salt levels 1.021 1.034 1.039 or 1.049?

From what I've read, lower salinites tend to work well for fish only tanks. Fish tend to be less prone to disease/parasites with a lower salinity between 1.021 - 1.024. However, for reef tanks, I think the consensus is a salinity between 1.024 - 1.027 (1.026 being sea water). Hope that helps.

 

I can agree with this. I find that we all "pick a number" and stick to and all is good in the world. My reef is 1.025 I calibrate my refractor every now and again and ensure that my make up water is exactly 1.025. I have my tubs marked for RO/DI level and I measure the salt mix exactly the same each water change. I truly feel the real secret to salinity is consistency.

 

You beat me to it. good post.

 

i keep my reef at .025 and go as far as 0.27 every thing seem's just fine just take it slow reef's do not like alot of change!!! [fast]

 

My refracto said do not calibrate to 0 in a big huge red warning, so im assuming calibrating it with ro would be 0, it could cause it to read wrong. just a suggestion dunno for sure.

 

I stick to 1.025, but yes, keeping the number constant is the most important as long as it is in the 1.023-1.025 range.

I have seen enough accounts of guys moving to 1.025 from a little lower and seeing better coral growth. So I stick with 1.025 based on their experience.

 

hmmm cant believe no one said anyting about the regal tang lol i would not add one to a 55, its just to small

 

interestingly, ive commonly encountered salinities in the gulf of mexico in the 30's. and yes thats with a routinely calibrated meter. calibrated with salinity standards.

 

I keep mine at 1.025 and it usually raises to 1.026 then I bring it back down to 1.025 with a top up. I used to use an ATO but the float valve electronic controller malfunctioned twice and dump 5L of freshwater in the tank which wasn't the best. So now I just manually top up when it goes above 1.025 about every 3-4 days.
I have read quite a few scientific papers where it states that salinity in different seas varies quite a lot between samples...
I'll try and dig one out and post a link

 

http://www.ifremer.fr/docelec/doc/1982/rapport-4452.pdf