Tank water not salty enough?

[spencka]

In the past week, I've had two new Six Line Wrasse die. After the first Wrasse died, I tested my water, and everything was within limits.
So, I took the dead fish back to LFS and received a new one. The next morning - it was dead.
As for how I introduced the new fish - I first floated the bag in my aquarium for about two hours. Then I poured the fish and about half the LFS water into a tub. Then I dripped my tank water into the tub for another hour, then with a net - transfer the new fish into the tank.
This morning, I took a water sample to another LFS. They informed me that my salt level was way too low. I was advised to put in 2 - 2 1/2 cups of salt into a 5 gal. bucket, then siphon 2 gal. of my tank water into this bucket.
I use a refractometer and my tank water reads 1.025 - isn't this ideal? Could it be wrong? I did calibrate when I first got it, about four months ago, I haven't re-calibrated, is this necessary?
I just checked the salt level of the water I mixed per LFS advice and it is 1.063 - do you all agree that this is good advice? He also suggested that when I add it to the tank, that I add it through the wet/dry, not directly into the tank.
Thanks for any help!
Steve

 

[tizzo]

Originally Posted by spencka
I just checked the salt level of the water I mixed per LFS advice and it is 1.063 - do you all agree that this is good advice?

I see a red flag here, but not sure why...could you rephrase this please... I am thinking that the LFS told you to mix a certain amount per gallon and what you ended up with was 1.063...is that right??
1.025 is what it's supposed to be so your tank is OK, I am curious as to where that 1.063 came from...

 

[speg]

Did they happen to mention what your salt level was? If you're showing 1.025 and after you use their directions you see 1.063.... something may be wrong with your refractometer. Go to the store and pick up some distilled water and use some in your refractometer and see what it reads... it should be zero.. if not then you may have calibrated the refractometer incorrectly.
1.063 is insanely high.. not much is going to survive in that at all. 1.025 is good for invert tanks. Fish only tanks have good results with like 1.020-22.
Check your refractometer and let us know.

 

[superhero]

Originally Posted by spencka
I just checked the salt level of the water I mixed per LFS advice and it is 1.063 - do you all agree that this is good advice? He also suggested that when I add it to the tank, that I add it through the wet/dry, not directly into the tank.

Wow thats like dead sea like right there, ur refractometer is cialibrated wrong b/c everythign would be dead if it was taht high so jsu use the distlled water test to c if its right like speg said

 

[spencka]

No, I definitely threw you all off. What they want me to do is remove a couple gallons from my tank, add 2 to 2 1/2 cups "instant Ocean salt", dilute in the 2 gallons I removed, then re-add that to my tank. The goal is to raise my salt level.
The trouble is, I tested my water a couple times before adding this mixture, and my refratometer says I have 1.025 - which is what I think I'm looking for!
They tested my water with a float type S.G. tester. I use the refractormeter, which I calibrated 4 months ago, when it was new. I have not re-calibrated since.
Now, I have a couple gallons of high level salt water, which is reading 1.063, and I don't know if I should mix it with my exisitng water?
Obviously, when I add this "high octane" stuff to my water, it will also dilute - I just don't know how healthy this will be for my water, if my refractometer is correct?

 

[speg]

You dont want to add high salinity water to your tank water like that.... thats not a good idea.

 

[hot883]

Floating for 2 HOURS is a no no too. I'm surprised noone commented on that. The fish in a bag creates alot of waste from stress and you are basically keeping him in high nitrates. Float for 10-15 minutes just to acclimate the bag water, then slowly add tank water 1/2 cup or so every 15-20 minutes and so on..................Or drip.

 

[speg]

Its not really that big of a deal. How long do you think fish sit in a bag when they come from a online dealer? Sure they are sitting in their own ammonia, but 2 hours isnt bad.

 

[reefreak29]

how did u calibrate your refractrometer?

 

[spencka]

I cleaned the surfaces with a dry towel. I put about three or four drops of Distilled water on the "window", looked through the eyepiece, and adjusted the adjustment screw until it read zero.
Pretty simple! As it turns out, my refractometer wasn't off by much. I took another salinity reading after making a minor adjustment, the reading was 1.023 - which I believe is still within tolerance.

 

[sawsman]

first thing you should do is recalibrate your refractometer just to make sure. then check it ( your water )again. next thing you should test all other parameters and post. how old is your tank? any other fish?
specific grav. of 1.025 is good. acclimation seemed ok other than the two hour float... little long.
-sawsman

 

[sawsman]

sorry 1.023 is fine also.