Glove/daisy polyp placement suggestions

[19frank90]

Are you calibrating it with calibration fluid? I use the same refractometer and I have to use fluid before testing or it will be off.

Haven’t used calibration fluid but I’ve been using distilled water to calibrate it to 0 ppt (at least that’s why one of the guys at the fish store said to do).

 

[DSC reef]

I would get some calibration fluid. You'll be surprised how off that refractometer can be. I highly recommend getting some. I use aqua craft, my wife gets it from saltwateraquarium.com

 

[19frank90]

I would get some calibration fluid. You'll be surprised how off that refractometer can be. I highly recommend getting some. I use aqua craft, my wife gets it from saltwateraquarium.com

I’ll get some and check it out, thanks.

The salt mix I use is 1/2 cup mix per gallon to get a 1.021 or 1.022 sg, so I usually add another 1/2 - 1 cup.

When I get premixed water at LFS they keep it at 1.024, so a reading of 1.023 is probably close to accurate.

 

[DSC reef]

I’ll get some and check it out, thanks.

The salt mix I use is 1/2 cup mix per gallon to get a 1.021 or 1.022 sg, so I usually add another 1/2 - 1 cup.

When I get premixed water at LFS they keep it at 1.024, so a reading of 1.023 is probably close to accurate.

I mix the same with reef crystals for my wife's nano, half a cup per gallon comes out to 1.024-25 for me using reef crystals. I calibrate every time before checking salinity.

 

[19frank90]

I mix the same with reef crystals for my wife's nano, half a cup per gallon comes out to 1.024-25 for me using reef crystals. I calibrate every time before checking salinity.

Do you use instant ocean or another brand?

 

[DSC reef]

Instant ocean reef crystals for my wife's nano, red sea coral pro for the 75 reef

 

[reefwiser]

Natural Sea dKH is 7.5 to 8.5 When one gets above that one runs into issues with coral health. Many corals do not do well with high Alk levels constantly.
The high level in salt mixes is to help people who do not want to dose cal and alk in their aquarium and would rather do water changes. Maintaining high alk at 10 dkh will cause burnt tips on SPS corals an can suppress coral growth.

 

[19frank90]

I’ll try switching to Red Sea coral pro and see if my levels were, at least partially, due to IO reef crystals having higher levels.

 

[reefwiser]

What salt mix would you recommend then?

Try Red Sea blue bucket mixes to a Alk level of 8 dkh. Small aquariums those under 120 gallons can fluctuate or maintain I High level of Alk when using a high Alk salt mix for water changes.
Always shoot to maintain Natural sea water levels in your aquarium water.

 

[19frank90]

Progress!

 

[DSC reef]

I'm sorry but I would not switch salts. I've kept our tanks at 10dkh for many years and never had an issue and I dose to keep it there. Just my opinion, I think you'll cause more issues switching salts at this point. I'd focus on getting calibration fluid and keep things stable.

 

[19frank90]

I'm sorry but I would not switch salts. I've kept our tanks at 10dkh for many years and never had an issue and I dose to keep it there. Just my opinion, I think you'll cause more issues switching salts at this point. I'd focus on getting calibration fluid and keep things stable.

That’s kind of what I was thinking too. Might throw more off than it helps.