. A lot of the fish, particularly my yellow tangs, stopped eating.
I left my skimmer on, as I figured it can't hurt anything.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3075245
Well, yes and no. There are many instances where hyposalinity fails due to human error. People may not watch the SG closely enough. If the SG goes above 1.009 then the parasite is able to reproduce because the water is dense enough for osmosis to occur. However, there have been times when the hobbyist was meticulous about the SG level and ich re-occurs. I believe it is because a single, or maybe a few, parasites were late to reproduce and as soon as the osmotic pressure in the tank was suitable (when the SG is being raised) the parasite reproduces. This is rare, but it has happened.

Oh sir Q what memories I have of that thumb but that’s another thread
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
Before making my final water change, I decided to take a water sample to my LFS. My refractors reading of the salinity was 1.010. I was shocked to find out that my refractor was off. Their refractors reading is 1.008. I calibrated my refractor with distilled water but I guess it was not as accurate as I thought it was. How much salt should I add to raise it to 1.009?
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
Originally Posted by roberteb
http:///forum/post/3075485
Before making my final water change, I decided to take a water sample to my LFS. My refractors reading of the salinity was 1.010. I was shocked to find out that my refractor was off. Their refractors reading is 1.008. I calibrated my refractor with distilled water but I guess it was not as accurate as I thought it was. How much salt should I add to raise it to 1.009?
how do you know the LFS's refractometer isn't off?
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3075491
how do you know the LFS's refractometer isn't off?

That was the first question I asked them. He stated that it was calibrated. They are a very highly regarded LFS in my area and I actually trust their refractometer over mine as theirs is of a much better quality. I bought mine from a well known auction site for less than $40.00.
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/3075538
I agree. Who knows when they calibrated it last. I would not raise it. You said that you just calibrated yours right?

I calibrated mine a few weeks ago with distilled water but my refractometer is one of the cheaper ones (WZ201-211).
 
mkroher

mkroher

Member
you can order a "calibration solution" with a set SG level. When i bought mine it came with a solution of 1.026 to calibrate it with.
when i test my ro/di water.. it's 0.
when i test the solution it came with.. it's 1.026
mine was $40 also.
I trust my results. I think you should buy some calibration solution.
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3075762
you can order a "calibration solution" with a set SG level. When i bought mine it came with a solution of 1.026 to calibrate it with.
when i test my ro/di water.. it's 0.
when i test the solution it came with.. it's 1.026
mine was $40 also.
I trust my results. I think you should buy some calibration solution.

I actually ordered calibration solution yesterday.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
well yea lowering the salt is free but raising it up will cost you a hundred bucks compared to 15 for culprimine.
i just finished my copper 10 days ago and i am now removing it.
going to put the rock back in next weekend.
reading has been zero for the last 6 days.
from now on if i see ich it gets copper .but i will hypo any new fish in a qt.
but i got my ich from some corals i added so i set up a 33 gallon tank for new inverts and corals.
i sure the hell aint going through this again if i can help it.
good luck with yours ,since you need to keep the rock alone for at least 6 weeks anyway i would keep the salt at 1.008-1.009 for 5 weeks after you dont see it anymore .i did the hypo on the dt for 4 weeks and it came back 3 or 4 days after i raised the salt.
good luck with your try.
 
beth

beth

Administrator
Staff member
When measuring for hypo you do need to make sure that the refract lens does not have any possibility of salt residual. I clean mine by running distilled water drops over it. Don't wipe, because this could scratch the lens.
Try a glass hydrometer if you have one and see what you get.
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
Originally Posted by mkroher
http:///forum/post/3075491
how do you know the LFS's refractometer isn't off?
I received salinity calibration fluid that I ordered. Their refractometer was wrong. My LFS tested it and stated to me it as at 1.008. After using calibration fluid my salinity was at 1.009. Both refractors were off by .001 in each direction.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
Originally Posted by roberteb
http:///forum/post/3079083
I received salinity calibration fluid that I ordered. Their refractometer was wrong. My LFS tested it and stated to me it as at 1.008. After using calibration fluid my salinity was at 1.009. Both refractors were off by .001 in each direction.
I am glad that you recalibrated yours. Now hold it steady at that SG.
 
roberteb

roberteb

Member
I'm ready to bring salinity up to 1.021. All has gone well with no signs of ich. Currently my salinity is at 1.009. I'll be using a 44 gallon brute to raise the salinity as part of my weekly water changes. My question is what should I have the salinity at in the 44 gallons of water I plan on adding? I was thinking of 1.021 but that may take forever. I will only be adding the water once a week.
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
When I bring my SG up I do small water changes every day with my new water at 1.026, which is my regular SG. It is not a good idea to do large water changes with a higher SG mix. You will cause too much of a drastic change in the SG of the tank water.
 
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