Salinity questions

[Akoshman]

Hi all, brand new to this forum. New to saltwater tanks as well. So we have a 90 gallon tank, all the coral that, we have in the tank has turned brown and we have figured out that the salinity is only at 1.017. So we need to raise that. My husband was told to use epsom salt to raise salinity without affecting the other levels. I don't think this is correct. Can someone help me? Also is the best way to increase the salinity through the refugium, or the top tank? Or will it make a difference? We are new to saltwater tanks. Had this one since September 2018. Thank you in advance for the assistance

 

[ClearLife]

Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate. Don't want that in the tank. Its not even a salt.

 

[JumboShrimp]

All salt should be dissolved in water separately, and then that water added to the tank. Although Epsom salt may have it’s place in reef-keeping, I doubt that’s what you really want; otherwise ‘that’ is the main salt that would be sold for tanks, and obviously it isn’t. Others here will provide a more complete answer to your question .
By the way, I like the Icecap salinity tester. It’s quick and easy and keeps me sane. Best wishes!

 

[MrsBugmaster]

To raise the salinity you need to add aquarium salt to the water. Do not add the salt directly to the tank if there are fish and or corals in it. Mix up fresh salt water and make large water changes until the salinity is correct. Do you have a refractometer to measure the salinity?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hi all, brand new to this forum. New to saltwater tanks as well. So we have a 90 gallon tank, all the coral that, we have in the tank has turned brown and we have figured out that the salinity is only at 1.017. So we need to raise that. My husband was told to use epsom salt to raise salinity without affecting the other levels. I don't think this is correct. Can someone help me? Also is the best way to increase the salinity through the refugium, or the top tank? Or will it make a difference? We are new to saltwater tanks. Had this one since September 2018. Thank you in advance for the assistance

First off welcome to R2R.

As for raising salinity, do not use epsom salt. You will need to use salt specifically for this hobby. Instant Ocean, Red Sea Blue Bucket, for example. Also, use a refractometer for all salinity measurements if possible.

As for raising your salinity, this can be done with the link to the calculator below, mixing in the salt with rodi water outside of the tank to make "brine solution", and then SLOWLY adding it to the tank over a few hours. There is also the option of mixing the needed amount of salt into what you would normally use for a water change.

Again, and I cannot stress this enough: take your time adding in the brine solution. DO NOT MIX SALT DIRECTLY TO THE TANK IF IT HAS CORALS AND FISH IN IT. The salt can land on the critters and do harm.

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/DirectSaltCalculator.php

 

[Eagle_Steve]

First off welcome to R2R.

As for raising salinity, do not use epsom salt. You will need to use salt specifically for this hobby. Instant Ocean, Red Sea Blue Bucket, for example. Also, use a refractometer for all salinity measurements if possible.

As for raising your salinity, this can be done with the link to the calculator below, mixing in the salt with rodi water outside of the tank to make "brine solution", and then SLOWLY adding it to the tank over a few hours. There is also the option of mixing the needed amount of salt into what you would normally use for a water change.

Again, and I cannot stress this enough: take your time adding in the brine solution. DO NOT MIX SALT DIRECTLY TO THE TANK IF IT HAS CORALS AND FISH IN IT. The salt can land on the critters and do harm.

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/DirectSaltCalculator.php

Forgot to add, check the salinity every so often during raising it with brine. Add a bit, let it circulate for a while, check salinity, and then add more if needed.

 

[BeejReef]

Once this crisis has passed, you might want to give some thought as to how your salinity bottomed out.
Do you run an ATO? Overfill? Leak? Rampant salt creep?

Hope your corals turn around and color up for you ;Happy

 

[Yamil Montanez]

I raise the salinity through my top off water. I find that the best way at a slow pace. Replace the fresh rodi with salt water in you top off, as the water evaporates will increase the salinity slowly. Check constantly once you reach your desired level replace the salt water with fresh water. Doing it slow increments at the time will prevent further stress on corals and fish.

 

[Pete_the_Puma]

Welcome to R2R!

Epsom salts is magnesium sulfate only... it is a "salt" but no really what you want to make seawater with. It can sometimes be used in specific situations when trying to increase magnesium.

What you want to use is a salt mix designed specifically to make seawater, what you initially set up your tank with. (Google "Instant Ocean", "Tropic Marin Pro", "Red Sea Coral Pro"). These have all the different chemical salts in correct ratios with a majority of Sodium chloride.

