Salts really low.

[Currdawg12]

My salt is sitting at 1.020 and I have a 5 gallon water change about to happen in my 45 gallon tank! The 5 gallon is at 1.030! I don’t think it will raise my salt much so what are some other ways you guys safely add more salt but quickly

 

[NinnJinn]

Go ahead and do your water change, and then If you have salt on hand. Make up a concentrated batch and add it slowly into your system as to not shock your inhabitants

 

[Jinko]

You shouldn't do anything quickly, but I'd just add some salt to a high flow area of the sump every now and again until your back up to 1.026

 

[ZoWhat]

How are you testing SG? Refractometer or swingarm?

 

[Billldg]

Agree with @skimjim, how r you testing and if you are using a refractometer, did you calibrate it. If you do need to raise your salinity then the best way is to either put some, and the key word is some, salt water into your ATO reservoir if you have one, and if not then use saltwater to top off tank for evaporation. You don't want to raise it to fast.

 

[Currdawg12]

Agree with @skimjim, how r you testing and if you are using a refractometer, did you calibrate it. If you do need to raise your salinity then the best way is to either put some, and the key word is some, salt water into your ATO reservoir if you have one, and if not then use saltwater to top off tank for evaporation. You don't want to raise it to fast.

I have a refractometer, and I just started my ATO yesterday and I was having some problems with it and I had to take water out and it added fresh water so it jumped really low because of that! But I was gonna do my water change then go ahead and make another 1.030 5gal and just use that as ATO for next week! Or should I go smaller and just do a gallon at a time

 

[Currdawg12]

I have a refractometer, and I just started my ATO yesterday and I was having some problems with it and I had to take water out and it added fresh water so it jumped really low because of that! But I was gonna do my water change then go ahead and make another 1.030 5gal and just use that as ATO for next week! Or should I go smaller and just do a gallon at a time

Or should I hold off on my water change and just do the ATO with my 5 gals I have now?

 

[Billldg]

Or should I hold off on my water change and just do the ATO with my 5 gals I have now?

I would put some in your ATO, maybe 50/50 and after if empties check your salinity. Then repeat if needed. Changes like that should be done slowly as they can shock a tank, fish and corals. I have done it before and haven't noticed a single issue with my tank, I'm having to do it now because my ATO dumped 5 gals of RO/DI water ion my tank lowing the salinity to 1.024, not my ATO's fault, return volume fault. Also, slow changes keep you from having to chase salinity, if you raise salinity to much then you are having to lower it and so on.

BUT, you can still do the water change, I would just do it at the salinity you want. Let it ride for a few hours and check salinity, then you have a base line to add salt water to your ATO.

 

[Currdawg12]

I would put some in your ATO, maybe 50/50 and after if empties check your salinity. Then repeat if needed. Changes like that should be done slowly as they can shock a tank, fish and corals. I have done it before and haven't noticed a single issue with my tank, I'm having to do it now because my ATO dumped 5 gals of RO/DI water ion my tank lowing the salinity to 1.024, not my ATO's fault, return volume fault. Also, slow changes keep you from having to chase salinity, if you raise salinity to much then you are having to lower it and so on.

So do you think it is safe to do a 5 gal water change that’s is 1.030 now on a tank at 1.020

 

[Billldg]

So do you think it is safe to do a 5 gal water change that’s is 1.030 now on a tank at 1.020

How big is the tank?

 

[Currdawg12]

How big is the tank?

45 gallons

 

[Billldg]

Sorry, saw it was a 45 gal tank. You should be fine, just let it ride for a few hours then check salinity and go from their.

 

[Billldg]

Don't add saltwater to ATO until after your do the water change and let it mix for a few hours and check.

This is what reefers mean by chasing parameters, people make to drastic of a change and then have to react based on doing to much to quick.

 

[Currdawg12]

Don't add saltwater to ATO until after your do the water change and let it mix for a few hours and check.

Okay I’ll do the change now thanks everyone!

 

[Jay Z]

On my 45, when I get the oh whoops with the salt I use my ato to compensate.

I’ll bring my ato water up to 40 and let it ride. Usually takes a week to bring mine up back up. Never shocks anything.

 

[Currdawg12]

On my 45, when I get the oh whoops with the salt I use my ato to compensate.

I’ll bring my ato water up to 40 and let it ride. Usually takes a week to bring mine up back up. Never shocks anything.

When you say 40 do you mean 1.040?

 

[Jay Z]

When you say 40 do you mean 1.040?

Yes

 

[Currdawg12]

Yes

How big is your ATO container?

 

[Jay Z]

I have a 36 for my water top off. But will set my ato pump in a separate container with my salt water until I get back up to 35.

Usually a 5 gallon container.

 

[Currdawg12]

I have a 36 for my water top off. But will set my ato pump in a separate container with my salt water until I get back up to 35.

Usually a 5 gallon container.

My ATO is a 5 gallon bucket so I might just make it a 1.040 solution and let it add it and do daily checks