specific gravity

[kennedy]

I am confused on the specific gravity that is ideal for a reef tank.
The pet store said 1.019 so parasites would not be a problem. So that is what i had it at and my corals looked bad
then i let some water evaporate the gravity went up to 1.024 and my corals
look great. What is the ideal gravity.

 

[jsgreer1]

imo 1.023 but i could be wrong.

 

[1journeyman]

1.025 is the ocean... hard to go wrong with that.
Your pet store is incorrect. Salinity that low imho is stressful to the fish and lethal to inverts.

 

[oreo12]

I keep my fish only at 1.025 and my reef at 1.027 my corals are starting to out grow the tank.

 

[tim_12]

The specific gravity of the ocean is closer to 1.027. Most people with reef thanks keep it at 1.025 - 1.027. 1.019 is fine for a FO system provided you do a long acclimation. That low of a specific gravity will not provide ideal conditions for corals and inverts, which are far more sencetive to lower levels of salt.