Salinity Issue

KatSea · Jan 13, 2017

So I am finally setting up my 35 gallon tank and I'm having an issue with the salinity or my swing arm tester. I used half the water from the old tank and then the rest was freshly mixed water (fish are okay and not in new tank) When I tested it last night it was maxing out made sure there were no bubbles still maxed out.

So I decided today I would do about a 35% water change and just use fresh water no salt. Still maxing out with no bubbles. And when I checked my old water it maxes out to even though I know it's fine (checked it a couple of days ago)

My gut tells me everything is fine. My water parameters are fine and everything is running smoothly except for this problem. Is it just my tester that's wrong and am I good to move stuff over?

AdamNC · Jan 13, 2017

Get a refractometer. Swing arm testers a notoriously inaccurate. If you don't have the cash for one now, take a sample to your LFS. Most decent places will test it for you for free.

KatSea · Jan 13, 2017

AdamNC said:
Get a refractometer. Swing arm testers a notoriously inaccurate. If you don't have the cash for one now, take a sample to your LFS. Most decent places will test it for you for free.

Sadly our local fish store is a Walmart and I have to travel 3 hours to the nearest one that's even considered a pet store.

AdamNC · Jan 13, 2017

Then I would not trust transferring your fish until you get a refractometer. I had a hydrometer for a while until I broke down and bought a refractometer only to find out I was pushing 1.029sg while my hydrometer was reading 1.025sg.

Ty Hamatake · Jan 13, 2017

+1 for the refractometer. How are you testing your new water before it goes in the tank?

KatSea · Jan 13, 2017

Ty Hamatake said:
+1 for the refractometer. How are you testing your new water before it goes in the tank?

Permitted wise (ph, ammonia, ECT) or the salinity

Ty Hamatake · Jan 13, 2017

KatSea said:
Permitted wise (ph, ammonia, ECT) or the salinity

Sorry, testing the new water's salinity.

Highgrade · Jan 13, 2017

+1 on the refractometer or digital refractometer. Milwaukee or Hanna makes a great digital refractometer. If you catch them on sale they're around $110-130 and plus they're less fuss than a manual refractometer.

KatSea · Jan 13, 2017

With the same swing arm tester and everything was reading as the same as the old water. But there was an instant when it got beat around and so that's why I was thinking it was off or broken

Ty Hamatake · Jan 13, 2017

KatSea said:
With the same swing arm tester and everything was reading as the same as the old water. But there was an instant when it got beat around and so that's why I was thinking it was off or broken

More than likely broken. It's not going to be super accurate, but you could try testing some RO water. You'll know if something is way off if you're getting completely bogus readings from that.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 13, 2017

Hi Kat! Yea, its prob fine if you followed the measurements and tapped smacked and beat the swing arm.
You can get a decent refractometer on the Amazon for $20. If its IO salt, it should fall out of solution I believe. I started weighing it in grams.

KatSea · Jan 13, 2017

Ty Hamatake said:
More than likely broken. It's not going to be super accurate, but you could try testing some RO water. You'll know if something is way off if you're getting completely bogus readings from that.

Yeah I just tested it. It's ready in the green for where my salinity should be.... That was an easy thing I could have done to begin with lol

Ty Hamatake · Jan 13, 2017

KatSea said:
Yeah I just tested it. It's ready in the green for where my salinity should be.... That was an easy thing I could have done to begin with lol

All the time I could've saved if I would've brought my problem straight here! Lol

KatSea · Jan 13, 2017

Thanks for the help. What I might do is start them on a drip and see how they do. Wait a while and if everything goes well I'll move them over (it's only 2 clowns) and if I don't like how they are doing all move them back to there old tank and go from there.

KatSea · Jan 14, 2017

So great news everyone's doing good and the clowns are exploring around. My room smells like the bad side of the beach cause of the old tank but other than that everyone's doing good.

Ty Hamatake · Jan 14, 2017

KatSea said:
So great news everyone's doing good and the clowns are exploring around. My room smells like the bad side of the beach cause of the old tank but other than that everyone's doing good.

That's good to hear! Let us know what your salinity ends up being whenever you find out! Ha ha, I'm interested as to what it is