Specific Gravity

[brsdr32]

What should the optimal SG be in a established tank? Would the SG depend on what you have in the tank?
I have read some posts about what people have and their SG and most people are saying that their SG is 1.025, mine is right below that 1.020. This is what my LFS recommended the settings be. They even recalibrated my hydrometer.
My fish are doing great, but I am having trouble keeping shrimp and anemones in there. Could this be the reason, but the fish are doing great.

 

[bigarn]

IMO..1.020 is to low for a reef tank. A specific gravity of 1.025 is more like it. The important thing here is your actual salinity reading. 35ppt is an optimal reading for the salinity of a reeftank. The salinity reading takes into account the SG and water temp.

 

[brsdr32]

Would the low salinity have anything to do with my anemones dying? And shrimp too?

 

[bigarn]

Inverts do better with a higher salinity.

 

[pontius]

your fish could thrive at 1.020 but inverts need higher.

 

[brsdr32]

Would my fish do ok at 1.025?

 

[clarkiiclo]

The fish will be fine but if they have been at the 1.020 level you will want to bring up the salinity slowly. It can stress them out.

 

[alohami]

If you want an accurate reading, you need to invest in a refractometer. They run about $50.00. I've also been told that it is more accurate to measure salinity rather than specific gravity. Salinity should be between 35-37ppm. hth.