Salinity is climbing??

[Trae]

The 72 gal has already cycled and we have not done a water change. However, living in south east Texas i battle heavy evaporation. Over these two months ive added several gallons of fresh water but the salinity is still on the rise. Its now at 1.025. Why is is climbing without adding salt??

 

[Mrfresh]

You need to add how ever much you are losing. And 1.025 isnt bad anything over 1.027 starts to push it.
Invest in a water top off. It doesnt need to be anything fance just thw simple float valve one to fill what ever evaporated

 

[Trae]

Ok, thx. What causes the salinity to rise even though I've only been adding fresh water?

 

[Mrfresh]

I would need a lottle more info on your system.
Do u have a sump? R u using hob filter or skimmer
What kind of lights ect. The more info the better of an anwser I could give

Salt does not evaporate. Have you only added fresh water. I remeber working at a petstore a guy told me he couldnt figure out why his salt level was so high.
Then ever he saw that the water line was low on the sump he would mix some salt water up and pour it in. All he needed to do was just add fresh water.

 

[kes]

make sure your hydrometer/refractometer is operating properly or calibrated

 

[glb]

make sure your hydrometer/refractometer is operating properly or calibrated

I find that if I don't rimse my hydrometer with fresh water before I use it that the readings start to climb.

 

[mike007]

You might want to check your source water to see if it contains salt. Adding fresh ro/di water will not raise your salinity.

 

[nitro'sreef]

You might want to check your source water to see if it contains salt. Adding fresh ro/di water will not raise your salinity.

++1

 

[McAllyn]

Just spitballing here because there are a lot of variables. Are you using the same bucket for fresh water that you mix your saltwater in? There is always some left behind that could be salt-spiking your fresh water.

Bottom line, if you're getting true readings (refractometer is calibrated correctly) then the only way your salinity can rise is if salt is being introduced to the system via another avenue.

Mac

 

[bucksfan1976]

it happens, my sons biocube 29 gal, sal was at .024 after a week it was .026 I added 3 gallons of RO/DI and got it back down to .024 I dont have this type of issue on my big DT bc I have a auto top off.

 

[SamsReef]

If you are adding two part for ca and carbonate, salinity will rise.

 

[Trae]

I have a sump with a red sea berlin skimmer. The lighting is from a Fluval eco bright LED. Im only adding fresh water to the sump when the levels get low.

 

[Trae]

Thanks guys! I think i'll start with replacing the hydrometer.

 

[Reefing Madness]

You might want to check your source water to see if it contains salt. Adding fresh ro/di water will not raise your salinity.

Bingo. Agreed

 

[backpack]

try letting ro water sit in your hydrometer overnight. That usualy cleans all the dry salt out.

 

[glb]

try letting ro water sit in your hydrometer overnight. That usualy cleans all the dry salt out.

Good idea.