Higher Salinity for SPS

[aqua_code]

I was looking over the aquaforest mixing suggestions and found this chart:

Is this a common strategy for SPS? keeping the tank at 1.026? Or is it just for the aquaforest mixing suggestions to ensure a higher ph and alk/calcium?

Thanks

 

[Acro Junky]

This interesting following!

 

[melanotaenia]

having the higher SG likely is being recommended to keep the other three elements slightly higher (calcium/alk/mag)

 

[AdamNC]

It's just Aqua Forests recommendation. Red Sea for instance recommends 1.025 for SPS Dominant and 1.024 for SPS ULNS.

 

[brett.sizeland]

35ppt is the average salinity of the reefs so I think thats why they are suggesting it

 

[SeaDweller]

I keep mine at 35 ppt, and I think most do.

 

[DarkSky]

1.0264 is average among many reefs. @Battlecorals keeps his around 1.028 I believe, as do a few others. Higher availability of trace elements.

 

[EMeyer]

35 ppt (1.026) is not only the average, its the rule -- there is little variation. Like most Cnidarians corals have little osmoregulatory ability and in nature primarily exist in areas where the salinity fluctuates very little. When they encounter salinity changes in nature (heavy rains) it often kills large patches of the reef. In areas with consistently different salinity (e.g. the Persian Gulf), only a small number of corals are able to exist (a couple dozen species at best, compared to hundreds on the GBR).

I'm always surprised that people keep their reef tanks at anything but 35 ppt. I know it can be done (although inaccuracies in refractometer calibration make it unclear how often this is really the case), but why?

my $0.02

 

[aqua_code]

Thank you for all the feedback! Really helpful to get all these responses. I will be keeping my SPS closer to 1.0264 now.

I previously thought anywhere from 1.024-1.026 was within acceptable range, but this suggests with SPS 35ppt is essential.