How to lower salinity?

[Porcupine Reefer]

The salinity in my tank is 1.027 and I thought to lower it to 1.025, is there a safe way to lower the salinity of my tank? Thought about just pouring fresh water into my tank and testing the salinity as I go.

 

[AAAReefing]

Just take out some saltwater and add some RO or diluted water, testing as you go. If you have corals in there already I'd do the same thing but just slower and more gradual.

 

[randomfishdude]

Don't have to.... had a tank that ran at .028 for a while. But you can just do wc with .001-.002 lower water. It'll lower faster than you think.

 

[VP616]

Pretty much. Leave the top open, point a power head to the surface (encourage evaporation), then replace with RODI water. Give it an hour and check the salinity. Repeat as necessary.

 

[randomfishdude]

Pretty much. Leave the top open, point a power head to the surface (encourage evaporation), then replace with RODI water. Give it an hour and check the salinity. Repeat as necessary.

What? When is the salt getting removed?

 

[Gtinnel]

If you have a ATO just remove some salt water and let the ATO replace it with fresh water.
Like already mentioned that salinity is fine though.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Pretty much. Leave the top open, point a power head to the surface (encourage evaporation), then replace with RODI water. Give it an hour and check the salinity. Repeat as necessary.

When water evaporates salt is left behind. You will end up with the same salinity

 

[Gtinnel]

Also if you want to see how much saltwater you need to replace with fresh water you can use this tool to calculate it. Although you should always be checking it when making changes and don’t just rely on the calculation.

Target Salinity Calculator

Aquarium calculator; Create a water-change schedule that can be used to reach a target salinity.

www.hamzasreef.com

 

[tritonpower]

Are you dosing 2 part? If so, your salinity may continue to rise. I use soda ash and calcium chloride plus tropic Marin part C. I just remove saltwater and replace with RO slowly. I'm also using kalk now to minimize the salinity rise.

 

[sharkbait-uhaha]

take some salt water out , and let ATO fill tank with RODI.
but I think your salinity is fine how it is now

 

[JayM]

Pretty much. Leave the top open, point a power head to the surface (encourage evaporation), then replace with RODI water. Give it an hour and check the salinity. Repeat as necessary.

That’s not going to lower salinity.

 

[KrisReef]

That’s not going to lower salinity.

It can work fine as long as the powerhead is pointing at the surface and causing some of the tank water to spill over. Replace with RODI or tap on even club soda and the salinity will fall.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

It can work fine as long as the powerhead is pointing at the surface and causing some of the tank water to spill over. Replace with RODI or tap on even club soda and the salinity will fall.

I tried that and it did help, but causes hearing loss. My wife can be quiet loud when she yells.....

 

[MDAquatics]

As others have said, just remove small amounts of saltwater and let the ATO fill it with RODI, or replace the water you took out yourself with RODI. Just do it small amounts at a time and give it a rest in between to allow the salinity to stabilize before you test

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

If you want do to it the safest way possible, Use this calculator: https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/TargetSalinity.php

Removing water & replacing it with RODI water is the fastest but not always the safest if you have sensitive corals.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you want do to it the safest way possible, Use this calculator: https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/TargetSalinity.php

Removing water & replacing it with RODI water is the fastest but not always the safest if you have sensitive corals.

I’m confused about what other way you are suggesting?

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

I’m confused about what other way you are suggesting?

Well, i was suggested this once myself.
It’s a water change plan to drop the salinity, this way you can pick yourself on how fast you wanna drop salinity.
Basically it’s just another way of doing the same thing but safer i guess?

 

[TokenReefer]

I wouldn't think -0.002 change would be an issue but idk. Is it?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well, i was suggested this once myself.
It’s a water change plan to drop the salinity, this way you can pick yourself on how fast you wanna drop salinity.
Basically it’s just another way of doing the same thing but safer i guess?

If you are already doing very frequent very small water changes, sure, lower salinity in the new water works. I did that for rises and falls using my awc.

But if you do regular water changes of 5-10% once in a week or two, the salinity of the new water will need to be pretty low, and that sounds less “safe” to me than replacing 1% of the water each day with fresh.

 

[Reef_at_Sea]

If you are already doing very frequent very small water changes, sure, lower salinity in the new water works. I did that for rises and falls using my awc.

But if you do regular water changes of 5-10% once in a week or two, the salinity of the new water will need to be pretty low, and that sounds less “safe” to me than replacing 1% of the water each day with fresh.

Depends how you calculate it, you can calculate it in a way where you only drop small percentages every time.

But tbh i never used the method myself either.

What you suggest is way easier!!