Question about raising salinity

[adamf83]

I’ve had an issue where my salinity dropped to 1.020 and need to raise it back up to 1.026. I mixed up a batch of salt water at 1.026 to use as top off water, but it’s been a few days and the salinity isn’t rising, it’s still stuck at 1.020.

Should I have mixed it at a higher salinity to start with? I don’t want to mix it up and make the situation worse by it being too high. I have noticed my alk rising, which I guess is due to topping off with salt water, equally I don’t want to send that sky high.

What’s the best way to correct things without making it worse?

 

[noobster]

you can either do one water change using a calculator to reach the desired salinity. Or do a few water changes throughout the week to reach that goal if you want a gradual change in salinity.

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

The water you add should match the salinity you want to reach. How much salt water have you added total over the past few days? If it is a considerable amount, whatever you test salinity with may not be accurate. It could be a good idea to test salinity with another device to see if your readings are similar. Hopefully you have an LFS that's willing to help you there.

 

[Cell]

I would continue to manually top off with saltwater. If you have very low evaporation, just pull some out yourself and replace gradually. Make sure your salinity measurement tool is properly calibrated.

 

[adamf83]

The water you add should match the salinity you want to reach. How much salt water have you added total over the past few days? If it is a considerable amount, whatever you test salinity with may not be accurate. It could be a good idea to test salinity with another device to see if your readings are similar. Hopefully you have an LFS that's willing to help you there.

I’ve added 10l since Sunday. Just checked the salinity using my Hanna checker which reads 1.020, the refractometer reads 1.022, both have just been recaliberated.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, just keep replacing evaporation with salt water. It cannot not rise. It will take about 2 weeks at 2% evaporation replacement

here's what it will do each day with 2% evaporation replacement:

1.0200
1.0204
1.0208
1.0212
1.0216
1.0221
1.0225
1.0230
1.0234
1.0239
1.0244
1.0249
1.0254
1.0259
1.0264

 

[adamf83]

Yes, just keep replacing evaporation with salt water. It cannot not rise. It will take about 2 weeks at 2% evaporation replacement

here's what it will do each day with 2% evaporation replacement:

1.0200
1.0204
1.0208
1.0212
1.0216
1.0221
1.0225
1.0230
1.0234
1.0239
1.0244
1.0249
1.0254
1.0259
1.0264

Ah, that’s helpful thanks. Is it ok to perform normal water changes during this time as I’m due to do one on Sunday?

I assume all that will do is shorten the amount of tI’ve it takes to get back to 1.026.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Ah, that’s helpful thanks. Is it ok to perform normal water changes during this time as I’m due to do one on Sunday?

I assume all that will do is shorten the amount of tI’ve it takes to get back to 1.026.

Yes, that's fine.