salinity where does everyone prefer?

deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
just wondering where everyone keep thier salinity at?i know the pet stores keep it a bit lower for some reason i usually keep mine at 1.021 but was wondering if lower is better.i have my new 150 gallon set up and added the salt water last night it reads 1.022 should i keep it there or add a little more salt.i am taking all the fish and lr from my 90 gallon today and moving them over .
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
Your specific gravity is WAY too low. You need to bump it up to at LEAST 1.024. I would recommend 1.026. Do not bump it up more than 0.002 in a 24 hour period though.
What method are you using to test your specific gravity/salinity?
Whatever you do, DO NOT move any livestock into water with 1.021 or 1.022 specific gravity.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
i have a plastic hydrometer.
i just read the old tank and it is 1.022
so i should bump up the new tank to 1.024 for a day or two then up again
to 1.026?
if i bump up the new tank to 1.024
can i transfer the livestock this afternoon?
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
try to get a refractometer for $40. it is much more accurate. when u do ur next water change, just add water that has a higher sg. over time, it will go up.
 
mudplayerx

mudplayerx

Active Member
Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/2781652
i have a plastic hydrometer.
i just read the old tank and it is 1.022
so i should bump up the new tank to 1.024 for a day or two then up again
to 1.026?
if i bump up the new tank to 1.024
can i transfer the livestock this afternoon?
Get a refractometer asap. Your hydrometer is either wildly inaccurate (as many are) or you are not adjusting your value for temperature as required for hydrometers. There is no way anything is surviving in 1.021-1.022 seawater for long.
Here is a calculator to correct your hydrometer reading:
http://hbd.org/cgi-bin/recipator/rec...ydrometer.html
Make sure your temperature reading is in °F.
 
dse

dse

Member
i keep mine at 1.025
if i remember correctly 1.021 was an ok minamum for a fish only tank?? i think it's recomended at least 1.021 in most books to have as a minamum?
i know it's 1.025-1.027 for reefs please do correct me on this as i too would like to know..
p.s i'm not asying 1.021 is good as i do keep mine at 1.025 lol
 
D

dennis210

Guest
Refractor YES! Then for a reef shoot for 35 to 36 parts and on most that will be 1.025 to 1.027.
After you have a refractor slowly change both existing tank and new tank up to those levels.
Do not raise either tank to that level fast, even in the new one you will affect the bacterial colonies trying to form and slow your cycle.
After both are up to that level give it 30 days before adding.
Slow down - nothing good ever happens fast with saltwater systems!
Dennis
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
I AM WAITING TILL THE STORE OPENS THIS MORNING TO BUY SOME SALT AND THE REFRACTOR.
also what temp does everyone like right now it is 78.
i still need to know if i raise the salinity from 1.022 to 1.024 today can i add the livestock.
i plan to us 30 gallons or so from the old tank so the fish are a little more at ease with the water they are in.
 
deejeff442

deejeff442

Active Member
i went to petsmart of coarse they dont have a refractor and the closest salt store id 45 min. from here .i will get there tomarrow.i added some salt it is up to 1.024 .i have two hydrometers and they both have the same reading .i will wait till tomarrow and check it with the refractor to make sure before i do anything.
thanks for all the help
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
You could probably get the refractometer for much cheaper if you use the internet and one of the common popular bidding sites. If you get one at your LFS you'll be paying top dollar. You know the issue now, so you can start to fix it.....start by adding some saltwater instead of RO water for your topoff water, test it with what you have for now, and wait for the refractometer to come in.
Unless, of course, you don't mind spending the money. I'm just speaking form a budget-minded point of view. You go ahead and do what you want!
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
Originally Posted by deejeff442
http:///forum/post/2781827
i went to petsmart of coarse they dont have a refractor and the closest salt store id 45 min. from here .i will get there tomarrow.i added some salt it is up to 1.024 .i have two hydrometers and they both have the same reading .i will wait till tomarrow and check it with the refractor to make sure before i do anything.
thanks for all the help

how did add some salt? did u just add it to the tank?
 
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