salinity is very low

[Ninaxskymon]

hello yesterday my water was finally cycled, so I decided to get fish. I got two snowflake clowfish, I did a water change before drip acclimating my fish and putting them in the tank. my salinity is high and my reg ego is turning green what do I do ?

 

[ScottR]

hello yesterday my water was finally cycled, so I decided to get fish. I got two snowflake clowfish, I did a water change before drip acclimating my fish and putting them in the tank. my salinity is high and my reg ego is turning green what do I do ?

What is your salinity at?
How are you testing salinity?
Simply pulling water and dumping it and letting your ATO kick on will lower it. If you don’t have an ATO, you can just pull water out and place back in fresh water. Do it slowly and check salinity to get an idea.

 

[Ninaxskymon]

What is your salinity at?
How are you testing salinity?
Simply pulling water and dumping it and letting your ATO kick on will lower it. If you don’t have an ATO, you can just pull water out and place back in fresh water. Do it slowly and check salinity to get an idea.

Hi ! SG is at 1.019 and it’s PPT is 26 and I’m testing w a hydrometer

 

[ScottR]

Hi ! SG is at 1.019 and it’s PPT is 26 and I’m testing w a hydrometer

1.019 is actually low. What is the SG of the water the clowns are in? And what is your target SG?

 

[Ninaxskymon]

1.019 is actually low. What is the SG of the water the clowns are in? And what is your target SG?

My target SG is 1.023 I’m scared Bc it’s my first time having a saltwater tank and I wanna get it just right

 

[piranhaman00]

1.019 is fine for now. Slowly bring it up by adding saltwater instead of RODI for top off, check regularly.

Thats good you want to get it right! Drop the hydro and get a refractometer, VeeGee if you can swing it.

 

[KevPool]

dropping your salinity is easier then raising it take it slow and try not to raise it too much too fast.

 

[Saltyreef]

If using a swing arm hydrometer this could be your issue.
The clowns will be fine if it is infact 1.019, but i suspect it to be closer to the target if youre mixing by volume.
Swing arms are notorious for false readings. Especially if you didnt tap off the bubbles.

Get your water tested at lfs to be sure and order yourself that tropic marin bulb hydrometer. Then you can remark the correct level on your swing arm and continue to use it vs having to use the bulb everytime

 

[Ninaxskymon]

If using a swing arm hydrometer this could be your issue.
The clowns will be fine if it is infact 1.019, but i suspect it to be closer to the target if youre mixing by volume.
Swing arms are notorious for false readings. Especially if you didnt tap off the bubbles.

Get your water tested at lfs to be sure and order yourself that tropic marin bulb hydrometer. Then you can remark the correct level on your swing arm and continue to use it vs having to use the bulb everytime

Thank you so much I will look into it !

 

[Ninaxskymon]

dropping your salinity is easier then raising it take it slow and try not to raise it too much too fast.

Okay, thank you so much, how would I raise salinity

 

[Ninaxskymon]

1.019 is fine for now. Slowly bring it up by adding saltwater instead of RODI for top off, check regularly.

Thats good you want to get it right! Drop the hydro and get a refractometer, VeeGee if you can swing it.

Thank you so much !

 

[Uncle99]

You should not raise salinity too quickly, no more than .001 (maybe .002l) per day so we don’t stress out your friends.

Fish actually prefer 1.019-1.023, it’s corals and inverts that want 1.026, so when we keep both, we keep at 1.025-1.026.

I’d just let normal evaporation raise that salinity for you, just keep testing until you reach your desired level.

Then, as you know, you need to maintain that level as close as possible.

The easiest way is just to add an Auto Top Off. (ATO)

Going down in salinity (if you ever have to) can be done quickly in less than 30 minutes, fish have no trouble in lower salinity, just the increases, as they must adjust their respiration to the higher salt content.

Good luck.

 

[Ninaxskymon]

You cannot raise salinity too quickly, no more than .001 per day so we don’t stress out your friends.
Fish actually prefer 1.019-1.023, it’s corals and inverts that want 1.026, so when we keep both, we keep at 1.025-1.026.

I’d just let normal evaporation raise that salinity for you, just keep testing until you reach your desired level.

Then, as you know, you need to maintain that level as close as possible.

The easiest way is just to add an Auto Top Off. (ATO)

I will wait for the evaporation to raise ! And keep testing. And how much would an ATO be ?

 

[Uncle99]

Good choice
I paid $100 Canadian on Amazon delivered.
Best investment you will make to your friends.
The stability in salinity is “absolutely the cornerstone” of having a great tank....when it fluctuates....all your chemistry fluctuates as well....so we want to keep this on point always.

 

[Ninaxskymon]

Good choice
I paid $100 Canadian on Amazon delivered.
Best investment you will make to your friends.
The stability in salinity is “absolutely the cornerstone” of having a great tank....when it fluctuates....all your chemistry fluctuates as well....so we want to keep this on point always.

Your clowns are so beautiful! I’m a collage freshman still living at home... I need a job lol but how would I instal it ?

 

[Ninaxskymon]

Good choice
I paid $100 Canadian on Amazon delivered.
Best investment you will make to your friends.
The stability in salinity is “absolutely the cornerstone” of having a great tank....when it fluctuates....all your chemistry fluctuates as well....so we want to keep this on point always.

 

[Ninaxskymon]

This is my 20 gal saltwater tank my clowns are snowflake clownfish. My algae is on the hang on the back refugium

 

[Uncle99]

That looks great, well done.
Just keep all your parameters as close as possible and let that system mature up.

The ATO is easy.
An optical sensor attaches to the inside glass by suction or magnet and is kept at water level. When the sensor sees the water drop through evaporation, it sends fresh RODI from a bucket to the tank ensuring salinity does not fluctuate.

This stability will become more important if you are going to add corals, so looking at your setup I see fish only with LR, thus you can add water by hand right now.

Once you get your salinity to your desired level, mark that level on the glass, then, if you fill back to that mark, your salinity will be back to the desired level.

 

[Ninaxskymon]

That looks great, well done.
Just keep all your parameters as close as possible and let that system mature up.

The ATO is easy.
An optical sensor attaches to the inside glass by suction or magnet and is kept at water level. When the sensor sees the water drop through evaporation, it sends fresh RODI from a bucket to the tank ensuring salinity does not fluctuate.

This stability will become more important if you are going to add corals, so looking at your setup I see fish only with LR, thus you can add water by hand right now.

Once you get your salinity to your desired level, mark that level on the glass, then, if you fill back to that mark, your salinity will be back to the desired level.

Omg thank you so much, big help !!!! ^3^

 

[Uncle99]

And welcome to R2R!