Salinity problem

[Hunter1876]

I am new at this and setting up a 125 gal tank--
nothing in it but live sand and water--
I can't get the salinity up any higher than 1.020--
should I just keep adding salt slowly--and test the water-?

 

[Saltwatertaylor]

No. Don't add salt directly into your tank. You need to do water changes and put more salt in the bucket then previously. A smart idea is wait a while before testing the salinity of the water your adding to the tank so you make sure your getting a correct reading. Make sure you dissolve all the salt in the bucket that you will be adding to the tank.

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

How are yo testing the salinity?

 

[returnofsid]

I am new at this and setting up a 125 gal tank--
nothing in it but live sand and water--
I can't get the salinity up any higher than 1.020--
should I just keep adding salt slowly--and test the water-?

First, how are you measuring salinity?

If using a Swing Arm Hydrometer, make sure you've checked it against a calibrated Refractometer and that the "Arm" isn't "sticking" at 1.020. Also make sure you're rinsing it very well, between uses. Dried salt will cause the arm to stick.

If you're using a Refractometer, make sure you're regularly calibrating it, against a known standard. Calibration with RO/DI is commonly used but not accurate.

Next, if your tank contains nothing but live sand and water, YES, you can slowly put your salt directly into the tank. Make sure you're putting it into a high flow area and that you're adding slowly, testing often. Since your tank doesn't have any life in it yet, you won't hurt anything by slowly pouring the salt directly into the tank.

Heck, if you started with dry sand, that's not alive, you could fill your tank with RO/DI water and add salt until you reach your desired salinity.

 

[Hunter1876]

using a refractormeter

 

[Hunter1876]

and I used RO/DI water

 

[returnofsid]

If you're sure your refractometer is calibrated correctly, continue adding salt, slowly, until you've reached your desired salinity. Calibrating a refractometer, with RO/DI water will get you "very close," though it's not completely accurate.

 

[ritter6788]

Have someone else double check your results also.

 

[kmaintl]

Since you have nothing in your tank at this time, take a gallon of tank water, mix 3 cups of salt into it and stir it around until fully dissolved, then pour into your sump. Wait a day and test salinity again. You may need another cup, but start with 3 cups as it should bring you close to where you want to be from 1.020.

 

[Pappy]

Since you have nothing in your tank at this time, take a gallon of tank water, mix 3 cups of salt into it and stir it around until fully dissolved, then pour into your sump. Wait a day and test salinity again. You may need another cup, but start with 3 cups as it should bring you close to where you want to be from 1.020.

+1 and def double check by having someone else test to make sure your refractometer isn't off.