Is 1.022 salinity ok for FOWLR?

[RoryJ]

I recently tested my salinity and it has dropped from 1.025 to 1.022 during the course of 2 months.
The tank is not yet cycled therefore no livestock. Is 1.022 ok or should i bring it back up?..And if so would be ok to just put salt directly into tank?..Once again there is only sand and dry rock in tank currently.

 

[Tautog]

That's fine. I have kept mine at 1.023 for the first 2 years, never had an issue. I'm only keeping it higher for coral growth now

 

[Paullawr]

1.022 is fine but no harm increasing it either. Just make sure drip your live stock as likely coming from 1.025/6 environment before adding.

 

[RoryJ]

1.022 is fine but no harm increasing it either. Just make sure drip your live stock as likely coming from 1.025/6 environment before adding.

Ok thanks..do you think it would be ok to just add salt to tank?

 

[Paullawr]

Sorry no mix it in water and raise it.

 

[Paullawr]

Adding salt will lower pH it's acidic until mixed.

 

[Paullawr]

It won't take much to bump it and can be done in one go. If you overshoot it will be fine. Honestly.

 

[PatW]

If you want to increase your salinity, just add some saltwater. I am assuming you have an auto top off. Just add about a day's worth of evaporation. It will evaporate and increase the salinity of your tank. It is a bit slow.

 

[Paullawr]

Either get a jug mix up a litre of higher concentrated salt water and take out that from tank then replace with higher concentrated. Thus treat as water change.

Or scoop up some tank water in jug add more salt, stir and dissolve then add back.

 

[MmmmBalf]

You should also identify why the salinity has dropped. You don't want to have salinity swings when there's livestock in the tank. Have you been doing water changes? Do you check the salinity of the new water? Also, what are you using to check - refractometer or hydrometer? If refractometer, is it calibrated correctly? It would be unusual to just drop salinity without some cause.

 

[RoryJ]

You should also identify why the salinity has dropped. You don't want to have salinity swings when there's livestock in the tank. Have you been doing water changes? Do you check the salinity of the new water? Also, what are you using to check - refractometer or hydrometer? If refractometer, is it calibrated correctly? It would be unusual to just drop salinity without some cause.

I havent done any water changes..just added RO water via ATO..and have been using a refractometer..i just recalibrated it, thats when i noticed the salinity change

 

[Paullawr]

Ah yes can happen.

I've got two refractometers (not being greedy honest). The newer one loses calibration faster than one i was replacing. So i just check with RO to recalibrate before use each time.