High Salinity effect 1.033+ (don’t use Hydrometers)

[Oshengems]

I’m no expert but just wanted to share my experience so far in regards to high salinity effects I have noticed on my 75g mix reef,

Tank:
75g corner overflow
20g Sump
Maxspect razor 16k 42” model (first year of the tank)
Switch to x2 Radions G4 non pro been running for about 4-5 months by the time of this post
Bubble Magus 3.5 switched to
Reed Octopus 110-s on a schedule not on 24/7
MP40
Jabeo RW-8
Apex controller
Apex DOS
Apex ATO
~ 100lb LR
40lb dry sand
20lb crush corals
20lb live sand

lil background on my expriance like I stated before by far I’m no expert but this is my 3rd SW tank 2nd reef attempt current tank 1 year 6 months. when I first stared my tank I used some the old equipment from my old tank including an old hydrometer from Red Sea great brand started the tank with a specific gravity of 1.025 according to the hydrometer for the sake of it took a sample to my LFS and found out my garvity was a af 1.021 the hydrometer was faulty because we like to cut corners bought another hydrometer brought upped my salt to 1.026 according to the new, took a sample to LFS again salinity at 1.023 another faulty Hydro did some ghetto calculations and figured I’m at 1.029-30 according to The new one I should be close to my desire 1.025-26 forgot all about it neve took samples again Tank was booming everything is thriving except blastos a few months in 2 to be exact tossed in some other blastos by far my favorite corals died in a few days went into the forums looking for answers Nada! Like everything in this hobby too many variables to determine gave up on them. Totally forgot about my salinity wasn’t doing water changes for months just top off. Gave up on the blastos started with SPS Oregon Blue Tort and birndnest the Tort within weeks got pale BN also lost a bit of its shine but dint pay much mind they ok specially the BN growing like weeds of course added a few more cheap sps but noticed all my sps lost their shine compare to how they were introduced. I had added a 2-3” Maxima clam which did great from the jump in my tank so kinda made it confusing to me why this “sensible” tiny clam is doing great in my sand bed but my sps are not, acros got a bit pale and refused to grow but never died added a miyagi Tort which actually looked better in my tank than the owners tank it colored up great but the other acros trash!! made it more confusing after weeks of research concluded it was the Maxspect switch to Radions saw a bit of a pop on my acros still no growth. All so confusing my across get pale. Decided to buy a refractormeter my salinity was at 45ppm for the first first year of my tank!!! Yes no Ill effect besides pale acros(some) and extremely slow growth and dying blastos! Mushrooms I thought just always detached because of the high flow and light although they are hid in the corner of my tank but even they have settled in just a month and a half after adjusting my salinity my tank is tanking new life!!! Everything looks happy

Yes cutting corners in this hobby at times can lead to fustrations on the refractormeter tip! Don’t calibrate with destile water I did and few days later bought the 35ppm calibration fluid it was off by almost 5 points Huge difference tested it 3 times and yes destile water does not calibrate it correctly

Just to put in perspective the corners I decided to cut, hydrometer $25 bucks at petco hydrometer $35 with tax... for sure i have lost more than $80 on blastos alone of my cut corners!!!

blastos are ALIVEEEE IN MY TANK NOW!!!

So yes corals can live in High salinity but will be stunned at least for most acros that was my observation.

Just to share my stock of corals:
Hammers grow fast
Torches grow fast
Mushrooms split crazy but never stay alway detached
Millie’s get pale and lil extension slow to no growth
Acros ya already know some good others horrible
Blastos die
Deep water across grow fast just like BN only had red dragon
Galaxia fine
Chyphestras did Ok
Zoas did Ok but are were a bit on the slow side
GSP is unbreakable
Clam doing fine
Anemones never settle neeeeeverrrrrr
Plates corals get pale
Lobos actually color up nice
Fish all Ok

Just wanted to share my experience so far will

Here’s a few pics of course of my nicer looking corals lol

 

[Diesel]

Woow!!
In order to finish reading this thread it took me 27 miles as I’m driving

 

[Oshengems]

lol and trust me I didn’t go into details I try to pay close attention to my tank and the fact that it’s in my room right I notice everything just wanted to share because as hobby we tend to keep our mistake quiet unless we are desperate on forums and even then people never follow up on results when they get positive advice that helps them lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks for the report. As you suggest, some organisms do fine at quite high salinity, but some may not.

 

[Sunny Goold]

This was super helpful. I did a water change with water I thought I had checked with my hanna checker before my last water change. I just checked to make sure and it read 42ppt. I did some recalibrated and still 42. So I did some research and got it down over a couple of hours to under 39. Then I read this and thought - well it's gotta be ok and maybe worse bringing it down anymore. I borrowed a refractometer and 34.5... hmmm
So I am just leaving it - this article really gives me confidence.
Now 24 hours later I will make up some salt water and see if I can calibrate the refractometer and try and work out where we at
Thanks

 

[Crabs McJones]

Great read. I just found out I'm dealing with the same issue with one exception. I bought the more expensive equipment, but the calibration solution was outdated and my tank was running at 1.30! Acros and everything growing but no coloration out of them. I'm hoping now that I have new calibration solution and am working on adjusting my tanks salinity that everything will color up

 

[JimWelsh]

my tank was running at 1.30!

Sooo... that's not really possible. Do you perhaps mean 1.030?