I didnt check salinity. Crap. Its super low

Jennyw · Nov 5, 2019

We accidently filled up with RODI instead of Salt water. Its a 32 biocube, and we changed water a couple days ago. Corals have looked angry since, but its my sons tank and I didnt check the salinity, thought he had. Today, I noticed the water level was a bit low and added more water. Yep- more RO water. It got put in the wrong jug.

SO.... I am warming up more salt water(it was stored in the garage and its cold), but I only have 5 gallons and the LFS isnt open til tommorrow. I dont have dry salt.

How do I do this? If I add all 5 gallons, that wont be enough. If I move the corals over to the new salt water I will shock them. Please help

Tank salinity 1.015- about 30 gallons

Salt water available- 1.025 about 5 gallons

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 5, 2019

What is the current salinity in the tank and what is the salinity of the premixed water in storage? Salinity changes can affect corals, but all is not lost. Let's start working the problem by doing a mixing calculation once you have some salinity numbers.

Jennyw · Nov 5, 2019

I have 5 gallons of premixed salt water, 1.025

I have 30 gallons of tank water that is at 1.015

Jennyw · Nov 5, 2019

I just took all rock and coral and inverts out of tank, put it in a bucket with about 1.5 gallons of water at 1.015 and added a couple cups of warmed 1.025 water. I figured its like major drip acclimating. Hopefully this wastn a dumb idea?

vetteguy53081 · Nov 5, 2019

Jennyw said:
I have 5 gallons of premixed salt water, 1.025

I have 30 gallons of tank water that is at 1.015

raise the new salt to 1.032 and then add a cup of it every 15 minutes.

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 5, 2019

So, you'll have to warm that water up and add it to the tank. The speed won't matter a lot as long as the temperature is correct because the salinity will only increase to around 1.016-1.017. You will have to repeat this several times to get the salinity into the targeted range.

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 5, 2019

As @vetteguy53081 mentioned, you will need to either get some salt mix or at least more premixed water to raise the salinity.

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 5, 2019

Jennyw said:
I just took all rock and coral and inverts out of tank, put it in a bucket with about 1.5 gallons of water at 1.015 and added a couple cups of warmed 1.025 water. I figured its like major drip acclimating. Hopefully this wastn a dumb idea?

This is actually a very good idea if you can get the bucket to the right salinity and temperature while adjusting the main tank salinity. Just make sure you have water movement/aeration in the bucket.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 5, 2019

If you don't have salt or $$ for salt, Most reputable LFS will sell SW at 1.26 for 1.10/gal or you can borrow a 5 gal bucket of tank water from them especially if theyre due for a water change AND YES _ equalize temp before you add it to tank

Jennyw · Nov 5, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
raise the new salt to 1.032 and then add a cup of it every 15 minutes.

I cant! I dont have any dry salt

Jennyw · Nov 5, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
If you don't have salt or for salt, Most reputable LFS will sell SW at 1.26 for 1.10/gal or you can borrow a 5 gal bucket of tank water from them especially if theyre due for a water change AND YES _ equalize temp before you add it to tank

Its only open wed- sunday. I left a voice mail and textted the emergency number.

vetteguy53081 · Nov 5, 2019

Jennyw said:
I cant! I dont have any dry salt

If you don't have $$ salt for salt, Most reputable LFS will sell SW at 1.026 for 1.10/gal or you can borrow a 5 gal bucket of tank water from them especially if theyre due for a water change AND YES-equalize temp before you add it to tank