Salinity dropped to 26ppt in 24hr

[venomcc]

So due to a series of unpredictable events salinity in my tank dropped from 35 to 26ppt over a period of 24 hrs.

How fast should I raise it back up, I notice a few of my corals not looking too hot.

-Carlos

 

[NewGoby]

I don't have much experience with an issue where it dropped this swiftly, but I'd gradually raise it, over two or three days, by doing 3x 3ppt, or 2x 4.5 ppt.. although that may be too swiftly..

#reefsquad

 

[glb]

So due to a series of unpredictable events salinity in my tank dropped from 35 to 26ppt over a period of 24 hrs.

How fast should I raise it back up, I notice a few of my corals not looking too hot.

-Carlos

Yikes. Did your ato overflow?

 

[venomcc]

Yikes. Did your ato overflow?

Sort of, my theory is that it was a series of related events.

1. I was out of town for 2 weeks
2. anemone died in tank, fish sitter didn't notice, can't find it
3. nutrients went high and big algae bloom ensued.
4. chaeto light burnt out because of water splashing from skimmer cup due to high nutrients
5. growing algae started blocking overflow
   
6. water level raised in tank and lowered on sump
   
7. ATO started overworking

Thankfully the salinity drop occurred overnight. I got back here today and have stabilized/cleaned the tank. No livestock is lost other than the original missing anemone (could still be hiding somewhere though). My pink millepora is not looking too hot.

 

[glb]

Sort of, my theory is that it was a series of related events.

1. I was out of town for 2 weeks
2. anemone died in tank, fish sitter didn't notice, can't find it
3. nutrients went high and big algae bloom ensued.
4. chaeto light burnt out because of water splashing from skimmer cup due to high nutrients
5. growing algae started blocking overflow
   
6. water level raised in tank and lowered on sump
   
7. ATO started overworking

Thankfully the salinity drop occurred overnight. I got back here today and have stabilized/cleaned the tank. No livestock is lost other than the original missing anemone (could still be hiding somewhere though). My pink millepora is not looking too hot.[/QUOTE
What a nightmare!

 

[NewGoby]

Sort of, my theory is that it was a series of related events.

1. I was out of town for 2 weeks
2. anemone died in tank, fish sitter didn't notice, can't find it
3. nutrients went high and big algae bloom ensued.
4. chaeto light burnt out because of water splashing from skimmer cup due to high nutrients
5. growing algae started blocking overflow
   
6. water level raised in tank and lowered on sump
   
7. ATO started overworking

Thankfully the salinity drop occurred overnight. I got back here today and have stabilized/cleaned the tank. No livestock is lost other than the original missing anemone (could still be hiding somewhere though). My pink millepora is not looking too hot.

woah taking into consideration that one of your Anemone's died, this might actually be one of the better out comes, although a drop in salinity is bad, a dead nem could've done worse.

 

[lapin]

Your tank is stressed out now. I would raise the salinity slowly over the next few days. Too fast and you will stress it even more. Since you did not say anything looked too bad they should all recover. Its not only a change in salinity but in alk also, that you have to watch.

 

[venomcc]

An update.

Ultimately I raised the salinity 1ppt a day overt the period of 9 days.

Acros & Montis lost quite a bit of color. One particular millepora went from pink to pure white, has now started to get color back in its polyps. Green flourescent, but no pink in sight.

Thankfully after the whole ordeal, no livestock was lost.

To prevent any future salinity disaster, I've now programmed the ATO to replenish water for no more than 10 minutes continuously.

 

[Dom]

So due to a series of unpredictable events salinity in my tank dropped from 35 to 26ppt over a period of 24 hrs.

How fast should I raise it back up, I notice a few of my corals not looking too hot.

-Carlos

26ppt is lower than most of us like. Go slow. Do weekly water changes with the replacement water at the correct salinity and monitor until you get it back up to 35ppt.

 

[mitch91175]

Sucks to hear what you're going through. You can use this calculator to get back to where you want to be: https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/TargetSalinity.php

 

[Reab]

I would have just upped the evaporation with some fans and let it happen that way, similar to dosing, that way it is a nice steady increase and not spikes.