Salt level Question

fla. keys

fla. keys

Member
What is the lowest salt level to maintain a healthy reef tank. I know the norms are like 1.024ish but what is the lowest I can go.
I have a 125 gallon part reef, live sand, a couple damsels in there now and my salt levels are too low I think at like 1.017
Are my live rock/fish going to die at this level?
 
uncle fester

uncle fester

Member
Salt level of 1.017 should not kill anything IF that level is raised slowly. Lowering salinity is another way to treat ich in a reef tank w/out copper use. I've run a tank at 1.017 for a month and had no losses, but not what I'd want to do if not treating for ich.
 
predator

predator

Active Member
I personally keep mine a .026 but have had it as low as .019. Just be careful. I know someone who killed a couple inverts do to there salinity being to low.
 
ren

ren

Member
Yes. also Don't treat a reef with hyposalinity. Hypo is dropping to 1.009 and fish only can survive this. If you don't drop to 1.009 then your not doing hypo and the ick will still be present. The best way to 'treat' a reef tank is remove the fish for about 4 weeks. Treat the fish in a FO hospital tank and the ick in the reef will die due to no host.
Raise your salinity to a specific gravity of around 1.023 to 1.025 SLOWLY like over 2 weeks. Once ya get into the 'ideal range' you'll see more stability and critter life. Also, better keep an eye on Ph. as it will change with SG.
 
predator

predator

Active Member
Uncle Fester, B&B ois the enemy so to speak. There are two more stores now that only carry saltwater. Proggresive Marine and Ocean Treasures. Both are great stores and not only carry quality stuff but at great prices. The owners are very nice and can give good advice as well work with you on alot of diffrent things.
 
kris

kris

Member
.026 predator??? why so high????
I agree .023-.025 is norm--
I'm kind of confused fl. keys--if your salt level is too low, why not just fix it(slowly of course to avoid shock) Are you considering keeping it there??? Trying to conserve on salt perhaps????
 
uncle fester

uncle fester

Member
Thanks Pred, I'll remember that when I go home to visit. Feel free to e-mail me at nicholas@wcc.net and let me know how things progress in the hobby down there.
 
salty james

salty james

Member
Err.... **** ....
I have raised my sl up from 1.009 to 1.016 since sunday...
what to do I do ?
Help save fish
<img src="graemlins//eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" />
 
fishfreek

fishfreek

Active Member
salty james, are you using hypo to treat for ick? In that case just keep bringing it up SLOWLY. I'd say bring SG up .002-.003 each day(doing water changes) to get to your normal salinity. Sounds like you are doing fine.
 
salty james

salty james

Member
Yep.. learnt the hard way about ich...removed fish..treated with hypo..putting fish into main tank (29) this weekend...total elapsed days.....35
:D
 
josh

josh

Active Member
Hi,
I keep mine at 1.026 @ 80deg or 35ppt.
You should be fine just raise it very slowly, possiably even by a drip method.
Josh
 
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