High salt water question

[merlberg]

Hey guys

So i just tested my salt n its 1.030 which is high. I usually try to keep it at 1.024. My rodi system takes long to fill a bucket up. So my question is would it be ok to just add maybe 5 gallons of tap water? And i will add prime or stress coat to the water. Which one is better and which one is ok if i have corals? Thanks

 

[twilliard]

I would not use the tap water.
Start the filling now in the bucket as the corals will not know the difference in time.
Slowly lower the SG

 

[saltyhog]

You don't want to correct this rapidly. Over a couple of days at least IMO. No big rush.

Oh, and double check your reading. Do you check salinity regularly? Is it just high becaue your ATO was empty? It would take a visible amount of evaporation to raise salinity that much.

 

[merlberg]

I would not use the tap water.
Start the filling now in the bucket as the corals will not know the difference in time.
Slowly lower the SG

Ok cool i wont use tap... Ill just wait for the gallon to fill up... Should i lower it within today n tom.? Or can i just lower it throughout the day today?

 

[merlberg]

You don't want to correct this rapidly. Over a couple of days at least IMO. No big rush.

Oh, and double check your reading. Do you check salinity regularly? Is it just high becaue your ATO was empty? It would take a visible amount of evaporation to raise salinity that much.

Really ?!! Ok i figured i had to do it right away since its so high... But ur the 2nd person to say do it slowly n no tap water so ok..

Yes i double checked it with the refractometer. I check after every w/c and i noticed the top was off on 1 of my gallons with salt so i knew the salt was going to be high but not this high but i put it in anyway after the w/c so thats how it got so high and I jusy did my w/c yesterday but decided to let it all mix in and checked the salinity today

 

[saltyhog]

How high was the salinity in your WC water? It would have to be tremendously off to raise your salinity from 1.024 to 1.030. Have you calibrated your refractometer?

Slow changes are much better tolerated by fish and corals than rapid ones. Fish do tolerate lowering of salinity a lot easier than raising it. I don't like to lower more than 0.002 per day myself. I'm sure you could get away with doing 0.006 in 24 hours but you don't have to be in a hurry. The coral would be the main concern to me.

 

[merlberg]

How high was the salinity in your WC water? It would have to be tremendously off to raise your salinity from 1.024 to 1.030. Have you calibrated your refractometer?

Slow changes are much better tolerated by fish and corals than rapid ones. Fish do tolerate lowering of salinity a lot easier than raising it. I don't like to lower more than 0.002 per day myself. I'm sure you could get away with doing 0.006 in 24 hours but you don't have to be in a hurry. The coral would be the main concern to me.

Thts the thing I didnt check it before adding it in. I added the regular amount of salt tht should had put it around 1.024 but when i put it in a checked my salt the next day (which is today) in my dt it tested 1.030 and yes i caibrated it with the salt water i ordered.

Ok I understand. I wont rush then. Ill do another 5 gal today and wait til tom. If i have to lower it some more. Thank you

 

[saltyhog]

I have almost had that happen. In my case I got confused on how much salt mix I had added. Fortunately I always check the salinity of the new water before adding it. I was making up 25 gallons at a time. With smaller amounts it's not as easy to lose track of how much you've added. I'm sure everything will be fine!

 

[merlberg]

I have almost had that happen. In my case I got confused on how much salt mix I had added. Fortunately I always check the salinity of the new water before adding it. I was making up 25 gallons at a time. With smaller amounts it's not as easy to lose track of how much you've added. I'm sure everything will be fine!

Yea i lowered it throughout the day and everyone is doing ok so I panicked for no reason lol

 

[Bunnee911]

This is what red solo cups are for. One dip at a time.

 

[merlberg]

This is what red solo cups are for. One dip at a time.

Red solo cups?! Would tht be to measure the salt or something?