Salinity and corals

[Saltgator]

Just wanted to see what everyone thought. Read today online of different (mixed) opinions on salinity and corals (bored this afternoon). Some say they can tolerate salinity levels well lower than nsw, but I'm not experimenting with any coral. I personally use a refractometer, but know some use swing arm hydrometers. Wanted to see anyone's thoughts on coral in salinity less than nsw, possibly lower than 1.021, such as experience from salinity drops or whatever. Any info such as soft,lps,sps,etc corals and their tolerance with salinity.


Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

 

[NanaReefer]

It's been my experience that as long as the drop or rise isn't drastic then swings can be tolerated.
Most LFS I know do keep their's lower then normal. Supposedly to fight off parasites. Hence one of the importance of slow acclimation. As most reefers run theirs at 1.025
Not sure about survival rate of anything lower then 1.021

 

[Saltgator]

It's been my experience that as long as the drop or rise isn't drastic then swings can be tolerated.
Most LFS I know do keep their's lower then normal. Supposedly to fight off parasites. Hence one of the importance of slow acclimation. As most reefers run theirs at 1.025

Thanks for the reply. How do you think the corals would survive at a lower salinity for long periods?

 

[NanaReefer]

I don't think they would. Then your getting into the area of Brackish Water which harbors very few if any corals.

 

[Mike J.]

The coral reefs of the world have varying salinity. I was talking to a friend that has a house on an island down in the Bahamas. He took salinity reading on the reef at different places and they varied greatly. Here's a map of the salinity readings around the world.

 

[glb]

The coral reefs of the world have varying salinity. I was talking to a friend that has a house on an island down in the Bahamas. He took salinity reading on the reef at different places and they varied greatly. Here's a map of the salinity readings around the world.

Cool map!!

 

[Saltgator]

Great info y'all. Keep it coming.

 

[kes]

I like to keep mine between 1.025-26. .21 is rather low for corals; great for fish only though.

 

[Mike&Terry]

In two prior systems, we successfully kept SPS and LPS corals longterm (8 years) with a salinity of 1.023. Here's a couple of pics of our old 180 from 2008:


Side view:

 

[Duffam3434]

Mike&Terry.. Thats an AMAZING TANK!! Theres some Money in that one!!

 

[Palting]

The issue with lower salinity with synthetic salt and stony coral like SPS and LPS, IMO, is that the calcium, alk, magnesium, strontium, etc. elements will also be lower. If you want to keep stony corals and also keep your salinity low, then you MUST supplement and keep the other numbers on par with what is ideal for calcareous skeleton growth.

 

[Saltgator]

Wow, I go to sleep and y'all pour in on the pics and info. Great Job y'all. M&T: never would have guessed it to have been on the lower side. Was there any periods where the salinity dropped lower for an extended period?

Country Boy using tapatalk on his EVO

 

[pickupman66]

personally, I have not had good luck with my corals and lower salinities. I do my best to keep it at 35 PPT.

 

[Mike J.]

I was reading this very interesting article and remembered this thread. This is the most up to date reading on the worlds salinity.


Salinity - NASA Science

 

[Mrfresh]

I used to keep mine at 1.023-4 for a long time and I never had issues with it there.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Mike&Terry and everyone else, what salinity level are you currently keeping your water at?

 

[Mike J.]

Just tested mine at 1.025 (+ a hair) or 33 ppt.

 

[LOVETHISHOBBY]

I keep my salinity between 1.025 and 1.026. Back in the day, I kept softies in 1.022. Once I started getting into LPS and SPS, they didn't react very well to lower salinity.

 

[TD2K]

1.025-1.026

 

[stylaster]

Im running mine at 1.026