Help

[Drake29]

I am thinking my protein skimmer is the reason why my salinity is low. I have had problems with my salinity ever since I start using my protein skimmer. Is this common?

 

[Rmckoy]

I am thinking my protein skimmer is the reason why my salinity is low. I have had problems with my salinity ever since I start using my protein skimmer. Is this common?

If you’re skimming wet and your ato of filling the tank with rodi .
it’s possible .

ato is designed to replace what’s evaporated as salt remains in the system , freshwater added compensates for what’s evaporated .
If the skimmer is skimming wet , it’s also removing some salt along with water

 

[tattedupabe]

I am thinking my protein skimmer is the reason why my salinity is low. I have had problems with my salinity ever since I start using my protein skimmer. Is this common?

i don't think the protein skimmer would have any effect on your salt levels. what other equipment are you using any ATO ?

 

[Drake29]

Yes I’m using a ATO and my lfs said to top off with saltwater but it’s was at 1.021 and went up to 1.023 but it’s been like that’s for 2 weeks

 

[Rmckoy]

Yes I’m using a ATO and my lfs said to top off with saltwater but it’s was at 1.021 and went up to 1.023 but it’s been like that’s for 2 weeks

Ato should not be saltwater .
salt doesn’t evaporate and that will only cause salinity to go up .
Top off with freshwater !

 

[Rmckoy]

Sounds like a reputable lfs .

 

[BostonReefer300]

One somewhat common mistake people make with skimmers is having the skimmate drain directly to into a drain rather than collect in a cup. If you collect in a cup, you can tell if your skimmer is over-active and needs to be trimmed down. If you're directly draining it, you usually wouldn't notice this over-activity and you'd be constantly draining saltwater out of your aquarium---and replacing with auto-top-off water (which is usually and should be RODI). Therefore, your salinity would drop because of this. Even if you're collecting in your cup, but needing to dump it out frequently, you're going to have the same problem

 

[tattedupabe]

Change the ato to fresh water

 

[Cell]

Something not adding up. You are not topping with saltwater if your salinity is too low.

 

[Cell]

Oh nevermind, that was the LFS response to the low salinity, which is the right thing to do to bring it back up slowly.