Salt level low

[Ineedhelp]

Hello! My tank has finished it's cycle and I finally got my refractometer in that I ordered and noticed that my salt is low (around 1.0) I have zero livestock and want to get my salt level back up with a water change with higher salt levels but concerned I will throw off my parameters. Any pointers before adding members to the tank?

30 gallon Biocube

 

[Palyzoa]

How did you calibrate the refractometer? I would start there and make sure it is calibrated correctly. Once that is settled you could use salt water to top off your tank instead of RODI water until your salinity is where you want it. Or you could do water changes until you reach your target salinity.

As far as pointers go, I would start with a good clean up crew, few hermits a cleaner shrimp... Be carefully with adding snails to soon with a new aquarium. They are a bit more tricky and require more algae. Then, I would say take it slow and add 1 maybe 2 fish and wait a few weeks for the biological filter to catch up. Obviously, you would want to wait until your parameters are stable before adding creatures.

 

[Ineedhelp]

Thank you for your reply, I did calibrate the meter correctly. The problem was I did not have the meter when I made the water (I have RODI system and salt at home) so when the meter finally came in the mail I calibrated with RODI and tested the tank showing salt was low. I think that I will do a three gallon water change tonight because I made a higher salt content water, since it was low.

Thank you on the direction on adding members to the tank!

 

[Gareth elliott]

I would double check your calibration on your refractometer.
Make sure your calibration fluid says its for a refractometer and 35ppt.
Also what type of refractometer are you using? Should say its for seawater(not many)
Or brine(most of the ones you see)
In either case will be most accurate calibrated to 35ppt.
If it says ATC means its auto temperature correcting, and dont need to do temperature conversion math.
Some need a conversion for temperature. Also some are not meant for salt. I have a refractometer used for honey that would be unsuitable for aquaria use.

If your water really is 1.00 sg and have no live stock. To correct simply need to add the required salt to increase to 1.026.

 

[Ineedhelp]

This is the one I have, I dropped new RODI water on the lense and turned the screw to be put to 0.0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716HRSL...t=&hvlocphy=9011818&hvtargid=pla-558466028872

 

[Ineedhelp]

Too add salt with no critters in the tank can I just add salt to the tank? Or should I mix it with RODI with will take more time and work (doesnt matter want to do it right) I just ask because I dont have any critters that need to acclimate to the increase of the levels.

 

[Gareth elliott]

That is a brix refractometer.

They are designed for discerning sugar content in solution.

A Brix degrees = 1g sugar per 100g solution.

That isnt suitable for measuring salt content sadly.

Also calibrating with ro/di lends itself to slope errors. Always calibrate with a known solution close to your target.

 

[Ineedhelp]

I apologize I posted the wrong link...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZ1SMC2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Gareth elliott]

I apologize I posted the wrong link...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AZ1SMC2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Np! Save the brix refractometer if ever want to brew your own beer!

And yes for an empty tank, fill with ro/di and pump add salt. Only need to care about localized salt increases when there are fauna in the tank.

 

[Ineedhelp]

The problem with that one is I did not get calibration solution. I hope my LFS has some.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Edit

 

[Ineedhelp]

fill with ro/di and pump add salt

I am confused (this what I am thinking) 1 gallon picture with RODI and three scoops of salt, mix with spoon for a bit and then poor in tank.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Your only worry with a new empty tank is precipitation.

So can fill with pure ro/di heat, add circulation, and can add salt directly to the tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello! My tank has finished it's cycle and I finally got my refractometer in that I ordered and noticed that my salt is low (around 1.0)

What does that even mean? 1.0 what? That's not any normal number.

 

[Ineedhelp]

it reads at 1.000 instead of 1.026 with my tank water

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

it reads at 1.000 instead of 1.026 with my tank water

That's the specific gravity of pure fresh water.

How did you calibrate the refractometer?

What does pure fresh water read?

 

[Steve Jewell]

Did you add any salt to your aquarium or was it straight RODI water when you tested it? If it had salt in it prior to testing your refractometer is off.