Salinity issue

[hellasinc]

Hey guys,

Looking for some help cause im at my wits end, so im new to the hobby so any help would be greatly appreciated. The issue i have is my salinity keeps changing from 1.025 to 1.023 and I have no idea why. Example yesterday i mixed some red sea salt (blue bucket) for about an hour and then rose the temp to 25 degrees Celsius to get 1.025, changed the water and check the salinity and it was 1.025 . A couple of hours later I checked my tank again and still was 1.025 but when I check in the morning it was 1.023 and I don't know why and its not the first time its happened.

I have calibrated the refractometer with RO so I don't think that's the issue, but I have a feeling its the ATO as I have noticed the waterline increase over the last couple of days in my tank. Also noticed the water in the sump especially after putting more bioballs its higher for some reason. Can someone please help me ?

 

[fishywishy]

It’s probably because you’re only mixing the salt for and hour, or the ATO if it’s not setup properly.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

A water level change will impact salinity, but it may also just be test error/variability.

 

[hellasinc]

It’s probably because you’re only mixing the salt for and hour, or the ATO if it’s not setup properly.

Im mixing it for an hour then another hour with the heater to bring it up to 25 degrees. In regards to ATO I followed the instructions and everything ran normally but doesnt explain why the water level is increasing in the tank

 

[Frank61]

If the water level is increasing in your tank and not having a corresponding decrease in your sump, then you have more water in your system, but the same amount of salt. Thus, your salinity will go down.

First, make sure you are replacing the correct amount of water. If too little, your ATO will slowly top it up and lower your salinity. If you replace too much, the extra will eventually evaporate, increasing your salinity. Both of these will occur during the overnight time span.

Second, If your tank water level is changing and assuming your ATO is working properly, I would check your over flow area to see if the water level is changing there relative to your emergency drain pipe. Observe the level in your overflow immediately after you restart your main pump. How high is it relative to the top of your emergency drain? How long does it take to get to its max level? If the level here starts low and then slowly rises over time, your tank level will increase while the level in the sump will decrease, drawing RO/DI water from your ATO and thus lowering your specific gravity. You may need to adjust your overflow valve to keep it steady.

 

[hellasinc]

If the water level is increasing in your tank and not having a corresponding decrease in your sump, then you have more water in your system, but the same amount of salt. Thus, your salinity will go down.

First, make sure you are replacing the correct amount of water. If too little, your ATO will slowly top it up and lower your salinity. If you replace too much, the extra will eventually evaporate, increasing your salinity. Both of these will occur during the overnight time span.

Second, If your tank water level is changing and assuming your ATO is working properly, I would check your over flow area to see if the water level is changing there relative to your emergency drain pipe. Observe the level in your overflow immediately after you restart your main pump. How high is it relative to the top of your emergency drain? How long does it take to get to its max level? If the level here starts low and then slowly rises over time, your tank level will increase while the level in the sump will decrease, drawing RO/DI water from your ATO and thus lowering your specific gravity. You may need to adjust your overflow valve to keep it steady.

In regards to the first part yes when i turn off the pump i make sure to mark where the water is so when i fill it up I hit the same mark each time. In regards to the 2nd part you confused me a little i have a nano tank with the sump in the back with 3 chambers

 

[mmorrison55]

If your water level keeps increasing over and beyond the ato fill indicator, then you may have a siphoning issue where water keeps flowing from your ato reservoir into your sump/tank when it is not being triggered due to normal evaporation.

Please post a photo of your ato reservoir in relation to where the water enters your system.

I had this very issue, and it was because I had my ato water line lowered too far down into my sump.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

In regards to the first part yes when i turn off the pump i make sure to mark where the water is so when i fill it up I hit the same mark each time. In regards to the 2nd part you confused me a little i have a nano tank with the sump in the back with 3 chambers

I think I know what may be going on. Do you have filtration in one of your chambers? What will happen sometimes is the filtration starts to get clogged, decreasing water flow. The water level will drop in the “return” chamber, where your pump is. This will trigger your ATO. You should see tank water line increase, but may be small on a nano. Change your filter and if the water level increases in your return chamber, this may be what is going on.

 

[hellasinc]

I think I know what may be going on. Do you have filtration in one of your chambers? What will happen sometimes is the filtration starts to get clogged, decreasing water flow. The water level will drop in the “return” chamber, where your pump is. This will trigger your ATO. You should see tank water line increase, but may be small on a nano. Change your filter and if the water level increases in your return chamber, this may be what is going on.

I think i understand what you mean but how will i change it ? i have an nano tank and in the middle chamber I just have some bioballs and filter floss

 

[Gone Reefin’]

I think i understand what you mean but how will i change it ? i have an nano tank and in the middle chamber I just have some bioballs and filter floss

The only way is to reduce the restriction. Basically change your floss more frequently or go to something more coarse (sponge instead of floss). The balls should not be restricting flow unless they are mucked up with large chunks, which I doubt is the case. My floss will get restricted in about a day, so I have gone to other filtration (socks with more surface area or polyfill in a media cup).

Before you change, I would confirm this is what is going on. A test would be to test your salinity right after changing clogged filter (should be low), leave filtration out and test again after several hours of evaporation. If it rises, you have your answer. First step is understanding the issue.

 

[hellasinc]

The only way is to reduce the restriction. Basically change your floss more frequently or go to something more coarse (sponge instead of floss). The balls should not be restricting flow unless they are mucked up with large chunks, which I doubt is the case. My floss will get restricted in about a day, so I have gone to other filtration (socks with more surface area or polyfill in a media cup).

Before you change, I would confirm this is what is going on. A test would be to test your salinity right after changing clogged filter (should be low), leave filtration out and test again after several hours of evaporation. If it rises, you have your answer. First step is understanding the issue.

Can i ask if i move the bag of bioballs to the first chamber and just have filter floss in the middle chamber would that be okay ? I ask cause i noticed the flow become less after i added more bioballs to the bag in the middle chamber