Increasing salinity from 33 to 35 - soon or slow

[balajeek15]

My apex probe always showed me 35ppt and the refractometer showed near 35, but i found out yesterday after getting Hanna that the salinity of my 73g tank is 32.6ppt, also verified with borrowed refractometer and it shows around 33ppt. I contacted apex about the probe discrepancy and they asking me to calibrate with 35ppt solution (which i plan to do this evening)

While i deal with apex probe issue, whats the best way to increase the salinity from 32.6 to 35?
Can i do it at one time or do it gradually, if gradually how often?

1. Remove 12 G and then add 12 G @ 40 ppt
In order to reach 33.58 ppt.

2. Remove 12 G and then add 12 G @ 40 ppt
In order to reach 34.42 ppt.

3. Remove 12 G and then add 12 G @ 38.8 ppt
In order to reach 35 ppt.

 

[LesPoissons]

do you have anything crazy sensitive in the tank? Id do #3 but thats just me. If you want to do it carefully, go to 33 then 34 then 35 over a week or so.

 

[balajeek15]

do you have anything crazy sensitive in the tank? Id do #3 but thats just me. If you want to do it carefully, go to 33 then 34 then 35 over a week or so.

2 green BTA, 1 Sherman, 2 torch, hammer, green Goni, 2 orange richordo, small green leather, acan orange 3", 2 tiny acans and favia , 2 GSP, 5 different zoas (all 3 or 4 polyps), 1 med polyp colony with around 40 polyps, 2 pulsing xenia

 

[cCRAWLINS]

May as well take your time if all your live stock is doing alright. I would move it up by 1 PPT every 1-2 days

 

[lapin]

If your stuff likes 33 then 33 it is. Why change it?

 

[balajeek15]

If your stuff likes 33 then 33 it is. Why change it?

I am not sure if they like it, but thought 35ppt is all we maintain and why not keep the standard. Also most stuff i buy from online or lfs all have 35ppt.

 

[lapin]

I am not sure if they like it, but thought 35ppt is all we maintain and why not keep the standard.

I wish mine could talk and tell me stuff too.
I keep my tank at 1.025 = 33.2 If i did the conversion correctly. My corals grow and my anemone has trippled in size over 3 months. I believe its an ok parameter.

 

[Rams54]

I finally gave in and bought an Ice Cap refract and Temp. I stick it the water, push the button and it shows salinity, press it 2 more times and it shows the temp, easy peasy. It's just a little pricy. Got mine at my lfs for $65.00 plus tax. It takes seconds to get the salinity and temp. readings. Believe me , you won't use your refract. only for backup.

 

[Auquanut]

What I would do if you want to increase to 35 ppt is top off with water at your target salintiy instead of RODI until you get to 35. All tanks evaporate, and if you top off with salt water, combined with regular water changes at you target salinity, you should get to where you want to be without shocking the tank. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[balajeek15]

I finally gave in and bought an Ice Cap refract and Temp. I stick it the water, push the button and it shows salinity, press it 2 more times and it shows the temp, easy peasy. It's just a little pricy. Got mine at my lfs for $65.00 plus tax. It takes seconds to get the salinity and temp. readings. Believe me , you won't use your refract. only for backup.

Hanna is the same, just stick in the water and it shows salinity and tmp at the same time, it also compensate salinity based on tmp.

 

[balajeek15]

What I would do if you want to increase to 35 ppt is top off with water at your target salintiy instead of RODI until you get to 35. All tanks evaporate, and if you top off with salt water, combined with regular water changes at you target salinity, you should get to where you want to be without shocking the tank. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Thats a neat idea, i like that

 

[sfin52]

I agree top off with salt water.

 

[balajeek15]

I got some coral frags last night and when i tested the salinity from those tiny specimen cups it was 30.4, can be this low? I tested after matching with my tank tmp though, corals are in excellent health and he has great tanks. Does salinity differ while in shipping or transport?

