i setup my 5.5g early in november and let it run its course with cycling, which it is nearing its end. i initially purchased some pre-made saltwater from one of our sponsors and after testing my tank for the first time last week (when diatoms started appearing) and then the remaining water in my jug, i discovered the sg was only 1.021. so yesterday i purchased some RS coral pro salt so i can raise it myself and start mixing my own. should i add the salt directly to the tank and the rest of the jug (1/2 full) to achieve 1.026sg? also is the a calculator somewhere showing how much salt to add to achieve this?
increasing salinity
- Thread starter hiimsean
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http://www.saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/SalinityAdjust.php">http://www.saltyzoo.com/SaltyCalcs/SalinityAdjust.php</a>
Edit: add to jug first, If you add it to the tank and overdose it...your kinda up the creek. Best to make changes slowly, ideally over a couple of days.
With such little water volume. I would mix up something like 1.027 and do a half gallon water change. Check system again. Then repeat every day or other day until Target SG is reached.
Edit: add to jug first, If you add it to the tank and overdose it...your kinda up the creek. Best to make changes slowly, ideally over a couple of days.
With such little water volume. I would mix up something like 1.027 and do a half gallon water change. Check system again. Then repeat every day or other day until Target SG is reached.
If there is no live stock in the tank mix 1 gal at 1.030and add it or you could let it evaporate for a day or so till it hits the lvl you are looking fore
If the tank has livestock don't go over a .02 increase every 6 hours
Never add salt to a tank directly even if it dusnot have livestock the salt can stay at the bitten of the tank unresolved in the sand bed and be released by diggers or ph drops
If the tank has livestock don't go over a .02 increase every 6 hours
Never add salt to a tank directly even if it dusnot have livestock the salt can stay at the bitten of the tank unresolved in the sand bed and be released by diggers or ph drops
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What method are you using to check the salinity? I only ask because i hear it all too often that someone has gotten water with incorrect salinity from a LFS, and turns out they are using a cheap, or incorrectly calibrated measuring device. Also, which store was it? Having visited all of them many times, ive seen a pretty steady trend of salinity from store to store, generally in the 1.023-1.025 range depending on the store.
I'm using a refractometer and I got it from optimum aquarium. I did calibrate it using the provided solution then I double checked with ro water. I may try to take my water to a store just to get double checked if I have time this week
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How often do you calibrate it? Refractometers can come out of calibration with vibration and temperature change. So in other words, if you didnt calibrate it as soon as you saw the salinity was at .021, and then recheck the salinity, then that may be your problem. A local store should be able to verify that though. Any decent store will calibrate their refractometer EVERY morning.
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