Adjusting Salinity - 24G Aquapod

[czukowski]

We noticed the other day after a water change our salinity is about 1.036 which is quite high for a reef tank.

I have seen some questions about salinity around, but mine is specific to reducing the salinity. Our LFS said we should pull about 4 gallons of salt water and replace with RO or Distilled.

I imagine this should potentially be done one gallon at a time, test, rinse repeat, etc....

But I wanted to get some experienced comments/suggestions.

-Chris

 

[reefman23]

First off, how was your salinity measured? Since you mentioned your LFS, I am assuming it was done using a refractometer. If you are sure it is an accurate reading, I would remove about 1/2 gallon and replace it with freshwater R/O. Like you said, just repeat this every day until you get it down to about 1.025. You want to make sure that you take at least a week to do this. You dont want to do it soo fast that you stress out the inhabitants.

HTH,

Jesse

 

[czukowski]

Surprisingly the LFS was going to use the same MarineLabs Instant Ocean Hydrometer that we have.

I also have a hydrometer that I use for measuring specific gravity for beer, and could use that to take another sample.

 

[czukowski]

Ok, let me clear a couple of things up.. it isn't 1.036, more like 1.027. It was 36 PPT.

I used a beer hydrometer and took another measurement. It came in at 1.029 adjusted for temperature of 84 degrees.

Remove 1/2 gallon of salt and replace with a bit over 1/2 gallon RO.

Follow up to come. Also looking at a refractometer, although not sure $65 is worth it for a nano tank, but then again the learning process and intimate knowledge of my tank is priceless.

 

[reefman23]

Check this one out... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113761

I think they are very much worth it.

These are actually MORE accurate than refractometers and less expensive too... http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/P ... 004+113761

HTH,

Jesse

 

[reefman23]

BTW, That refractometer that i linked you to has ATC which means it automatically compensates for temperature.

Jesse

 

[czukowski]

Actually that's a pretty killer deal and the one I was looking at before.

Thx!

 

[reefman23]

Yeah it is a good deal... drsfostersmith.com is a good company to do business with too.

Jesse

 

[reefer73]

Check Ebay. I got my refractometer for $25.00.

 

[TimSchmidt]

Yeah Ebay has good prices, but Drs. Foster and Smith has OUTSTANDING customer service and pretty darn good ship times.