Salinity drop

[KING KONG]

My salinity had a great drop. I checked salinity last week but it was normal but it suddenly dropped today. I am having this problem from a year that suddenly my salinity drops

 

[Fish Styx]

Good morning. Sorry to hear that you are having this issue. Salinity only drops when salt is removed. This does not happen through normal evaporation. So, we need to examine a few things to get to the bottom of this. First, how old / accurate is your hydrometer? Next, how are you topping off / replacing evaporation? Is your ATO dosing too much? How wet are you skimming? Is there a leak somewhere that is causing you to top off with too much RO/DI?

 

[KING KONG]

Good morning. Sorry to hear that you are having this issue. Salinity only drops when salt is removed. This does not happen through normal evaporation. So, we need to examine a few things to get to the bottom of this. First, how old / accurate is your hydrometer? Next, how are you topping off / replacing evaporation? Is your ATO dosing too much? How wet are you skimming? Is there a leak somewhere that is causing you to top off with too much RO/DI?

Tank is 12 yrs old(I know it does not look like coz I don't use live rocks). Skimmer and salt photo is here. I do water change once in a 2 week. I didn't find anythink leaking

 

[KING KONG]

Good morning. Sorry to hear that you are having this issue. Salinity only drops when salt is removed. This does not happen through normal evaporation. So, we need to examine a few things to get to the bottom of this. First, how old / accurate is your hydrometer? Next, how are you topping off / replacing evaporation? Is your ATO dosing too much? How wet are you skimming? Is there a leak somewhere that is causing you to top off with too much RO/DI?

Hydrometer is 5-6 yrs old. Thinking of changing it coz sometime algae grow on it. I hv checked with other hydrometer and reading is sams

 

[Dburr1014]

Hydrometer is 5-6 yrs old. Thinking of changing it coz sometime algae grow on it. I hv checked with other hydrometer and reading is sams

Do you have a way to check the hydrometer for accuracy? Maybe a lfs close by can check it against theirs?
How are you adding water to make up for evaporation? Could it be too much was added?

 

[Fish Styx]

Hydrometer is 5-6 yrs old. Thinking of changing it coz sometime algae grow on it. I hv checked with other hydrometer and reading is sams

To err on the side of caution, I would first want to ensure that the instrument(s) used for measuring are accurate, before doing anything else. In this case, I would clean them both using RO/DI and a bottle brush and then measure again. Probably also time to replace it / them.

If the readings are still low, you are losing salt from somewhere. Look to see how much salt creep you have around your setup. I would also be looking for a small / slow leak from somewhere that could be causing you to slowly top off with more RO/DI than is evaporating. It is difficult for me to see in the pictures, but try skimming a little drier. Over time, skimming too wet can impact salinity, too.

 

[KING KONG]

Do you have a way to check the hydrometer for accuracy? Maybe a lfs close by can check it against theirs?
How are you adding water to make up for evaporation? Could it be too much was added?

Okk I'll try to buy another as both hydrometer are old. Can algae can mess up with the readings?

 

[I never finish anythi]

I wouldn't trust that hydrometer tbh

 

[KING KONG]

Yup I think time to buy new hydrometer! Will tell u the new reading.

 

[Dburr1014]

Okk I'll try to buy another as both hydrometer are old. Can algae can mess up with the readings?

I personally have a hydrometer that is 8 years old and still very accurate.
I also own a refractometer that I can check it against.
Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.
If you clean the hydrometer and don't drop it, it should be fine. But, saying that, it may be out or lose accuracy.
You can simply check it against a known accurate one. Use a magic marker and mark a line where 35ppt is on the hydrometer.

Algae will mess it up if it's on the swing arm.

Do you use an ATO? How do you make up for evaporation?

 

[KING KONG]

I personally have a hydrometer that is 8 years old and still very accurate.
I also own a refractometer that I can check it against.
Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.
If you clean the hydrometer and don't drop it, it should be fine. But, saying that, it may be out or lose accuracy.
You can simply check it against a known accurate one. Use a magic marker and mark a line where 35ppt is on the hydrometer.

Algae will mess it up if it's on the swing arm.

Do you use an ATO? How do you make up for evaporation?

This is the photo of my all appliances. Lfs is coming in few minutes to check again

 

[KING KONG]

I hv cleaned the hydrometer with a brush and it is still reading same. Both my old hydrometer r reading same and when I measure tap water it reads zero. Lfs is saying that wash it with hot water but I don't trust him

 

[Dburr1014]

I hv cleaned the hydrometer with a brush and it is still reading same. Both my old hydrometer r reading same and when I measure tap water it reads zero. Lfs is saying that wash it with hot water but I don't trust him

Hot water will kill the algae. Do it.
Why is he coming then if you don't trust him?

Those pictures are not clear.
How do you make up for evaporation?
Do you add water manually?

Are you using tap water??

 

[KING KONG]

Hot water will kill the algae. Do it.
Why is he coming then if you don't trust him?

Those pictures are not clear.
How do you make up for evaporation?
Do you add water manually?

Are you using tap water??

Yes I add water manually and use water purifier. There r less lfs where I live and everyone just makes money

 

[Dburr1014]

This is how I add top off water.
How do you do it??

 

[Dburr1014]

Yes I add water manually and use water purifier. There r less lfs where I live and everyone just makes money

Okay. You may have added to much.
When you get the salanity squared away, use a magic marker on your sump where the return pump is. Just draw a line where the water level is. Only add water to this line for evaporation.

 

[KING KONG]

This is how I add top off water.
How do you do it??

Through this (I think)

 

[KING KONG]

Hot water will kill the algae. Do it.
Why is he coming then if you don't trust him?

Those pictures are not clear.
How do you make up for evaporation?
Do you add water manually?

Are you using tap water??

I hv boiled it and still reading is same

 

[KING KONG]

My fishes r looking good but coralline patches has started to turn white so may be right reading

 

[Reef Factory USA]

My salinity had a great drop. I checked salinity last week but it was normal but it suddenly dropped today. I am having this problem from a year that suddenly my salinity drops

Our salinity guardian would catch this issue for you )