raising salinity question

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Vern McCalla
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My salinity in my tank has been at 1.024 and id like to get it up to 1.026. I think the best way to do this is to put saltwater at 1.026 into my ATO and let it go up over the course of a few days. My fear is that I have a SPS tank and I dont want the ALK to shoot up. Its currently at 8.1 which for me is a bit on the high side i normally like it around 7.5. CAL is at 460 and Mg is at 1425. I currently have just been dosing ALK and after a larger water change than normal my ALK went up to where its at now at 8.1. I dont want to raise it but am wondering if i just quit dosing ALK and add saltwater to my ATO and test daily will i be able to high my goal of 1.026 without and large raise or drop in ALK?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Yes, you can stop or reduce the alk dosing for a few days if you want to keep it lower.

Adding seawater for top off has about this impact:

1% of the volume added to replace evaporation each day will boost alk by 1% (8.0 to about 8.1 dKH) and salinity from 1.0240 to 1.0242
2% of the volume added to replace evaporation each day will boost alk by 2% (8.0 to about 8.2 dKH) and salinity from 1.0240 to 1.0245
4% of the volume added to replace evaporation each day will boost alk by 4% (8.0 to about 8.4 dKH) and salinity from 1.0240 to 1.0250
 
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Vern McCalla
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Yes, you can stop or reduce the alk dosing for a few days if you want to keep it lower.

Adding seawater for top off has about this impact:

1% of the volume added to replace evaporation each day will boost alk by 1% (8.0 to about 8.1 dKH) and salinity from 1.0240 to 1.0242
2% of the volume added to replace evaporation each day will boost alk by 2% (8.0 to about 8.2 dKH) and salinity from 1.0240 to 1.0245
4% of the volume added to replace evaporation each day will boost alk by 4% (8.0 to about 8.4 dKH) and salinity from 1.0240 to 1.0250

Thanks Randy!

Should I make to top off water 1.026?
 

cginter

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I'm not randy, but no you shouldn't. Top off water should be plain water, preferably ro/di
 

Zero Nitrates

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The water in your tank most likely will go up in salinity over time. So you wouldn't have to do anything different and it will be a good slow adjustment for the sps.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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The water in your tank most likely will go up in salinity over time. So you wouldn't have to do anything different and it will be a good slow adjustment for the sps.

Unless you top off with salt water, why would it?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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From what I have read there is a roughly 29% rise in salinity as a result of calcification over the period of a year.

No, calcification does not increase salinity.

If you use certain types of supplements to supply calcium and alkalinity, then there is an increase in salinity due to the added chloride and sodium (and potentially other ions) that are present that are not used in calcification.

But if you use limewater (kalkwasser) or a CaCO3/CO2 reactor or water changes to supply calcium and alkalinity, then there is no increase in salinity. :)
 
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