Raise salinity

[moseley75]

I wish to raise my salinity from 1.022 to 1.026. what is the maximum safe salinity of makeup water I can use? I want it to take six or seven water changes to achieve my goal. According to the target calculator I found it will take a salinity of 1.030 for 6 and 1.029 for seven. When I do a water change I have to put the water directly into the main display.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Just replace evaporated water with sg = 1.026 seawater.

 

[moseley75]

Just replace evaporated water with sg = 1.026 seawater.

Shall I still perform regular weekly water changes w/ 1.026 saltwater?

 

[Tautog]

Yes, but the fastest way to increase salinity is to replace evaporated water with the higher salinity water. Adding just R/O won't change anything. Listen to Randy, he's the best on Water Chemistry

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I suggest doing whatever normal water changes you do (matching the tank salinity if you do pretty big changes at once), and just swap the top off to salt water.

 

[moseley75]

Yes, but the fastest way to increase salinity is to replace evaporated water with the higher salinity water. Adding just R/O won't change anything. Listen to Randy, he's the best on Water Chemistry

I was going to replace my ato water. Just wasn't sure if I should do regular water changes also. Randy has helped me several times by answering questions directly and several more because of articles he has written. I trust what he has to say.

 

[Martin Kuhn]

If you want to raise salinity faster (than replacing rodi in your ATO with 1,026 SG saltwater)
You can also dose (dry) salt manually to your tank.
Just put it into your tanks water cycle at a position with good flow

 

[lariat8099]

Wha'ts the perfect salinity for a mixed reef tank.??

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wha'ts the perfect salinity for a mixed reef tank.??

Exact salinity is not critical in any tank, but I'd aim for 35 ppt (35 PSU, sg = 1.0264).

 

[EriksOasis]

A stable salinity is important. Swings in salinity can cause stress.

 

[moseley75]

Exact salinity is not critical in any tank, but I'd aim for 35 ppt (35 PSU, sg = 1.0264).

At what temperature should the water be when mixing and testing for salinity?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

At what temperature should the water be when mixing and testing for salinity?

That depends on how you measure salinity, but with many devices it doesn't matter since they correct for temperature differences.

How are you measuring it? Which exact brand device?

 

[moseley75]

Currently I'm using a Red Sea Seawater Refractometer. I plan to get a Milwaukee electronic Refractometer soon.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While I think some of their comments and directions for this refractometer are either incorrect or simply do not make sense (such as the need to calibrate at 25 deg C), that Red Sea refractometer is automatically corrected for temperature over the range of 15-35 deg C.

 

[moseley75]

Thank you.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

 

[dissrpt04]

Just replace evaporated water with sg = 1.026 seawater.

You're welcome.

Happy Reefing.

I have my salinity at 1.025 which is right but my water level is low how do i add water without it decreasing or increasing my salinity

 

[Reaper_Six_Four]

Understanding that swings in salinity can cause stress.. at what rate should one raise their salinity? I’m trying to go from 1.023 to 1.026

I have a 30 gallon with a 3gallon sump

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Understanding that swings in salinity can cause stress.. at what rate should one raise their salinity? I’m trying to go from 1.023 to 1.026

I have a 30 gallon with a 3gallon sump

There’s never any rush, so just replace evaporated water with normal salinity seawater. That ensures a nice steady rise.

 

[nostalgiaforinfinity]

Hi,
We have low salinity (1.021/2). 42g display//52g total. Red Sea G200.

Being new, we added a Midas Blenny and he didn't make it. LFS said our low salinity was the cause. So we are adding salt water. We have added 5g over 11 days based on topping off our sump. (We put a tape line on outside to add just what evaporated.)
We are barely at 1.22/3. We use a refractometer (manual).
ATO is off.
I think I just read in this thread to put ATO in the Salt water and let it top off accordingly.

42g display//52g total.

Point is, we are really wanting to add a few fish and are scared that the low salinity will kill the new guys.

1. Will lower (1.021/2) salinity kill fish that have been in higher (1.024/5) salinity?
2. Does our rate of increase seem slow? We used 5g salt from our LFS and assumed it was at 1.024. Didn't test, will do that today for just in case.