salinity question

[eliphant]

Hi all, quick question.

I usually buy my water from a LFS that ive been going to for a while, never really had any problems. They sell me water at 1.025 salinity (or so they claim) and set me refractometer to 1.025 with the water I get from there. However, I also recently bought the calibration solution and set the refractometer to 1.026 accordingly with the solution. I've spoken to my LFS several times about the water and even took my jugs of water i bought back to them and they tested with their refractometer (which they calibrate with tap water). And they say it reads 1.024 each time.

Now the water I bought from the lfs is reading very low, around 1.021.
I haven't really thought more into it since my current specimens in the tank seem to be doing ok, except for a frag of nuclear greens.

I also stopped by a local member to buy some frags, and his water reads 1.025, accordingly with the calibration solution.

Now my question is... Can I SLOWLY acclimate the corals I bought today down to the low salinity water of my tank? I do not have any salt I can use. I have a 20 gallon tank and its easier for me to just buy pre-mixed water. Im very hesitant. The frags I got are really nice and I am not sure if the 1.021 water will kill them. sigh... And I can't keep them bagged and floating forever, lol.

Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

-Eli

 

[eliphant]

Thanks for the reply. Ok I guess I will start acclimating the salinity now. Thanks!

 

[jennm]

They should be fine - small changes, especially from higher to lower, shouldn't bother most corals.

At least you check the water from the LFS - it's amazing how many people don't. When we make ours of course we check it, and we always suggest people check it, but you'd be amazed how many people get mixed up between RO and saltwater when they are doing a water change... because they didn't check first and used the wrong water from their own containers...

Specific gravity isn't an exact science - that is to say, there is a +/- factor. Keeping it in the ballpark, you'll be fine.

Jenn

 

[cr500_af]

I can't believe a store "calibrates" a refractometer with tap water... calibration solution is cheap insurance. You did a good job by double checking them.

 

[eliphant]

yeah, i mean ive hassled them several times about it. All I can assume is that the water they mix, they set it lower salinity to save on $$ for salt? cuz they keep insisting that its 1.024-1.025. Even after I took my water back to them the day after I bought it. He calibrated it with tap water then checked again, and asked me to check, and yes, it showed 1.024. However, I bought a frag from them later that week, checked the salinity of the water in the bag, and compared to the water in the jug i bought, it was almost .06 difference. I called them about it, and they said they like to keep their frag tanks higher salinity. I understand that, but .05 higher is a bit of a stretch, no? Ah well, I think I will be buying my water from another lfs. Kind of tired of the hassle over some water, lol. Its unfortunate that its a lfs I like(d) to go to often, and many others go there as well. Hopefully the low salinty was only on that specific batch of water they mixed for that day.

My tank hasnt been doing too well lately, and all i can assume is that its the salt water I bought from them thats causing it. I change about 3 gallons weekly in my 20 gal. I bought 10 gals from them, and I have about 1 water change left. I think I am just going to buy new water before I do my next water change. I lost a snail randomly, and my torch has bleached, and my nem isnt looking too good. Even my frag of nuclear green paly's i got a month or so ago is bleached. sigh... maybe I need to start mixing my own??

 

[cr500_af]

That's what I would do... not hard and will save you some bucks. Plus, you can adjust the salinity until it is an exact match for your tank, or use very slight increases/decreases to slowly change your salinity through your water changes. You will very slowly lose salt to skimming and salt creep, so that will allow you to keep it where you want it.

 

[weaglereefer]

cr500_af;496247 wrote: I can't believe a store "calibrates" a refractometer with tap water... calibration solution is cheap insurance. You did a good job by double checking them.

Especially when calibration solution is so cheap

 

[smoothie]

au01st;496347 wrote: Especially when calibration solution is so cheap

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php">http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.php</a>[/QUOTE]
Stretch that out over how frequently it is used=cheeeeap!

 

[weaglereefer]

I calibrate my hydrometer with it when I measure water once a week (shhh, don't tell anyone...)

 

[smoothie]

au01st;496351 wrote: I calibrate my hydrometer with it when I measure water once a week (shhh, don't tell anyone...)

A drop a week. You devil you

 

[weaglereefer]

<u>hydrometer</u>

 

[smoothie]

Woops! That's what I was thinking the whole time. I have one too.
Forgot about the op posting "hydrometer"
Sorry guys:doh:

 

[cr500_af]

Smoothie;496357 wrote: Woops! That's what I was thinking the whole time. I have one too.
Forgot about the op posting "hydrometer"
Sorry guys:doh:

The OP said "refractometer"...