What is the most effective way to lower salinity?

[KLR]

I know add fresh water. I am trying to find out how to lower my salinity the most I can without damaging any corals. I know 2 gallons of fw will drop my salinity 0.001.
Any suggestions?

My tank is about 65 gal total.

I would like to drop my salinity 0.003 if I could but I don't want to shock anything.

I have 3 salinity tests and I performed each and got these results:
1.026
1.030
1.032

So obviously something is wrong, I guess I should invest in a higher quality salinity test. I am going to go with close the center number and I am going to assume the salinity is 1.029-1.030, which is a risk, I know.

1 weeks vacation and this happens, just lucky I guess..hahah


TIA

 

[mnat]

Are you using a refractometer that has been calibrated? That would be the only number I trusted. You can figure you salinity mathmatically and drop it over the course of a day or two, won't shock the tank at all

 

[cdness]

You can drop the salinity faster than you can raise it. In a QT situation, dropping to HypoSalinity can be done much quicker than raising the fish back to normal. I don't think you'll see a big issue with dropping it .003 the first day.

 

[btkrausen]

I generally do a water change and add back the water that will help drop, or raise, to what I need. So you could simply pull out a gallon of salt water and add back a gallon of RODI. Wait a bit and do it again until you get the result you are looking for. I'd add it to somewhere high flow so it mixes well on the way back in.

 

[secretreefer]

+1 :kiss:

I generally do a water change and add back the water that will help drop, or raise, to what I need. So you could simply pull out a gallon of salt water and add back a gallon of RODI. What a bit and do it again until you get the result you are looking for. I'd add it to somewhere high flow so it mixes well on the way back in.

 

[KLR]

Thanks for the quick replies, I was not sure if that was ok, to change it that much instantly.

 

[shred5]

If I need to lower the salinity I would just grab a cup of water out of the tank every so often and let the top off system add water to the system.

 

[KLR]

I wish I could do that^, I don't have an ATO though.

 

[myzislow]

I wish I could do that^, I don't have an ATO though.

Strongly suggest you get one, especially if your skimmer needs to be kept at a constant water level to function properly. Next to my dosing pumps, my ATO has been the most important piece of equipment I've purchased in this hobby.

I have 3 salinity tests and I performed each and got these results:
1.026
1.030
1.032

So obviously something is wrong, I guess I should invest in a higher quality salinity test.

How are you testing you salinity?

 

[BigJohnWoody]

You really need to get a refractometer. Second, think about acclimating new additions to your tank. I think this can be done realitively quickly. Just take some water out and add some RO/DI back in. Do it throughout the day, over the course of the day and you will be fine. Things in our tanks are much hardier than people give them credit for. First just make sure you have a accurate way of measuring salinity and go from there. GL

 

[shred5]

If you buy a refractormeter calibrate it with calibration fluid and not distilled or r/o di water. Also buy one made for saline (brine) solution.

 

[CJO]

No refractometer and no ATO with all those nice chalices you have? Sell some frags, get some equipment!

CJ

 

[scardall]

Once you know your test equpment is accurate, then what is the formula for reducing salinity in X amt of tank water by X amt.