Salinity/Specific Gravity

[zladson]

Hello all. I have read that a salinity of 34 - 36 (SG 1.025 - 1.026) is desirable to maintain. I tested my quarantine tanks after allowing them to sit for 24 hours (pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Salinity/Specific Gravity) and then went to my lfs to have them test so I had a control to compare to. I found that the specific gravity was 1.022, which I was told by them was perfect. I am now confused and wanted to know what some of yours are and what you recommend.

 

[Rhino]

I run mine at 1.025.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Salinity is a measurement usually only used on large bodies of water. We test at home in our smaller aquariums the Specific Gravity. Seawater has a specific gravity of 1.025 So, best to stay in that range. If you have only fish, 1.022 is fine, but corals will need the higher salinity.

 

[zladson]

Excellent! Thanks, very informative. We plan on doing a coral and fish tank so I will work on bumping the gravity up.

 

[Yoshistx]

I've been keeping mine at .24 time to go up to .25

 

[akitareefer]

Fish only tank 1.022
Reef tank 1.026

Fish can benefit from lower salinity, corals benefit from higher salinity

 

[zladson]

You mean .024 and .025 right? Obviously the 1 is implied.

 

[zladson]

Fish only tank 1.022
Reef tank 1.026

Fish can benefit from lower salinity, corals benefit from higher salinity

So the happy medium becomes the .025 correct from the sounds of it.

 

[zladson]

Just added .42 pounds of salt to each 10 gallon tank. Hopefully this will up me to 1.025. Thanks for all the information!

 

[Reefing Madness]

Fish only tanks can be run anywhere between 1.017 to 1.027.
Reef tanks should be run 1.025 to 1.027

 

[spspirate]

I run mine about 1.026-27. I've even seen mine around 1.028.

 

[Downbeach]

Good info here:

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners Part 1: The Salt Water Itself by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

and here:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/1/chemistry

and here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-12/rhf/

 

[Clammania]

Fish only tank 1.022
Reef tank 1.026

Fish can benefit from lower salinity, corals benefit from higher salinity

Second this, if you are going reef stick to the higher. The main thing is keep the fluctuation to a minimal.

 

[KillerKlownFish]

Just started. Less then 24 hrs and my specific gravity is at 1.030
Hopefully it will get to a good range by tomorrow

 

[c_healy]

If you want your salinity to go down you have to add rodi water. The water will evaporate but salt will be left behind.

This is why your sg will rise. It will not go down on its own.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Just started. Less then 24 hrs and my specific gravity is at 1.030
Hopefully it will get to a good range by tomorrow

SG doesn't drop by itself, you'll have to remove some water and just add RO.