Need to add salt

[Ok_cowboy1]

i have a 65 gallon aquarium with sump just now cycling for the first time. I checked the salinity with a refractometer and it is at 1.021. I know this is low, but what is the best way to get the salt level up without pulling water out of the tank? How much salt should I add to start with?

 

[alyee5]

You could top off the tank with fresh saltwater, it will raise the salinity up over time while you are cycling. Not sure what you mean "how much salt to start with". If you aim for 1.026 which is a typical number your salt water mix should give you the amount of salt per gallon needed to hit a given salinity. For example, Instant Ocean is 1/2 cup per 5 gallons which gives me 1.025 consistently.

 

[Ok_cowboy1]

You could top off the tank with fresh saltwater, it will raise the salinity up over time while you are cycling. Not sure what you mean "how much salt to start with". If you aim for 1.026 which is a typical number your salt water mix should give you the amount of salt per gallon needed to hit a given salinity. For example, Instant Ocean is 1/2 cup per 5 gallons which gives me 1.025 consistently.

So what if I added a cup of io directly to the tank now, would that approximately be enough?

 

[jwilliams860]

Or add a cup, and check it in an hour, and so on until you get to where you need it

 

[jwilliams860]

Ha we must of been typing at the same time. Yes that would work

 

[Ok_cowboy1]

Pour it into tank or sump?

 

[alyee5]

If you to add the salt directly, I'd probably do it in the sump...sometimes you get a residue when mixing salt and I wouldn't want that in my tank if it were to happen...1 cup isn't very much so probably low risk.

 

[Untamedrose]

While cycling....with Nothing else in there....one likely can get away with just adding the salt to the tank.

Its' not something to ever ever do after you get anything live in there.

 

[Ok_cowboy1]

While cycling....with Nothing else in there....one likely can get away with just adding the salt to the tank.

Its' not something to ever ever do after you get anything live in there.

I just added a 1/2 cup to the sump!

 

[jsker]

I did to. I just did a water change and was a little low on salinity. I always drop the salt into the sump right were the overflow comes into the sump so the salt will mix before hitting the DT. I will wait till morning and check the salinity.

 

[Untamedrose]

the salt buckets have it right on them in red dont mix directly into the tank.
Up there with dont use electronics in water or caution coffee might be hot signs.

 

[Ok_cowboy1]

I added some to the refugium and some to the pump area so it would mix through the pump

 

[Ok_cowboy1]

the salt buckets have it right on them in red dont mix directly into the tank.
Up there with dont use electronics in water or caution coffee might be hot signs.

Me reading the bucket this late at night would be too easy, that's why I have you guys lol!

 

[FishLover01]

You could top off the tank with fresh saltwater, it will raise the salinity up over time while you are cycling. Not sure what you mean "how much salt to start with". If you aim for 1.026 which is a typical number your salt water mix should give you the amount of salt per gallon needed to hit a given salinity. For example, Instant Ocean is 1/2 cup per 5 gallons which gives me 1.025 consistently.

Agree with your post except IO is 1/2 cup for 1 gallon, not 5. Sure it was just a typo.

 

[Waterjockey]

I wouldn't recommend adding dry salt directly to your system. Mix it in a couple of cups of water, then add the new mix to your sump.

 

[alyee5]

Agree with your post except IO is 1/2 cup for 1 gallon, not 5. Sure it was just a typo.

Ahh, yes. Good catch!

 

[justingraham]

It's fine if nothing's in the tank. I'm sure the op knows not to do this when he has livestock in the tank. It's ok guys what's going to happen by adding salt directly to the tank with nothing in it opposed to mixing it outside the tank and then dumping it in at least if he dumps it into the tank he won't have to mix it the pumps and power heads will do all the work.
Op u do know not to do this with livestock in it tho right?