Salinity versus water parameters

[Toxic727]

Hi R2R,

Thank you in advance for taking the time to help me. I’m really enjoying this community.

In regard to my salinity, over time I have found that my parameters(KH, MG, and CAL) are a little high when my salinity is at 1.026 (which I have been TOLD is the best). Recently, my salinity has dropped to 1.024 due to a water change incident. I tested my parameters a few days later with my Red Sea kit and found them to be the following:
SG: 1.024
KH: 8.5
Cal: 430
MG: 1340
N: undetectable
P: undetectable.
Temp: 77 (working to gradually increase to 79)

My question is:
A) what’s more important, my parameters being in “ideal” ranges, or my salinity being at 1.026? I.E. is it okay to leave my salinity at 1.024 as long as my other parameters are ideal?
B) are the above ranges “ideal”?

Thank you, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Here's an article from Dr. Holmes Farley:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters

And another:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium


And yet another:

What is Seawater?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi R2R,

Thank you in advance for taking the time to help me. I’m really enjoying this community.

In regard to my salinity, over time I have found that my parameters(KH, MG, and CAL) are a little high when my salinity is at 1.026 (which I have been TOLD is the best). Recently, my salinity has dropped to 1.024 due to a water change incident. I tested my parameters a few days later with my Red Sea kit and found them to be the following:
SG: 1.024
KH: 8.5
Cal: 430
MG: 1340
N: undetectable
P: undetectable.
Temp: 77 (working to gradually increase to 79)

My question is:
A) what’s more important, my parameters being in “ideal” ranges, or my salinity being at 1.026? I.E. is it okay to leave my salinity at 1.024 as long as my other parameters are ideal?

FWIW, I think that at the very core of it, it is an unanswered question how important salinity is and what values are best if some of the important attributes (like calcium, alkalinity, etc.) are controlled independent of salinity.

Fortunately, our creatures are quite forgiving of variability in most parameters, including salinity.

 

[Toxic727]

Thank you. The above reads are great and I read those when I was a bit newer. I just wasn’t sure if having my take at 1.024 would hurt anything long term. It seems to be a good compromise if my parameters (minus salinity) are in check.

Just want to take good care of my crew!