Lowering Salinity Level

[JtheFishMan]

My salinity level is at 1.026 at the moment. That is decent, but I would like to lower it a little bit. I have tried scooping out a cup or two of saltwater out of the tank, and replacing it with freshwater, because I know freshwater lowers the salinity level. But, the level has not budged. If it does not move, I will probably just leave as is, because stability is very important.

Is there another (and maybe easier) way to effectively lower the salinity level in a saltwater aquarium?

 

[StlSalt]

1.026 is just fine. I'm not sure why you want to lower it. You can replace saltwater with RODI like you're doing, or mix your replacement saltwater up a little under 1.026 say 1.023 to lower it when you do water changes. How much water volume are you dealing with, there may be some math involved if you want to now the exact amounts needed to alter salinity.

 

[hds4216]

1.026 is good. It doesn't need adjusting. If you want to lower, I wouldn't go lower than 1.025.

If you want to lower it, you're right that taking out saltwater and putting in freshwater is a way, though do this slowly because you do not want salinity swings. You can also do a water change with slightly less salty water than what you currently have in the tank.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

My salinity level is at 1.026 at the moment. That is decent, but I would like to lower it a little bit. I have tried scooping out a cup or two of saltwater out of the tank, and replacing it with freshwater, because I know freshwater lowers the salinity level. But, the level has not budged. If it does not move, I will probably just leave as is, because stability is very important.

Is there another (and maybe easier) way to effectively lower the salinity level in a saltwater aquarium?

How big is the tank and how are you measuring the salinity?

Tank size is a huge factor for how much fresh to replace the sw with.

Measuring device being properly calibrated also is a big factor.

 

[SPR1968]

You can keep doing as you suggest or you could do it using a little less salt during water changes

Or you could leave it were it is, it’s fine as already said unless your thinking of fish only systems, but again it’s still fine.

 

[windemerejack]

My salinity level is at 1.026 at the moment. That is decent, but I would like to lower it a little bit. I have tried scooping out a cup or two of saltwater out of the tank, and replacing it with freshwater, because I know freshwater lowers the salinity level. But, the level has not budged. If it does not move, I will probably just leave as is, because stability is very important.

Is there another (and maybe easier) way to effectively lower the salinity level in a saltwater aquarium?

What is your reason to lower it from 1.026 and what do you hope to achieve by doing so?

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

So just so we are clear, you are lowering your salinity by doing this. It may not be enough to see a change of the refractometer or digital gauge but its going down.
I also keep my reef at 1.025 and will continue to do so.

 

[JtheFishMan]

1.026 is just fine. I'm not sure why you want to lower it. You can replace saltwater with RODI like you're doing, or mix your replacement saltwater up a little under 1.026 say 1.023 to lower it when you do water changes. How much water volume are you dealing with, there may be some math involved if you want to now the exact amounts needed to alter salinity.

My aquarium is a 10 gallon. I really do not want to lower it, but I just want to know how to do it for future references, just in case of an emergency.

 

[windemerejack]

My aquarium is a 10 gallon. I really do not want to lower it, but I just want to know how to do it for future references, just in case of an emergency.

It is fine as it is but for future then that size tank i would jug out from tank and jug in freshwater.

 

[JtheFishMan]

1.026 is good. It doesn't need adjusting. If you want to lower, I wouldn't go lower than 1.025.

If you want to lower it, you're right that taking out saltwater and putting in freshwater is a way, though do this slowly because you do not want salinity swings. You can also do a water change with slightly less salty water than what you currently have in the tank.

Yes, like I said I want to make sure there is definitely some stability. I did add some slightly less salty water than what I currently have in the tank on my last weekly water change, and I will do it again this week.

 

[JtheFishMan]

How big is the tank and how are you measuring the salinity?

Tank size is a huge factor for how much fresh to replace the sw with.

Measuring device being properly calibrated also is a big factor.

My tank is 10 gallons. I have a hydrometer that measures the salinity. I know it is not as accurate as a refractometer, but I do not have one at the moment and plan to get one soon.

I also know that the bigger the tank, the more freshwater you are going to have to add to lower the salinity. I only did two cup replacements thinking it would be enough to lower it, but I guess not.

 

[JtheFishMan]

You can keep doing as you suggest or you could do it using a little less salt during water changes

Or you could leave it were it is, it’s fine as already said unless your thinking of fish only systems, but again it’s still fine.

Ok, thank you!

 

[JtheFishMan]

What is your reason to lower it from 1.026 and what do you hope to achieve by doing so?

Like I said earlier, I do not really wish to lower it, I just want to know any other methods to lower it just in case of an emergency. Also, on my hydrometer, the 1.026 mark is on the edge of the ¨safe level¨, indicating to me that it may need a little bit of lowering.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

My tank is 10 gallons. I have a hydrometer that measures the salinity. I know it is not as accurate as a refractometer, but I do not have one at the moment and plan to get one soon.

I also know that the bigger the tank, the more freshwater you are going to have to add to lower the salinity. I only did two cup replacements thinking it would be enough to lower it, but I guess not.

Depending on the hydrometer, you may not notice the change. Just a little left over salt in it can skew the reading (if it is a swing arm one).

I would suggest using a refractometer, or carrying a sample to an lfs to test.

But either way, I ran a tank for a many of years with no refractometer. I just would take a sample to someone with one and then make a mark on my hydrometer for where 1.026 really was.

 

[JtheFishMan]

So just so we are clear, you are lowering your salinity by doing this. It may not be enough to see a change of the refractometer or digital gauge but its going down.
I also keep my reef at 1.025 and will continue to do so.

So, you are saying that although the meter is not moving, it is lowering the salinity level, and that I should stop and leave it be since my 1.026 level should be fine?

 

[windemerejack]

Like I said earlier, I do not really wish to lower it, I just want to know any other methods to lower it just in case of an emergency. Also, on my hydrometer, the 1.026 mark is on the edge of the ¨safe level¨, indicating to me that it may need a little bit of lowering.

1.026 is fine, 1.025 is fine, but no reason to lower it to 1.025 or to higher it to 1.026, stick to what it is.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

So, you are saying that although the meter is not moving, it is lowering the salinity level, and that I should stop and leave it be since my 1.026 level should be fine?

Pretty much! It can take quite a bit of RO to dilute a 1.026 to 1.025. I run at 1.025 in my nano to deal with any fluctuations or equipment malfunctions of my ATO/sensor.

 

[JtheFishMan]

Depending on the hydrometer, you may not notice the change. Just a little left over salt in it can skew the reading (if it is a swing arm one).

I would suggest using a refractometer, or carrying a sample to an lfs to test.

But either way, I ran a tank for a many of years with no refractometer. I just would take a sample to someone with one and then make a mark on my hydrometer for where 1.026 really was.

My hydrometer is the arm swing one, but I also have a spare one. I used the spare one in the tank as well, showing the same salinity level. I do plan on getting a refractometer, since I watched multiple Youtube vidoes showing how to calibrate them.

Also, if I do go to a local Petco, I will ask them to test my water as well.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

FWIW, to drop salinity from a sg of 1.026 to a sg of 1.025, you would need to remove (26-25)/26 x 100% = 3.8% of the tank volume (in this case, 6.2 cups) and replace it with fresh water.

 

[JtheFishMan]

1.026 is fine, 1.025 is fine, but no reason to lower it to 1.025 or to higher it to 1.026, stick to what it is.

Ok, thank you so much!