Salinity Mistakes, please help

[laezur]

You should be up to around 25ppt?

Up to about 1.017 at the moment, could be due to not accounting for water in the filter? Unsure. Surely it doesn't take time to mix and give the proper reading, it should be fairly immediate?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Well following my water change, it hasn't made a huge dent but it's definitely altered a little bit, so that's what I'll be doing from now. I won't lie, I expected a 1/3rd water change with 35ppt saltwater to make a larger difference than it did, this could take forever lol

1/3 35 ppt + 2/3 20 ppt should give 25 ppt, as noted above. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

sg = 1.017 corresponds to 22.5 ppt. But there's is measurement error in all of these values so don't agonize over the exact values.

 

[laezur]

sg = 1.017 corresponds to 22.5 ppt. But there's is measurement error in all of these values so don't agonize over the exact values.

Oh I'm agonizing alright lol. I'll keep measuring and keep topping up when necessary, I'll get to it eventually. I can't do much more now, the tank is full and running again

 

[laezur]

sg = 1.017 corresponds to 22.5 ppt. But there's is measurement error in all of these values so don't agonize over the exact values.

My elegance has just stuck two lone tentacles out and I am over the moon, I'll take it as a good sign for now lol.

 

[laezur]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Would you be able to do the math for me here a little bit?

140 Litre display, 34 Gal (Not including cannister filter Fluval FX2)

Currently salinity 1.017

If I was to make some hyper saline water, about 20 litres (4.4 gal), what salinity would I need that water to be to bring this display up to 1.026?

 

[EricR]

(34 - 4.4)*1.017 + 4.4x = 34*1.026
where x = SG of new water to use for change

Won't simplify that because I do NOT think you should do it all at once!

 

[laezur]

(34 - 4.4)*1.017 + 4.4x = 34*1.026
where x = SG of new water to use for change

Won't simplify that because I do NOT think you should do it all at once!

It's not happening all at once, I'm going to take out 20 litres, make up 20 litres of hyper saline water and drip it in at 1 drop a second for a couple of hours, so please do turn that into maths for a simpleton lol

 

[EricR]

It's not happening all at once, I'm going to take out 20 litres, make up 20 litres of hyper saline water and drip it in at 1 drop a second for a couple of hours, so please do turn that into maths for a simpleton lol

Ha ha...
Sorry to be this way but I don't think a couple of hours is a good idea either.

Others have suggested just letting evaporation happen and top off with saltwater instead of fresh/RODI. I vote just do that. You could mix your top off water to a little higher salinity also to expedite maybe.

...unless I missed something here

 

[laezur]

Ha ha...
Sorry to be this way but I don't think a couple of hours is a good idea either.

Others have suggested just letting evaporation happen and top off with saltwater instead of fresh/RODI. I vote just do that. You could mix your top off water to a little higher salinity also to expedite maybe.

...unless I missed something here

Lol dont be sorry, brutal honestly is the best policy. I just worry my coral arent going to survive as long as it takes for the water to evaporate and me keep adding more.

Hell, I did the initial water change and somehow my salinity didnt change so I fear by the end of the week when it's caught up, it's all gonna be dead lol

 

[gbroadbridge]

It's not happening all at once, I'm going to take out 20 litres, make up 20 litres of hyper saline water and drip it in at 1 drop a second for a couple of hours, so please do turn that into maths for a simpleton lol

If you mix high salinity water and add to a low salinity tank, there are likely to be issues with precipitation of some elements.

I would not advise mixing to higher salinity than 35 ppt.

 

[laezur]

If you mix high salinity water and add to a low salinity tank, there are likely to be issues with precipitation of some elements.

I would not advise mixing to higher salinity than 35 ppt.

Roger!

We wait. Anxiously, then.

 

[EricR]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Would you be able to do the math for me here a little bit?

140 Litre display, 34 Gal (Not including cannister filter Fluval FX2)

Currently salinity 1.017

If I was to make some hyper saline water, about 20 litres (4.4 gal), what salinity would I need that water to be to bring this display up to 1.026?

For strictly the sake of curiosity, there are sites like this one that will do that calculation for you:

Target Salinity Calculator

***I think you're convinced enough now to just NOT do it in one batch though, hopefully

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

@Randy Holmes-Farley Would you be able to do the math for me here a little bit?

140 Litre display, 34 Gal (Not including cannister filter Fluval FX2)

Currently salinity 1.017

If I was to make some hyper saline water, about 20 litres (4.4 gal), what salinity would I need that water to be to bring this display up to 1.026?

Hyper saline water is not a good plan. Calcium carbonate will tend to precipitate. A little higher than normal salinity may be OK if you use a low alk mix and use it fast.

I recommend just replacing evaporated water with salt water.

 

[laezur]

We are currently up to 1.021, so hopefully not too much longer.