salt creep

Luis Figueroa · Aug 21, 2017

what is the best method to remove salt creep from areas that could potentially cause a spike ie: rim/edges, cords, hob filters and skimmers?

please help with info I check salinity it was at 1.030 did a 5 gallon w.c of 1.027 brought the tank down to 1.028. today 12 hours later it's back up to 1.030.

Dystinction · Aug 21, 2017

Do you utilize an ATO unit in your setup? Or do you top off manually?
As water evaporates, the salt remains. Topping off with RO/DI water should restore, and/or maintain your salinity level.

Luis Figueroa · Aug 21, 2017

yes I have ato (tunze) works great has level sensor and float.

Dystinction · Aug 21, 2017

OK...I'm not 'talking down', or being insulting when I ask: Are you using fresh water (RO/DI) for top off, and not mixed saltwater?

Other than that, I don't see an increase of salinity like what you are experiencing...so I am at a bit of a loss.
I too shall follow along and hopefully others will point to other potential culprits.....

Luis Figueroa · Aug 21, 2017

fresh water in ato bucket. I don't do water changes only when things need to get corrected. here's some pictures of what I'm referring to. I need tip of how to clean and what methods.

tdileo · Aug 21, 2017

Salt creep shouldn't have such a large effect. Are you using a plastic hydrometer or a refractometer? The hydrometers aren't always accurate and you need to rinse them with freshwater before using, and even things like microbubbles can mess up the readings

Luis Figueroa · Aug 21, 2017

I have a refractometer that I use...only 3 drops of tank water with no bubbles. I feel as if the salt creep falls off into the water and raises the salinity. I also heard and read the alk and calcium additives could raise it

Luis Figueroa · Aug 23, 2017

checked my salinity again today after wc last night and my salinity is back up to 1.030 it raised 2 ppm in 12hrs. what do I need to check to solve this problem?

TylerMoralez · Aug 23, 2017

Interesting problem... I’m at a loss of solutions but would like to know as well.

knowen87 · Aug 23, 2017

I dont know why your salt levels would be going up with the information that you gave us but that was not you original question. I dont like watching dirty salt creep (from dust and stuff) fall into the tank. It is just a preference because it really shouldn't be changing salinity, even on a small tank.
I like to use a couple of wet paper towels. The water in the paper towels dissolves a good portion of the creep and I just wipe it like a would something very dirty (ie I try to contain as much as possible.) I hope that answers your question.

Have you calibrated the refractometer recently?

Luis Figueroa · Aug 23, 2017

I checked my refractometer with rodi water, changed ato water, lowered calcium and alk dosing , cleaned majority of salt creep. it's not looking good for my corals =(

Luis Figueroa · Aug 23, 2017

knowen87 said:
I dont know why your salt levels would be going up with the information that you gave us but that was not you original question. I dont like watching dirty salt creep (from dust and stuff) fall into the tank. It is just a preference because it really shouldn't be changing salinity, even on a small tank.
I like to use a couple of wet paper towels. The water in the paper towels dissolves a good portion of the creep and I just wipe it like a would something very dirty (ie I try to contain as much as possible.) I hope that answers your question.

Have you calibrated the refractometer recently?

that definitly answers my question to cleaning the salt creep thanks!

rob safron · Aug 23, 2017

If you get salt creep your salinity should go down not up and if it falls back in the tank should get you back to beginning levels. Plus that amount of salt creep should not make a measurable difference. Is there something your dosing that has a salt additive to it? Other than that and the fact that your replacing evaporated water with RODI it seems to be at odds with physics and chemistry.