Contrary to other people here I would recommend adding small amounts of salt only to a high flow area of the sump on a daily basis and testing your salinity until it increases to desired range, most people aim for 1.024-1.026 if keeping corals. You want this to increase slowly as rapid swings can cause issues for fish, corals and invertebrates. I would say going from 1.017 to 1.025 in 10-14ish days. I have no data to back this timeline up.

I think adding water with salt makes no sense, you are, in medical terms Euvolemic and Hyponatremic, you just need more salt not more fluid volume.

 

[LiveWire]

Welcome to the REEF!! You need to use a reef salt such as Instant ocean, Fritz, Tropic Marin or one of the other fine salts on the market Like @Pete_the_Puma and some of the others stated. I also agree that raising your salinity with the brine solution as @Eagle_Steve steve suggested is the way to go.

 

[WVNed]

Welcome to Reef2Reef
Do you have a way to measure salinity? You really need one to keep a tank.

You have to use a salt made for keeping marine life because there is a lot more stuff in it than just the salt. They are made to copy what is in sea water when mixed into water you provide.

The way to think of it is once in the tank the salt stays there. You always fill the tank back to the same level so the salinity stays the same. In real life it will change a bit over time and you will have to adjust it. If you stick your hand in the tank and then dry it on a towel you just removed a tiny bit of salt. I have to correct mine every 2 months or so.

I add salt straight to my overflow but I run a sump with no life in it.You dont want unmixed salt to go on live things

You can correct your salinity with small changes over 2-4 hours. The same way you acclimate a new fish.

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. We do have a refractometer, that's how we got the level in the first place. We just don't know how the salt level got so low! Working on raising it now. I just wanted to check about the epsom salt thing, I think my husband was confused. Thanks so much!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone! We do have a refractometer, that's how we figured out the level is so low. We just don't know how it got that low in the first place! I think my husband misunderstood about the epsom salt. Working on raising it now with instant ocean!

 

[Akoshman]

sorry guys i don't know why it posted that reply so many times...

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Look for salt creep, look for leaks, wrong salinity of water for water changes and topping off more water then needed will do it also.

Another thing to check is to make sure your refractometer is calibrated. I prefer to use 35ppt solution and calibrate that to match 35ppt on the refractomer. I refuse to use rodi water to calibrate to 1.000. My thought is if I want 35ppt salt water, make sure the refractometer knows exactly what 35ppt is lol.

 

[Jon Fishman]

What was the salinity the last time you checked it, before discovering it was 1.017, and how long between? If it dropped that drastically in a matter of a few days, then that would be a real problem. It really shouldn't drop at all though..... are you leaking anywhere? check pipes for salt built up.

 

[W1ngz]

Welcome, this is the right place for all kinds of ideas and stuff to get things sorted out.

I won't repeat any of the advice offered above, but will add - stop taking advice from whoever suggested epsom salts. Even if it was just a misunderstanding, anyone who's been doing salt long enough that they feel qualified to offer advice should also know how easy it is to offer too much information and confuse a newcomer. They should be helping you navigate the learning curve, not making it steeper!

 

[Akoshman]

Thanks everyone. The last time we had the salinity checked it was good. I don't know how long ago that was, my husband usually takes care of everything. I am doing it now because he is working everyday and i am home as i am on maternity leave. I don't recall if it was a sudden or gradual thing for the salt level to drop, i do know that it was gradual for the corals to close up and turn brown. and now my husband thought he had it good so he bought two new corals on saturday and by yesterday they were not doing good. so he finally checked the salinity, i don't know why he didn't before. anyways, all we can do now is raise the level and see if that helps!

 

[lbacha]

I raise the salinity through my top off water. I find that the best way at a slow pace. Replace the fresh rodi with salt water in you top off, as the water evaporates will increase the salinity slowly. Check constantly once you reach your desired level replace the salt water with fresh water. Doing it slow increments at the time will prevent further stress on corals and fish.

+1
I actually turn my ato off and add fresh salt water instead of RODI manually until the salinity has raised to where it needs to be. Usually takes a day or two based on the difference (I’m usually only off by a small amount)

 

[Akoshman]

I have one more question. How long after getting the salinity correct, assuming that is the only issue, sjould our corala start openig up again? Hours? Days? Weeks?