Salinity High

[se1an]

My hydrometer reads 1.032 + . The fish and anenomoe and shrooms are fine. Should i lower it or no.

sean

 

[jackri]

Are you sure your hydrometer is calibrated correctly? If it is I would slowly lower it somewhere in the 1.024 - 26 range.

 

[se1an]

Ok how should i do this ive been in the hobby since christmas and should empty a gallon each day and replace it with freshwater or should i do different.

 

[jackri]

How big is your tank?
If it's a smaller tank a pitcher a day would probably work since nothing seems stressed by it.
Has your tank always had this high of salinity or just tested it out of the blue and saw a high number?

 

[se1an]

Its a 29 and when i did a water change last week thats when it got high. i tested it today since i forgot my hydrometer in school setting up a sw tank and i been told from a guy you dont need to test a lot with my fish because he rearly test his and he has at leat 30 sw tanks with corals and other sensitive fish so i kind of lack on testing. But there all fine

 

[jackri]

You really don't need to test unless you do water changes but a smaller system as a 29 will go out of wack a lot faster than larger ones. A 180g tank could do a 5 gallon swap of saltwater to fresh and probably not notice much of a difference at all. Yeah I would just slowly work on bringing it down though.

 

[se1an]

Ok thanks but does the high salinity effect the fish?
I have
1 damse
1 clown
1 blenny
2 firefish

 

[jackri]

Well if recommended levels are 1.022 - 1.026 I would say yes... doesn't seem to be in the short term in your case but long term could be devasting -- no science backing me up.

 

[olemiss]

Have you double checked with a refractometer? Hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate.

 

[se1an]

ok just tested again it is still high. im going to work on it and keep you guys updated but thanks i got 2 do some things now.

 

[coastie81]

good peice of advice is ditch the hydrometer. Spend $40 and get a refractometer, they are much more accurate.

 

[fishlawyer]

Ditch the Hydrometer and use the refraction tools. And yes, get it down to 1.025.

 

[shyfish]

Originally Posted by OleMiss
http:///forum/post/2979574
Have you double checked with a refractometer? Hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate.
++1 DO NOT lower the water until you double check using another hydrometer! It won't do you any good to use the same one. Also rinse the one you are using in hot fresh water to make sure it is clean and not clogged up with salt residue.

 

[cleve_seahorse]

++1 DO NOT lower the water until you double check using another hydrometer! It won't do you any good to use the same one. Also rinse the one you are using in hot fresh water to make sure it is clean and not clogged up with salt residue.[/QUO
or get your sg tested at your lfs

 

[aquaknight]

Agreed. DON'T change anything till either you buy a refractometer (hopefully), or get the water checked at the LFS by a refractometer, or at the minimum try a 2nd hydrometer.
As someone who tried xenia, a plate coral, and a brain coral in 1.030 water, the corals should have been died already. They didn't last more then 2 hours.

 

[nycbob]

everyone should hv a refractometer along with hydrometer as backup in this hobby. its called getting a 2nd opinion.