 

[Rams54]

Just remember that water will evaporate, but the salt won't. You probably new that. Do you have an ATO (Auto Top Off)? I put some salt in the water reservoir and when the water drops the ATO will slowly add salt to the tank to bring it where you want it.
To help the salt dissolve, so it doesn't put undissolved salt straight into the tank. I use a 6 bladed paint mixer from Home Depot. There are 1 gallon and 5 gallon mixers. Just put water and salt in a bucket. I have 6 from HDepot. Anyway it mixes salt very fast. If something happens and you need mixed salt fast you can use the paddle. They are only $6.00 in the paint dept. here, I don't know what the cost where you are. It's a time saver.
Good luck....Mark

 

[balajeek15]

Actually i did both, changed 12 gal water @ 40ppt on the weekend and then filled up a container for ATO with salt water instead of RODI. Yes i have the Auto Top off and whole other setup by neptune apex.

Its increase from 32.6 to 33.6 now. I will have to watch it twice a day until i reach may be around 34.6

Thanks.

 

[balajeek15]

Just remember that water will evaporate, but the salt won't. You probably new that. Do you have an ATO (Auto Top Off)? I put some salt in the water reservoir and when the water drops the ATO will slowly add salt to the tank to bring it where you want it.
To help the salt dissolve, so it doesn't put undissolved salt straight into the tank. I use a 6 bladed paint mixer from Home Depot. There are 1 gallon and 5 gallon mixers. Just put water and salt in a bucket. I have 6 from HDepot. Anyway it mixes salt very fast. If something happens and you need mixed salt fast you can use the paddle. They are only $6.00 in the paint dept. here, I don't know what the cost where you are. It's a time saver.
Good luck....Mark

Mixer seem a an idea, I searched and it looks like it need to be used with drill machine (if thats what you mean) and its metal and wondering if its safe to use becaz it may get rusted over time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Top off with saltwater and call it a day. 35PT is a target not a requirement and +/- 1.5 is acceptable/ 33.5-36.5 is still ok.

 

[balajeek15]

While i was filling my RODI water for 12 gal, i noticed the TDS was showing 19ppm after and I was shocked to see it, its nearly 7 months the unit i got from BRS. Luckily i had a replacement DI resin and replaced immediately and TDS now shows 0. Was wondering this water been used for my top off for all along (not sure how long) and may be thats why some corals didn't look the way it should.

May be someone can give me feedback what cause this would have caused.

 

[MnFish1]

My apex probe always showed me 35ppt and the refractometer showed near 35, but i found out yesterday after getting Hanna that the salinity of my 73g tank is 32.6ppt, also verified with borrowed refractometer and it shows around 33ppt. I contacted apex about the probe discrepancy and they asking me to calibrate with 35ppt solution (which i plan to do this evening)

While i deal with apex probe issue, whats the best way to increase the salinity from 32.6 to 35?
Can i do it at one time or do it gradually, if gradually how often?

1. Remove 12 G and then add 12 G @ 40 ppt
In order to reach 33.58 ppt.

2. Remove 12 G and then add 12 G @ 40 ppt
In order to reach 34.42 ppt.

3. Remove 12 G and then add 12 G @ 38.8 ppt
In order to reach 35 ppt.

Why not just Saltwater for your top off until the salinity gradually increases?

PS - So now you have 2 tests that agree with each other (the 1 refractometer and the Hanna) and the (second refractometer and the apex) - so how do you know which 'two' are correct. Before you jump into rapidly changing anything - IMO you should get the calibration solution for the apex - calibrate both refractometers - and double check the Hanna with a known solution as well.

Then recheck - if everything in your tank is fine - there is no reason to rapidly increase the salinity.

 

[MnFish1]

PPS - I also agree with others that a salinity variation between 1.025 and 1.026 is not at all harmful. In fact if you look at many salinity monitors/refractometers - its within the margin of error - so all of. your testing may be 'correct'.