Salinity dropping to 1.024

[Miami Reef]

I basically never test my tank’s salinity. I only test the new saltwater before my water change.

I noticed I take out a lot of my tank’s water when I remove my filter socks, skimmer, and diatom filters. I charge the diatom filters with RODI water and I thought “I bet I’m lowering my tank’s salinity with this”.


How can I accurately raise my tank’s salinity? I’d prefer to use this calculator: https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/DirectSaltCalculator.php

To input my target salinity and dose, but with the new water that will evaporate, my salinity might end up being higher than 1.026.

So, what’s the best way to raise salinity in a 250 gallon tank?

 

[Rmckoy]

I have the same issue with the 230
As the skimmer runs and the ato replenishes what’s removed . Partially evaporation and skimmate .
eventually over time it will drop to 1.024

frequent water changes at your goal salinity is the best way . But small 10% water changes don’t change much at all …

I’ve never tried mixing higher salinity or trying to calculate at what salinity I need to mix .

 

[Miami Reef]

This is how much salt I need.

If I can remove 5 gallons of tank water, add this salt, then dose it - that would make my life so much easier.

The only issue I see with this is possible salinity precipitation - won’t the precipitants redissolve in a less saline concentration (in DT)?

 

[Miami Reef]

^ but I would obviously put my tank volume as 200 gallons first to see what my actual volume is based on testing from dosage.

 

[Miami Reef]

I dose 2 part with sodium hydroxide which raises salinity over time.

Charging my DE in saltwater (it removes saltwater when I take it out) and not removing water with filter socks would probably balance out the tank. The skimmer can remove the excess salinity from the 2 part?

 

[Rmckoy]

This is how much salt I need.

If I can remove 5 gallons of tank water, add this salt, then dose it - that would make my life so much easier.

I don’t understand the impurities in salt mix …,.
but dosing salt mix as a top off seams pointless .
Fwiw I keep a bucket of salt water mixed to 1.027 and have dumped it into the tank instead of running the ato .
but this has always seamed risky .

 

[Rmckoy]

I think this is where a auto water change station would be beneficial .
small and frequent water changes .
So now I’m beginning to believe .
small tanks are said to be harder to maintain .
75-125 gal seams to be the easiest to maintain .

I didn’t have this issue with salinity dropping until starting the 230
Perhaps it’s a large tank thing …..

 

[Rmckoy]

This sounds like a @Randy Holmes-Farley
Question ….

 

[Snoopy 67]

If you have an idea of what you remove why not just replace it with whatever salinity you set the tank to?
You can always adjust a little with your water changes.

 

[Miami Reef]

If you have an idea of what you remove why not just replace it with whatever salinity you set the tank to?
You can always adjust a little with your water changes.

Smart!!

 

[Miami Reef]

So…do not follow the calculator above. I’ve been slowly adding salt to my tank (mixing prior) and I got my salinity to 1.025. I’m giving the tank a few hours to thoroughly mix, and I will continue adding more salt if needed.

 

[Rmckoy]

So…do not follow the calculator above. I’ve been slowly adding salt to my tank (mixing prior) and I got my salinity to 1.025. I’m giving the tank a few hours to thoroughly mix, and I will continue adding more salt if needed.

I wouldn’t Suggest raising salinity very slow .
@vetteguy53081

what was the limit if raising salinity ?

lowering is a complete different story .
raising is better done gradually and slow

 

[Miami Reef]

I wouldn’t Suggest raising salinity very slow .
@vetteguy53081

what was the limit if raising salinity ?

lowering is a complete different story .
raising is better done gradually and slow

I am doing it slow. I only got it from 1.024 to 1.025

 

[ccole]

If my salinity goes down by a point or two, I usually just top off with salt water instead of RO until it’s back to where I want it.

 

[threebuoys]

Another way to calculate amount of water to replace to change salinity, BETA VERSION
I'm double checking my math Variables in blue, result in red. example shows amount of water to replace in a 250 gallon tank to raise salinity from 1.024 to 1.025 when replacement water has salinity of 1.050

 

[Miami Reef]

Another way to calculate amount of water to replace to change salinity, BETA VERSION
I'm double checking my math Variables in blue, result in red. example shows amount of water to replace in a 250 gallon tank to raise salinity from 1.024 to 1.025 when replacement water has salinity of 1.050

Wow. This is very smart! Are you a math major? I’m very impressed.

 

[threebuoys]

Wow. This is very smart! Are you a math major? I’m very impressed.

@#$% no, wish i could remember more of my 8th grade algebra, but its been almost 60 years!