increasing salinity

[Charles]

Hi, my sg reading is just around 1.025, which i have read is very low. We should target 1.027 right? How do I increase salinity without causing damage to the inverts and corals? Please advice. thanks.

[zero186]

i keep my tank at 1.025 and so do many other people and dont really think you should worry unless it drops anymore but if you do want to increase it you could mix up some salt water and just use it in top offs until you get where you want and if you have a sump add it inthere just to be safe

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by Charles

Hi, my sg reading is just around 1.025, which i have read is very low. We should target 1.027 right? How do I increase salinity without causing damage to the inverts and corals? Please advice. thanks.

Thats not to bad, more importantly what type of hydrometer are you using to measure it?

[tdwyatt]

ditto, how are you measuring your salinity, and what is the temp of the water if you are measuring SG?

[Charles]

No I am not using a refractrometer. I forgot the name, this device has a hand lever. you pour in the water to be tested and read the sg using the hand lever. I forgot the name of this device. The water temp is around 30 degree centrigrade. Its kinda hot here in this part of the world. I know this device I am using is not accurate and need to be calibrated or adjusted based on the temperature of the water? Is it more convenient to use refractrometer? what brand can you recommend? thanks.

[Mindsgoneawol]

DeepSix?? if so i would be careful.. i have one and it is off by .04 .. my lfs check it for me.. i kept my tanks at 1.024 and it was actually at 1.028 and higher with evaporation.. which reminds me.. i really need to order a refracto....

[Loverotties]

If you want to raise it add some salt to your top-off.

[crvz]

1.025 is a fine reading, assuming it's accurate. If your concerned about keeping salinity at an exact reading, I'd first invest in a refractometer before trying to adjust the tank. Hydrometers (swing arms) are notorious for being inaccurate. I've got the marine depot brand refractometer, and it's easy enough to use.

[Brent Cone]

My experience with swing arm style Hydrometers was not good, i used one for years, and found when i purchased a refractometer,the old sea test Hydrometer was way off! now it's in our local land fill! JMO
Brent.

[hng]

1.025 is perfectly fine - that's what I keep my tank at. I would also recommend a refractometer for accuracy.

[tdwyatt]

Just as an addendum, I use the swing arm hydrometers, but not as a final adjustment nor monitor for the display tank. I use it to match salinities when making ASW for water changes and to see when I am close on the salinity when adding salt mix to RO/DI in the barrel. I look for at least three identical readings in a row, if I can't get three consecutive matches with three separate samples, then it's time to use the refractometer. If matching salinities when making ASW for water changes, it doesn't matter if the meter is off in the actual numbers, just that the results are the same to determine that the salinities are matching, but to be sure, use a refractometer to do your final check between the fresh ASW and what is in the tank. To monitor the tank, always use the refractometers to measure salinity, and check your calibration for the refracto on a regular basis. The swing-arm hydrometers can introduce error whenever there is dried salt on the arm, or a bubble, or bubbles in the chamber; so make sure that you keep the hydrometer clean and bubble-free when making comparisons. NEVER DEPEND ON THE READING FROM A SWING-ARM HYDROMETER TO MEASURE ACTUAL SALINITY.


JME, HTH

[Charles]

Thanks for all your advice. I think its time for me to invest on a refratrometer and to be sure it is really at 1.025

[tdwyatt]

I don't know about ordering such an item overseas, but Marine Depot in the US did have them on sale this month for $49 USD plus shipping.

see http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=MD2101 and I believe they may even be $39 (don't quote me on the $39 price... )

[Charles]

thanks for the info on marine depot's sale. And won't quote you for the $39.00 price