I am hoping with fingers crossed that I just solved an ongoing problem. Over the last several months I've been watching my acros develop STN here and there without a good explanation. I've also watched my magnesium and calcium levels creep up. I sent off an ICP test and my salinity came back at 1.030. I took a sample down to my LFS and it was confirmed, and I re-confirmed using a new refractometer. Turns out my calibration fluid had evaporated in the bottle somehow, resulting in higher and higher values. I use Brightwell's calibration fluid, which has a screw-down dropper, and I think I must have left it open allowing it to evaporate.
I bought new calibration fluid and now I have to bring down my salinity quickly yet safely. I'm using a great calculator to guide me - the attached pic shows the schedule it created for me to reduce by 1 ppt per water change, which I think I can do every 3 days or so without any ill effects. If anyone disagrees with that plan or has better advice, let me know.
It can be found with lots of other helpful aquarium calculators at https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/
I bought new calibration fluid and now I have to bring down my salinity quickly yet safely. I'm using a great calculator to guide me - the attached pic shows the schedule it created for me to reduce by 1 ppt per water change, which I think I can do every 3 days or so without any ill effects. If anyone disagrees with that plan or has better advice, let me know.
It can be found with lots of other helpful aquarium calculators at https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/