Hi Salinity

[Stingray]

Just wondering my salinity is still pretty high 1.028 has been like this for about 5 weeks now, what if any bad things might i get happen if i do not reduce them to a more stable level, fish have been in there 2 weeks 2 damsels 1 midas blenny?

[coral reefer]

A higher salinity level is not that bad! Salinity levels in the Red Sea and certain reef biotopes contain higher salinity levels than other areas with no ill effects.
The main thing to realize regarding salinity is the effect it has on alkalinity. Alkalinity works in the same fashion as salinity meaning if your salinity level is high, chances are your alkalinity level is as well. contrary, if you reduce your salinity level, you will also be reducing your alkalinity level as well.
Due to this scenario, calcium and pH will also have to be considered and tested.
It is always best to maintain stable water parameters, but if you do have one or more water parameters that are out of whack, remember to reduce or raise the variable slowly to alleviate negative repercussions and possibly the death of livestock!!!

[Stingray]

ok will do coral reefer and thank you for being so informative, karma to you...

[Tangster]

First off what are you using to test the Salinity of the water ? A refractometer or a floating hydrometer or a swing arm type gage meter, That would be my first question, Also I have never heard of salinity having any effects on Alkalinity or Ca other then if you do weekly water changes with fresh new saltwater then theses levels will be replenished to some degree .

Now at a True Salinity of 1.028 you really have nothing to worry about red sea for instance runs on average of 1.029 to 1.031 Only thing about really high salinity levels is lower oxygen as the denser saltwater makes it harder to hold dissolved oxygen.

Now having said all this to put your mind at ease for fear of harming your animals all you need to do is first make sure the 1.028 level is a true level and then if it is just pull out few gallons of saltwater and replace it with good R/O D.I Freshwater.. to lower it..

[nemo1991]

^^ well put tangster, the past couple days in my area it gets like 90-95 lately during the midst of the summer it will reach like 103 105 area, yay rocklin! ahha, and the evaporation has made my salinity go way up, and when i notice that, my fish act different (and my blue tang got ich after it did) so i just added like 2 gallons of fresh ro water

[Stingray]

My Salinity is tested with a correctly calibrated refractometer, i am aware the hydrometers can be unaccurate, also the lfs told me you need to add the minerals back into the ro/water tried to sell me some powder stuff is this right you guys?

[mandarin11]

They're just trying to sell you something. Those 'minerals' are added every time you do a water change because they are in your salt.

[Tangster]

Originally Posted by Stingray

My Salinity is tested with a correctly calibrated refractometer, i am aware the hydrometers can be unaccurate, also the lfs told me you need to add the minerals back into the ro/water tried to sell me some powder stuff is this right you guys?

Aragomite ??? LOL its a good product but its just the dust all wash from their new sand.. Also as I mentioned Just add more freshwater or remove some saltwater and replace with freshwater to maintain the sump water level you run now .. So I'd just remove a know amount of saltwater and replace it with F/W at the same amount.. As for the mineral replenisher save your money..

[Stingray]

ok will do, topped up with ro/water today + 20 litres new water no salt to get my salinity down, Water parameters are now...

Salinity 1.025, will get this to around 1.023 gives me a bit of play due to evaporation.
ph-8.3
Ammonia-0ppm
Nitrite-0ppm
Nitrate-10ppm
Phosphates-0.03ppm

55 gallon, lees medium skimmer, 15kg l/r, still adding fully cured every couple of weeks, 6kg ocean rock, 16kg sand, 1xkoralia 2 2300lph + 1xsunsun 3000lph, powerheads.

My tank has now been running for 6 weeks for the last 2 i have been slowly adding inverts & live stock, but don't worry i am done for now maybe 1 more in a couple of months, my stock is.
2xlarge hermit crabs
1xsea hare-hitchiker
1xcoral banded shrimp
1xcleaner shrimp
5xturbo snails
1xtiger sand sifting snail
1xlong spiny urchin
1xcrab looks like a gorilla hitchiker
1xnudibranch, hitchiker unfortunatley got sucked into the inlet pipe of the filter, cleaned him out of there pronto but he died.
1xblue yellow tailed damsel
1xneon damsel
1xmidas blenny
1xghost goby, excellent sand turnover rate, keeps the cyano at bay...

All fish & inverts semm happy and lively the hermits have both shredded & i'm getting coral algae spots in quite a few places.

The tank has been running now for a week with all this stock and to me parameters seem fine, getting same reading every day and been feeding brine & mysis shrimp.+Garlic

Would just like to know what some of you guys think, is this ok have i too much , are water params ok, equipment good pointers & constructive critiscim welcome, sorry about the drawn out reply...

[Tangster]

You no to never top off with any saltwater don't you ? I have seen it done by many , just asking (: