water question

[freeworld71]

I bought some premixed saltwater from a very respectable fish store yesterday and came home and topped off my aquarium without doing anything else. Did i miss a step or can you just put it in? I am trying to target why my fish behavior has changed? anyways.

 

[socal57che]

Use fresh water to top off

 

[perfectdark]

Well for one you should never top off your tank with salt water. Salt never evaporates so when topping off due to evaporation fresh ro water is what should be used. Im guessing your salinty is off the chart depending on how much you topped off and how often you have been doing this.

 

[socal57che]

Salt does not evaporate so adding saltwater increases SG/salinity. Use reverse osmosis filtered water (like from the machines at grocery stores) for top-offs.

 

[socal57che]

Measure SG then do some water changes with RO frehwater until you get it back down. Do it gradually unless it's way off.

 

[lexluethar]

Top offs should be done with fresh RO/DI water, because as previously stated salt does not evaporate (you may get some salt creep but that usually is insignificant).
Water changes should be done with saltwater RO/DI because you are taking saltwater out and need to replace the saltwater to keep the SG consistent.

 

[m0nk]

Everyone else already pointed out that you need to top off with fresh RO or RO/DI water, but also, you need to actually test this new water to be sure it has the correct salinity to match your tank if you plan on using it for water changes, too. Personally, I'm not a fan of buying pre-mixed saltwater because you have little control over the actual salinity... and then you'd need to adjust it using either fresh RO or RO/DI water or with more salt and make sure it's well mixed. You also don't know how long they let it mix before selling it to you, so you have no idea if it's well mixed or well aerated.
In addition to making sure the salinity matches your tank, when doing water change with the mixed saltwater, you need to match the temp to the temp in your tank, too. Most people that mix their own water will let it mix for at least 1-2 days in a container with a heater to bring it up to the correct temp.

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by m0nk
In addition to making sure the salinity matches your tank, when doing water change with the mixed saltwater, you need to match the temp to the temp in your tank, too. Most people that mix their own water will let it mix for at least 1-2 days in a container with a heater to bring it up to the correct temp.
And on top of that it is usually a good idea to make sure the pH is similar between 'new' water and the water it is replacing or being added to. With top off water I usually add a buffer to bring the RODI water to a pH of about
8.2.

 

[coralreefer]

you should always use fresh water to top off your aquarium everyday. if you don't, the specific gravity would rise beyond the desired level. I wouldn't recommend buying pre-mixed salt water. I would get myself a hydrometer and mix fresh water with instant ocean sea salt.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by coralreefer
you should always use fresh water to top off your aquarium everyday. if you don't, the specific gravity would rise beyond the desired level. I wouldn't recommend buying pre-mixed salt water. I would get myself a hydrometer and mix fresh water with instant ocean sea salt.
Nix that, I'd buy a refractometer. Hydrometers are notoriously inaccurate.

Salt brand is also a personal preference.

 

[freeworld71]

Well guys, thanks for the replys. I have check salinity and its 1.022. My blue damsels is turning black. Whatever that means?

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by freeworld71
Well guys, thanks for the replys. I have check salinity and its 1.022. My blue damsels is turning black. Whatever that means?
If you have inverts, I would slowly raise it to 1.025 using a refractometer.

 

[freeworld71]

its only two damsels and they are turning black. Does water from the store come sterile or does it have bacteria already in it?

 

[socal57che]

If they tap into the water they have flowing through their system it contains bacteria, but the concentration of bacteria in an aquarium is on surfaces like rock and in sand. It does not contain enough bacteria to effectively seed a tank if that's what you mean.
Can you post a pic of the damsels? How long have they been in there?

 

[socal57che]

If your tank has not cycled the you are poisoning them.

 

[freeworld71]

tank is three weeks into a cycle. They have been great extremely active the last few weeks and all the sudden I put a power head in the tank, topped it off with water from the lfs. And took a small rock out that has been in the tank. I do not have a camera.

 

[socal57che]

I found the answer in this thread.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/303559/question#post_2439344
You have indeed poisoned them. They are hardy and will probably survive, but if you can remove them and return them for store credit, you should. Purchase a coctail shrimp and cycle with it.

 

[freeworld71]

I got a pic if you want it? im not sure how to put it on this site?

 

[lexluethar]

Register at photobucket.com - it is free. Then you can upload your pictures there and copy the links onto this site. Easiest way to do it, and you don't have to sacrific picture quality.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by socal57che
I found the answer in this thread.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/show...44#post2439344
You have indeed poisoned them. They are hardy and will probably survive, but if you can remove them and return them for store credit, you should. Purchase a coctail shrimp and cycle with it.

Cycling tanks with damsels is an outdated, crude, and unnecessary method of cycling. I agree with taking them back to the LFS and getting credit, considering in the end you might not even want them in the tank - damsels are great if left by themselves, but if you ever plan on adding other fish, the damsels could potentially terrorize the newcomers, even to the point of death (there's often a thread about questions on dead or dying fish and the cause ends up being a damsel attack). Get them out while you can and finish the cycle properly, without harming the fish anymore than this process already has. Re-starting and finishing the cycle with a raw cocktail shrimp, or just waiting out the cycle that's already in progress (without the damsels), might be the best course of action.