Oh crap.

Bob Escher · Apr 10, 2016

i went and screwed up big time. I started my QT with a refractometer. Well I bought a hydrometer as a second check. The hydrometer was low so I bought some calibration fluid and checked the refractometer. I calibrated it to zero. And this was after reading the instructions. Well a week ago I filled my 45 gal JBJ nano according to the refractometer. I added my Apex and probes and the sales nifty probe read in the high twenties. Calibrated it three times over the last week because it kept on saying low.
Well today I'm doing a water change per Red Sea Mature Pro test kit and I decided to recalibrate the refractometer. Picked up the calibration fluid and realized I was to calibrate to 53ooo or 1.026. Crap
So I got two clowns swimming around in 1.020 water a DT that is at 1.020.
Since the DT doesn't have anything except live rock and live rock in it. What damage have I done if any and what about the CLOWNs will they be alright and how should I bring that tank up to 1.026 from 1.020?

Thank you

jamie callard · Apr 10, 2016

Your running close to hyposalinity style that many use for treating sick fish. You can raise the salinity but i would only go 1 to 2 points a day.

twilliard · Apr 10, 2016

I have found that fish can tolerate salinity changes.
So if you want to raise your SG then use the 1.026 water as topoff.
It will come up slowly

Reef Junky150 · Apr 10, 2016

Hyposalinity is 1.009
They should be fine.
Just bring the salinity back up over the period of a couple days a little at a time.
Only damage may be some die off of certain bacteria or cuc that was shocked from the lower osmosis preasure. After you bring it back up watch for any ammonia from die off and possibly have a wc ready to go.

Bob Escher · Apr 10, 2016

Thanks I have accostumed to keeping both fresh and salt. Now we know the reason more than likely of the 3 snail and 3 or 4 hermit crabs that died ( although I still have one crab still going strong) I presume I can just go ahead and instead of doing a 5 % water change as the manual says do a 10% on thecDT that don't have any inhabitants other than live rock and sand.
Thank you everyone

hybridazn · Apr 10, 2016

1.020 is a little low but nothing to be alarmed about. You can raise it to 1.026 in 2-3 days and be fine. And fyi hypo salinity is 1.008-1.009 so your tank has a while to go before getting there

Bob Escher · Apr 10, 2016

Thanks

michellejy · Apr 10, 2016

Your fish will be fine at that salinity. I'm not saying leave it there, but you didn't hurt them. Don't beat yourself up too much.

If you want to know a REALLY bad salinity experience, I calibrated my refractometer repeatedly with Pinpoint and adjusted the salinity in my tank accordingly. So, um, long story short, my calibration fluid was off, and I ended up with 40PPT rather than 35. My clown survived my stupidity, but I am still so paranoid about it happening again.

Reef Junky150 · Apr 10, 2016

I have a nice glass hydrometer I bought many years ago and anytime I recalibrate my refractometer I check against it to make sure it's not out. Never hurts to double check equipment.

Bob Escher · Apr 10, 2016

I will get another hydrometer. I have a apex salinity probe and I calibrated it but that doesn't seem right either right now the refractometer seems to be calibrated and the tank says 1.025 apex says 28.1 so I guess it's hydrometer or another refractometer for sure

michellejy · Apr 10, 2016

Does your refractometer have temperature compensation? (I'm probably using the wrong terminology there. My brain is fried.)

Reef Junky150 · Apr 10, 2016

this is the type I've had for almost 10 years now. Still as accurate as the day I received it.

Bob Escher · Apr 10, 2016

No maybe I'll pick one of those up instead Thanks

Bob Escher · Apr 11, 2016

No I figured it out that I calibrated it 53000 fluid but zero'd it out rather then sitting it at 1.026

Lonny · Apr 11, 2016

Reef Junky150 said:
I have a nice glass hydrometer I bought many years ago and anytime I recalibrate my refractometer I check against it to make sure it's not out. Never hurts to double check equipment.

I have a glass hydrometer as well for brewing. Unfortunately I didn't use it and trusted my refractometer. Ended up with a 1.039! Had two clowns and a damsel at the time and I still have them but killed my first two corals!

melypr1985 · Apr 11, 2016

Just to add to this. 1.020 is fine for fish only with live rock. When you add corals it will be more important to keep it up toward 1.025-ish and to keep it there - consistancy being key here. I keep our fish only system at the store at 1.019 consistently mainly to save us money on salt.