Is my specific gravity okay?

[kiwi]

It's at 1.022. I have a clownfish and some snails. Looking to add some zoa or palyp frags soon but I would like to make sure my SG is okay!

 

[Mike J.]

Your salinity is okay for what you have, but when you start to collect corals you'll want it to be 1.025 - 1.026. I would just start to top off with saltwater at 1.025 until it raises.

 

[kiwi]

I have a 30gal bin filled with saltwater with a salinity of 1.032, how much of that should I add?

 

[TJ's Reef]

+1 to slowly bringing it up to 1.025-26 range. What type of instrument are you measuring S.G. with ? Hydrometer or Refractometer ?

Cheers, Todd

 

[kiwi]

How do I bring it up to 1.025? Like I said, I have a 30gal saltwater bin with a salinity of 1.032 that I can use. I am using a hydrometer.

 

[Mike J.]

Why 1.032? Take some RO/DI water and slowly add it to the water and test, add a little and test, and bring it down to 1.026. Then just use that water for topping off for evaporation instead of fresh water until you tank water raises to 1.026.

 

[tennisstudrogie]

get a refractometer and test daily until it's up to 1.025

 

[kiwi]

Not sure why it's at 1.032...that's just what it happens to be! I think it would be a good idea to gradually change the salinity rather that stress the fish with a dramatic change. Unless it's okay to do that...I'm not really sure. If I add a cup of the 1.032 water to my tank, what will that do?

 

[Mike J.]

Why 1.032? Take some RO/DI water and slowly add it to the water and test, add a little and test, and bring it down to 1.026. Then just use that water for topping off for evaporation instead of fresh water until you tank water raises to 1.026.

You have evaporation right? That way you will be doing it slowly.

 

[kiwi]

I just topped off my tank yesterday so it's pretty full. Thats why I can only add a few cups or so for now. I figured if I add water with a high SG to water with low SG...it will even out in the middle if I do I little bit at a time. But I'm really not sure... I do not have RODI water, I used tap water which I found out the hard way was a bad idea. :( Until I get an RODI filtration system, what can I do for now?

 

[Mike J.]

Okay, now I get it. Your SG is fine for the critters that you have. You are not in a hurry. Just from now on top off with the saltwater instead until it's at the right level. Add water to your 1.032 water a little at a time until you get it down also. Otherwise you'll just be chasing up and down.

 

[kiwi]

Awesome, thanks! Sorry for the confusion!

 

[falconut]

Topping off with the 1.032 water is fine, but without a refractometer to test it, it may not be accurate. I went almost 9 years using a hydrometer, then got a refractometer and it was off. Mine was too high, so I now understand why others always told me to get one. Mine is just a $30 one from Premium Aquatics and it works great. Just be sure to get 1.026 calibration fluid.