You guys were super helpful on my last post, and I've done some searching and reading and couldn't find what I was looking for, exactly. Specific Gravity, I did a 20% water change last night; and started thinking about the hydrometer I'm using... and realized I might have messed up my salinity...

Hey everyone. I'm new around this forum, but I signed up with the sole purpose of asking a question, but with all the knowledge available here I plan on sticking around. I have a 29 gallon biocube that I'm getting ready to be a reef tank. I've got 27 lbs of dry rock in it now, as well as 4 blue...

Nitrate: 80 ppm Nitrite: 4 ppm Alkalinity: 180 ppm pH: 7.4-7.8 SG: 1.025 Temp: 78F 10 Gallon 12 lbs of live rock 10 lbs of live sand hob filter Hydor koralia 240 power head 200w submersible heater So I mixed my reef salt and distilled water in a garbage can following the directions. I measured...

When I originally set up my tank, I took a water sample to my LFS to check out how the parameters were doing. I was told my salinity was a little low, so I've been topping off my tank with saltwater. HOWEVER, apparently the device I'm using isn't working correctly. It's been reading around...

I am trying to figure out what specific gravity to shoot for in my tank. I would like to set a target salinity of 35 ppt and target temperature of 79°F. I have a swing arm hydrometer. I would like to get a refractometer in the future, but that is not an option at the moment. In trying to...

We've done approximately 50% water change over the past two weeks. We test using a refractometer that has been calibrated with solution. We haven't added ANY freshwater to the tank. Two weeks ago, the SG dipped to 1.020. We got 21 gallons of salty RO/DI water at SG 1.021. For some reason...

What is everyone using to test specific gravity / salinity? I am using a swing arm, and have been reading about temperature effecting the reading. If I keep my tank at 79 - 80, and I am getting a reading of 1.026 is that correct? Is it worth spending the money on a refractometer or hydrometer...

Well after much of my own research online:read: but not much personal experience, I decided to come to you guys for the answers. Which do you use? A Hydrometer or Refractometer I know refractometers are generally viewed as more accurate. I would like to hear from people using both who are...

Hello, all. I've been thinking about this for a long time and still haven't been able to figure out how to do this. Here's my problem: I know I have a 55g tank and an 18 gallon sump, but neither are 100% full. They have coral, sand, LR, etc. all taking up part of their volumes. However, I...

Just got everything i need for my tank. I plan to start my cycle in the morning with the seafood method. Just one final question...just kidding, I doubt this is really the last question =p. Anyway, does my cycling water need to have the right SG? Can it just be freshwater? I assume bacteria...

I have no livestock in my system. I need to raise the specific gravity and not sure of the best method to do so. Do I just use more salt when doing the water change? Add salt directly to the sump? Does it have to be a gradual process? I am trying to get my system in order for livestock by...

Ok as some of you are probably aware, I am start out and doing so by asking a LOT of questions. This is less of a question and more of a "What the..." Last night I set up the tank and added salt. It was running at 26 degrees according to my Hydrometer ('red sea' brand if that says anything...

I am working on starting up my tank and getting the SG up to where I would like it, around 1.025. I have no living items in the tank right now I am using instant Ocean salt and mixing that with RODI water When following the directions on the bag I am getting around 1.020 SG. Should I assume...

Ok so my SG is reading about 1.028-1.029 on the refractometer... I know this is high, but it isnt killing anything yet... I'm not freaking out because the tank is new, no corals or fish yet, just the live rock critters, a few small snails and hermits... Here's my question, what would be the...

hey guys, can u tell me what is used to test specific gravity? :dunce:

OK this is a mystery to me. How do you keep anything at a s.g. of 1.026? <O:p</O:p I am making water using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals. I weigh exactly 262.7 gm of salt and add it to exactly 7000 gm of R.O. water. The salinity of this solution is: 262.7/(7000 + 262.7) = .03617 or 36.17ppt. The...

Hey everyone, I finally put water in the tank and i've been cycling it with this product called Biozyme for the passed 4 days. i checked the parameters and so far, PH=8.1, Alk=4.5, Nitrite=0, Nitrate=0.1, Free Ammonia=0, Total Ammonia= 0.1, Salinity= 32, Specific Gravity= 1.024. BUT... for some...

Let's talk about what makes saltwater different than water... the salt :D We see salinity and specific gravity both used, but they are different measures. How do we measure this salt? The specific gravity of fish is usually rated as much lower than we generally keep our tanks, it sounds like...

I am having alot of trouble getting accurate readings from my swing arm meters. I have two, one is a instant ocean one that i've had for years and I just got a red sea one to compare. one will read 1.025 and one 1.023. I was thinking about getting a refractometer. Is that the most accurate...