Specific gravity issues :/

[Mike1995]

@Mike1995 you first reported a low salinity...then recalibrated to calibration fluid....and now report a very high salinity at SG of 1.036. That is very high....48 ppt (note 1.026 sg is 35 ppt). I'd highly recommend having a fellow reefer test your salinity or take a sample to your LFS and have them test.

Why?

 

[Mike1995]

With snails and hermits, they are surviving in 1.037 already so keep adding fresh. I had a similar problem almost 2 years ago and my salinity was right around your number. I had snails, hermits, clown fish, damsels, a toadstool, a brain and zoas. A few of the damsels died from the high sg though. When I realized it was that high I brought it down to 1.026 overnight and everything survived just fine and are all still living today. I am always comfortable bringing sg down fast but going up verrry slow.

BTW you did not waste anyone's time. Members still posted helpful information that may be useful to others.

My tank is 75g. Can I remove some water and add fresh? How much would you say I should remove?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Why?

Something just doesn't seem right. I've never seen a refractometer off more than 0.002 sg that was calibrated with RO/DI. You went from 1.015 (20 ppt) calibrating with RO/DI, to 1.037 (48 ppt) calibrating with 35 ppt calibration fluid. So a difference of 0.022 sg....that's enormous, and just doesn't seem possible. Something is not right and I'm just trying to help identify what's going on.

 

[Mike1995]

Something just doesn't seem right. I've never seen a refractometer off more than 0.002 sg that was calibrated with RO/DI. You went from 1.015 (20 ppt) calibrating with RO/DI, to 1.037 (48 ppt) calibrating with 35 ppt calibration fluid. So a difference of 0.022 sg....that's enormous, and just doesn't seem possible. Something is not right and I'm just trying to help identify what's going on.

I thought I was "calibrating" it. It was my error. I wasn't doing it correctly haha. Once I knew how to do it correctly from you all I realized my numbers we're way higher than they are supposed to be. Thanks for helping!

 

[Captain Quint]

+1 with redfishbluefish on the updated salinity. Get another measurement as soon as you can.

Dang, that would be high. The Dead Sea is ~34% if I remember correctly.

Please keep us updated.

 

[Mike1995]

+1 with redfishbluefish on the updated salinity. Get another measurement as soon as you can.

Dang, that would be high. The Dead Sea is ~34% if I remember correctly.

Please keep us updated.

I got it down to 1.025 with small water changes and adding more freshwater. Used rodi water so it took all night. Am I at a good SG now?

 

[SurfLife]

I got it down to 1.025 with small water changes and adding more freshwater. Used rodi water so it took all night. Am I at a good SG now?

Yes you are. However... I do agree with redfishbf, I would take a sample to someone or a LFS and have them verify what you are seeing. If you are still getting incorrect readings you need to know that now before anything else.