Salinity Levels

[bugsman]

I've been keeping an eye on my salinity level. I just got a refractometer and it's reading 1.024 and it's taken me a while to get it there.. Saturday I'm due for a water change of about 3 gallons ( I have a 28 gallon nano cube). The last time I did a water change with plain fresh RO water, it took my salinity level down to 1.020 and I've had to keep topping it off with salt water. My question is do I do my water change with salt water or plain RO water? The tank is closed up so I don't have much evaporation really. I only top off about every 3 or so days and not that much. I have 2 clowns, cleaner shrimp, CUC, zoas (small group) and a brain maze coral. The tank is doing well and I don't want to mess it up. Advice please.

 

[scott t]

Quote:
Originally Posted by bugsman http:///forum/thread/387138/salinity-levels#post_3403936
I've been keeping an eye on my salinity level. I just got a refractometer and it's reading 1.024 and it's taken me a while to get it there.. Saturday I'm due for a water change of about 3 gallons ( I have a 28 gallon nano cube). The last time I did a water change with plain fresh RO water, it took my salinity level down to 1.020 and I've had to keep topping it off with salt water. My question is do I do my water change with salt water or plain RO water? The tank is closed up so I don't have much evaporation really. I only top off about every 3 or so days and not that much. I have 2 clowns, cleaner shrimp, CUC, zoas (small group) and a brain maze coral. The tank is doing well and I don't want to mess it up. Advice please.
you should always do Water changes with mixed saltwater of the same Salinity as the tank. You use plain RO/DI water for top offs.

 

[keimaxbode]

I'm new also, but it is my understanding that water changes are done with salt water and top offs are done with RO freshwater. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along to give you better information.
Diana

 

[saltwaterdud3]

+3 Salt doesn't evaporate. Only the water does. You match your salinity in your tank to your freshly mixed saltwater for water changes and always top off with Fresh RO/DI water. I preferably top off with fresh kalkwasser mix... but that's another story

 

[bugsman]

Thanks much for the info. I've been doing it wrong. I'll do it right from here on in.

 

[flower]

Use Ro water and a good salt mix.....Use a power head to churn the new mixed salt 24 hours before you use it, and be sure the SG in the mixing tub (after the 24 hours) is the same as what is in the tank. Remove the old tank water, and replace the exact same amount with the new mixed saltwater. This is called a water change
Like SaltwaterDud3 said....Water evaporates but salt does not, so mark your fish tanks water level and if it drops...add enough FRESH (not salt) RO water to bring the water line back to the original place. This is called a top off
Hope this helps to make things a little clearer