Salinty levels

[Blenny1988]

right guys here are the test results for today.

PH = 7.8
KH = 7
NH4 = 0.005
NO2 = 0.005
NO3 = 5
PO4 = 0.005

Also will try and upload a few pics at some point in the near future

 

[Reef.]

hey guys

Just a quick question and sorry if this subject has been covered already before!!!!

But i know that the target for a reef tank salinity is 1.025

Which is where i keep my tank at but my questions is where do you guys keep your salinity at? do you keep it at at the same or higher lower? if so have you always kept it at the same or played with abit ect just out of interest guys!!!

Thanks in advance guys

Target is generally said to be 1.0264 or 35ppt. If you done have a good reason to change it way do it.

 

[Uncle99]

1.025-1.026
It consistency that counts more.
The measuring tools most of us use are not pinpoint accurate.

 

[Blenny1988]

thanks reef was just a general question but like i said i panick about everything lol my system seems to be running great at the moment the only small is issue i have is a while i was given some green zoas which opened a few hours after being put in the tank and they havnt opened since yet my other zoas are doing great as is my hammer and my torch and 2 anemones lol

 

[Blenny1988]

1.025-1.026
It consistency that counts more.
The measuring tools most of us use are not pinpoint accurate.

i suppose accuracy isnt always guaranteed but as long as we can get as close as possible thats what matters and as you say consistency is the key

 

[Blenny1988]

so another question guys

Without using chemicals how do i raise my PH? any suggestions would greatly appreciated thanks in advance peeps

 

[Gtinnel]

Depending upon the amount of CO2 in your home increasing surface agitation could help. If the CO2 in your house is high then you could open a window to lower it (of course dependent upon weather where you live). I run an outside airline to my skimmer and that keeps mine around 8.2.

 

[Uncle99]

so another question guys

Without using chemicals how do i raise my PH? any suggestions would greatly appreciated thanks in advance peeps

Pull outside air into skimmer.
Reduce CO2 in room with open window for an hour a day.
Keep Alk on the high end.
Blow air across the surface
Have great water movement especially at the surface.
If dosing Alk, dose more after lights out and less when lights on.
I’m getting 8.3 stable with these.

Never use any PH buffer.

 

[T-J]

so another question guys

Without using chemicals how do i raise my PH? any suggestions would greatly appreciated thanks in advance peeps

Open a window, surface agitation, add a CO2 scrubber (that's what I had to do). If your house is sealed up tight, such as to run A/C all summer, this is a common issue.

 

[Blenny1988]

Thanks Gtinnel i live in Scotland i do know that PH changes in day and night (found that out today) its a 90 liter nano tand with the filteration in the back i am however running a skimmer so will try the airline tip you just gave me will have to order some airline lol

 

[Blenny1988]

thank you everyone your all legends i will pull outside air in and keep you all posted also will agitate surface abit more too

 

[laverda]

My current 'main' tank is kept between 1.021 and 1.022. Which is kinda low, but the corals and everything are doing well, so I don't want to touch it. My currently cycling tank is set to 1.025.

Pollution in Tropical Aquatic Systems

We have identified a need to draw together knowledge of physiochemical and biological aspects of pollution in tropical aquatic systems. This book results from this and we hope will assist in providing management strategies to protect these systems from pollution effects. In organising the book...

books.google.com

Fyi, I found this book that says "corals and other reef organisms can live in normal salinities as low as 25%o and as high as 45%o, even though most coral reefs occur in a more moderate salinity environment'. Which corresponds to 1.0188 to 1.034 sg. Not an invitation to just keep corals at any whatever salinity. XD But just a pretty interesting observation they had. Also, it probably varies from species to species, etc. too.

That is such a broad statement, I don't think it really applies for the corals we usually keep. There are so many different corals besides what we typically keep, that that information is not even relevant. Hard skeleton corals require closer to 1.025 and a little higher to be able to get the calcium, alkalinity magnesium and other elements they need for skeleton growth.
Some people like to keep salinity higher as it means there is more CA, Alk & Mag readily available for skeletal growth. Fish only tanks are often kept at lower salinity as it helps prevent parasites. But these ranges a small compared to stated in the book.
They have also found corals living in extreme temperature conditions, again that does not apply to any of the corals I have ever seen in the LFS.

 

[Azedenkae]

That is such a broad statement, I don't think it really applies for the corals we usually keep. There are so many different corals besides what we typically keep, that that information is not even relevant. Hard skeleton corals require closer to 1.025 and a little higher to be able to get the calcium, alkalinity magnesium and other elements they need for skeleton growth.
Some people like to keep salinity higher as it means there is more CA, Alk & Mag readily available for skeletal growth. Fish only tanks are often kept at lower salinity as it helps prevent parasites. But these ranges a small compared to stated in the book.
They have also found corals living in extreme temperature conditions, again that does not apply to any of the corals I have ever seen in the LFS.

The book stated corals from the Great Barrier Reef for example, to be subjected to salinity ranging from 25.8 ppt to 35.9 near shore. Other locations of coral reefs that are not like extreme niche environments were also found to be subjected to low salinities. And high salinities too. I don't see a reason to necessarily doubt their findings.

Though like I said, I am not advocating that means we can keep whatever coral at any salinity. You are right, it is a broad statement. It was just an interesting observation I noticed and, given the relevance to the thread, decided to share.

 

[Reef.]

so another question guys

Without using chemicals how do i raise my PH? any suggestions would greatly appreciated thanks in advance peeps

Fresh air in the room and a lot of water surface movement are the best ways, a skimmer helps with getting the air into the tank too.

 

[Blenny1988]

well i dont have air conditioning here and it dose quite hot and stuffy the wife has heating on constant and always screwed right up lol

 

[Blenny1988]

nature her self works in very mysterious ways

 

[laverda]

The book stated corals from the Great Barrier Reef for example, to be subjected to salinity ranging from 25.8 ppt to 35.9 near shore. Other locations of coral reefs that are not like extreme niche environments were also found to be subjected to low salinities. And high salinities too. I don't see a reason to necessarily doubt their findings.

Though like I said, I am not advocating that means we can keep whatever coral at any salinity. You are right, it is a broad statement. It was just an interesting observation I noticed and, given the relevance to the thread, decided to share.

25.8 ppt to 35.9 is a pretty narrow range compared to the other you quoted. I have some zoas, gorgonia and a leather in my QT tank that I generally run at lower salinity ranging from 1.019 to 1.025. I match to the salinity of new fish and slowly raise it over time. They all do fine as have anemones in my lower salinity.

 

[Azedenkae]

25.8 ppt to 35.9 is a pretty narrow range compared to the other you quoted. I have some zoas, gorgonia and a leather in my QT tank that I generally run at lower salinity ranging from 1.019 to 1.025. I match to the salinity of new fish and slowly raise it over time. They all do fine as have anemones in my lower salinity.

Mate, that is literally one data point in the book I quoted. You can literally just read the thing, the link is to a google books that is freely accessible man. I am just sharing some interesting findings people have published, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Blenny1988]

25.8 ppt to 35.9 is a pretty narrow range compared to the other you quoted. I have some zoas, gorgonia and a leather in my QT tank that I generally run at lower salinity ranging from 1.019 to 1.025. I match to the salinity of new fish and slowly raise it over time. They all do fine as have anemones in my lower salinity.

all my coral are fine apart from these green zoas lol