What is the best way to increase salinity

[Rechelle Fleck]

I am establishing a 30 gal reef tank (I am getting back into this wonderfully insane hobby). I obtained the tank from a neighbor so the live rock was well populated. I added live sand and nitrifying bacteria and let it be for 3 weeks. I then added my cleaning crew and had my water tested several times before adding 2 [tank raised] clowns. Eventually I want to add corals and a bubble anemone, but every time I have my water tested, my salinity is around 22-23 (taken at the aquarium store with a digital refractometer). I know it needs to be higher before I add corals and I perform 20% water changes with the water I purchase at the store every 2 weeks. How do I raise the salinity for the corals without stressing out my existing residents?

 

[Retro Reefer]

Just use fresh made salt water as your top off for evaporation for a couple days and track your salinity until you reach desired levels.

 

[Chicago-quicksilver]

Just pick up a bucket of salt and add it to the saltwater you are already picking up and keep doing water changes and measuring. Don't add salt directly to the tank as it can burn your corals.

 

[HB AL]

Just use saltwater as your top off water for a few days, mix it to 1.030 or higher( i add 1.040) raising it to desired level in a few days wont cause any problems. I skim rather wet so i need to do this every couple months or so or when removing dt water for some dips and rinse.

 

[OMGitsManBearPig]

Hamza’s Reef has some handy calculators for this kind of stuff. This one actually creates a water change schedule. Worked a treat for me.
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/TargetSalinity.php

 

[Chicago-quicksilver]

Hamza’s Reef has some handy calculators for this kind of stuff. This one actually creates a water change schedule. Worked a treat for me.
https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/TargetSalinity.php

Thanks for sharing, that is pretty handy

 

[OMGitsManBearPig]

Sure thing. That entire website is handy, actually.

 

[Aquavaj]

Why does your salinity keep dropping? Are you topping off more than what evaporated? Or do you think it's already low from the LFS?

Best to pick up your own refractometer. They're only around $20.

 

[Rechelle Fleck]

Why does your salinity keep dropping? Are you topping off more than what evaporated? Or do you think it's already low from the LFS?

Best to pick up your own refractometer. They're only around $20.

I don't top off more than what has evaporated (I try to keep the level consistent) overall. There has been maybe one occasion where I let it evaporate a little too low but that's it .

I do have my own refractometer. I needed to recalibrate it and wanted to check the level in the meantime. I have since recalibrated so I can check myself again.