Salinity increasing?

[Melissa31595]

For the last month my salinity has been reading 1.026 and now it is reading 1.027 but I haven’t changed the water or anything recently. Anyone know how it could be increasing??

 

[crazyfishmom]

For the last month my salinity has been reading 1.026 and now it is reading 1.027 but I haven’t changed the water or anything recently. Anyone know how it could be increasing??

Are you topping off with fresh water consistently?

 

[Melissa31595]

Are you topping off with fresh water consistently?

Yes we have an ATO with RODI water in it.

 

[Lavey29]

Not uncommon mine does the same. Mine is mainly caused by dosing 2 part and other supplements.

 

[14 foot reef]

What instrument are you testing with ?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Yes we have an ATO with RODI water in it.

Now I will be more thoughtful and monitor salinity more frequently. I check it once a month but top off consistently so I haven’t been monitoring.

Are you dosing anything?

 

[Melissa31595]

Now I will be more thoughtful and monitor salinity more frequently. I check it once a month but top off consistently so I haven’t been monitoring.

Are you dosing anything?

No we haven’t been doing anything like that.

 

[crazyfishmom]

No we haven’t been doing anything like that.

Have you calibrated your refractometer recently? Or whatever you use to measure?

 

[Melissa31595]

What instrument are you testing with ?

Refractometer

 

[Melissa31595]

Have you calibrated your refractometer recently? Or whatever you use to measure?

We had the guys at our fish store calibrate it for us. But that was about a month ago too

 

[crazyfishmom]

We had the guys at our fish store calibrate it for us. But that was about a month ago too

If you put RODI in it, where is it? Should be at 1

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If you put RODI in it, where is it? Should be at 1

Depends on the units it reads, and that is often inaccurate anyway.

 

[Melissa31595]

If you put RODI in it, where is it? Should be at 1

It’s at 2

 

[Dom]

For the last month my salinity has been reading 1.026 and now it is reading 1.027 but I haven’t changed the water or anything recently. Anyone know how it could be increasing??

Water evaporates, not salt. So as water evaporates, salinity will increase.

 

[Dom]

It’s at 2

Problem solved.

 

[crazyfishmom]

It’s at 2

Should be at 0 if you’re looking at ppt and at 1 if you’re looking at specific gravity. I think the refractometer needs to be recalibrated. I would highly recommend purchasing a 35 ppt calibration solution for peace of mind. In general if you are topping off you shouldn’t see those numbers creeping up unless you’re dosing which can cause a slight change.

 

[Pistondog]

Post in thread 'DIY Salinity calibration solutions' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/diy-salinity-calibration-solutions.220052/post-2530479

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

A brine refractometer properly calibrated to read 35 ppt seawater will not properly read pure fresh water. Thus, I think the comments about what it should be may be premature.

I suggest you make or buy a 35 ppt seawater standard to calibrate the refractometer.

Refractometers and Salinity Measurement - REEFEDITION

Title photo by R2R member Rskillz By Randy Holmes-Farley Salinity is one of the most important parameters measured in reef aquaria. It controls not only the salt balance between an organism and its surrounding environment, but also the levels of a host of ions Read more here...

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